When it comes to pairing drinks with food, wine often takes centre stage, but beer presents a refreshing and versatile alternative. With its diverse flavour profiles and styles, beer can complement a wide range of dishes, making it an accessible choice for elevating everyday meals, from sweet to savoury.
Menabrea: A Taste of Italian Heritage
Italy is celebrated globally for its exceptional food and drink, and Menabrea lager is a prime example of this culinary excellence. Hailing from the Piedmont region in northern Italy, near the foothills of the Alps, this crisp pale lager embodies the area's rich heritage. Piedmont is the birthplace of the slow food movement, where quality and craftsmanship are prioritised over fast-paced consumption.
Menabrea offers a harmonious balance of hoppy brightness and malty depth, with subtle citrus undertones that enhance its versatility. This makes it an ideal companion for a variety of dishes, proving that beer can shine alongside Italian culinary delights.
Six Perfect Pairings with Menabrea Bionda
To demonstrate how well beer can complement food, here are six expertly curated pairings featuring Menabrea's signature Bionda lager. These suggestions highlight the beer's ability to elevate dining experiences through both common and contrasting flavours.
Bruscitti
A classic dish from northern Italy, Bruscitti involves finely chopped beef cooked slowly with butter, garlic, fennel, and pancetta, often blended with a regional red wine. This rich, hearty meal is perfectly balanced by Menabrea's crisp citrus notes, which refresh the palate between bites. Typically served with polenta or risotto alla Milanese, it's a humble yet flavour-packed option.
Lamb and Leeks
Northern Italy is renowned for its lamb, which excels when grilled, perhaps on a barbecue, alongside blackened leeks and tenderstem broccoli. A creamy sauce of crème fraiche, harissa, pomegranate, and orange adds depth to this impressive dish. Menabrea Bionda cuts through the smokiness and acidity, enhancing both the flavours and the overall dining experience.
Wild Mushroom Arancini
As a popular starter or snack, arancini made with wild mushrooms, onion, garlic, parmesan, lemon juice, and rice are a crowd-pleaser. Breaded and deep-fried, these moreish balls find a perfect match in Menabrea, whose balanced citrus acidity and maltiness complement the dish's rich flavours.
Nectarine and Burrata Salad
For a lighter option, try a salad of chargrilled nectarines, peppery rocket, and basil, topped with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and creamy burrata. Adding caramelised almonds introduces texture, while Menabrea's complexity complements the sweetness of the nuts, the salad's acidity, and the cheese's creaminess.
Italian Cheese Selection
Menabrea pairs beautifully with a diverse range of Italian cheeses. A standout is sbirro, a creamy, rich cheese created through a collaboration between Menabrea and Botella cheesemaker in Biella. Other excellent choices include Parmigiano-Reggiano, Mozzarella di Bufala, and Taleggio, each enhanced by the beer's balanced taste.
Fonduta
This Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta speciality is a take on fondue, made with fontina cheese, butter, milk, and egg yolk. Rich and silken, it pairs wonderfully with toasted crostini, boiled potatoes, and an ice-cold Menabrea, creating an authentic alpine feel.
By exploring these pairings, you can discover how Menabrea lager offers a sophisticated alternative to wine, bringing out the best in Italian cuisine. Its crisp profile and heritage make it a must-try for food enthusiasts looking to elevate their meals.
