Reisch is a director at Anheuser-Busch InBev (Belgium beer company whose brands Stella Artois, Leffe and Hoegaarden were used for Reisch’s Hong Kong tasting) and comes from a long line of expert brewmasters. He gives us three essential tips to a satisfying beer-pairing experience. (Read on, and you’ll discover how you can win a set of FREE beer glasses!)

1. Your beer should never overshadow the flavors of your food
Remember, the food is always the star, and never the beer, which serves to elevate the natural flavors of the food. The lighter and more delicate your food, the softer your beer. Fish and seafood, for example, go best with a less heavy-tasting beer such as Hoegaarden. For heavier dishes, like a juicy rib-eye, something like Leffe will work very well.

2. Don’t just think about pairing beer, think about cooking with beer
Good beer pairing results in a marriage between your food and beer. Try preparing your food with beer, and you will get a flawless reunion, a mutual enhancement that goes both ways: the beer enhances the flavors of your food, but what you’re eating also brings out the taste of your beer. For starters, Reisch suggests that you steam your vegetables with beer or even add a little beer in your waffle mix. What a way to start the day!

2. Forget the rules and play with it, experiment with it
“Beer is such an open beverage,” says Reisch. No rules really matter as long as you can explain what you like or do not like about a pairing. If you like it and you understand why, then that’s a good pairing. “ “Some people in the industry have been trying to establish the thinking that this should go with this and this should never go with that... I’m doing all my best to fight against that!” Reisch says.

Sample pairings for you to try at home

1. Steaming vegetables with your favorite beer
Instead of using water to steam asparagus or your preferred vegetables, put beer in there!

2. Chocolate mousse with Leffe Brune
Leffe Brune has a very rich taste resembling that of dark chocolates. Adding a few raspberries in your chocolate mousse also complements wonderfully the subtle fruity flavor in Leffe Brune.

TELL US AND WIN

You’ll also be happy to know we have 20 sets of Anheuser-Busch InBev-branded beer glasses to give away to 20 of our lucky readers! Simply tell us what you like to eat with your favorite beer. Send emails to marketing@asia-city.com.hk for a chance to win. Deadline for submission: April 30. Winners chosen on May 3.