Serves: 5

Lagers:
A broad category, we know, but let us point out a few qualities besides their amazing compatibility with a hammock. Generally lighter and drier than ales, lagers refresh and quench wonderfully. They're great with spicy Mexican food. Go ahead and add the lime--it's not a trend, it actually improves the match. Pilsners, highly hopped, are the driest of the lagers and best with grilled meats without heavy sauces. Most Japanese and Chinese beers are pilsners because they complement the clean, crisp flavors of the cuisines so well. Likewise, Jamaican lagers are a natural match for the fiery native cuisine.

Ales:
An even larger category, but no need to worry about the finer distinctions just focus on ales that are best with grilled fare. Red/amber and pale ales are musts for the griller. Reds and ambers (the distinction is often regional) are great with grilled meats because their sweeter flavor plays off the caramelized sweetness of the meat's surface. The redder the meat, the redder the ale is our rule of thumb. With their full body, they can stand up to the beefiest porterhouse. Pale ales, with their crisp, dry profile, are great with spicier dishes such as grilled curries, pita sandwiches, and kabobs.

Stouts:
The tonic properties of a good Irish stout have been touted in folklore and advertising campaigns alike, but don't overlook New World versions. Dark and heavy, stouts run from sweet (sweet and oatmeal stouts) to dry (dry, extra, and imperial). Stout is virtually the only beer that goes with chocolate, if you're so inclined to try such a combo. We like it in our gingerbread (see Desserts: Gingerbread Stout Cake).

Wheat beers:
Wheat beers (also called by their German names, Weisse, Weissbeir, and Weizen) are sparkling, light, and refreshing brews that are great with lighter meals or just for summertime sipping. Regular (Kristall) wheat beers are clear, crisp, and anything but fussy. Hefe-Weizen (yeast wheat) is cloudy with an abundance of live yeasts, which generate a distinct aroma reminiscent of ripe bananas. You can almost feel the B vitamins racing through your veins as you sip this elixir. Slip a lemon slice in there like the Bavarians and Austrians do. Dark (Dunkel) wheat beers are sweeter and heavier, and make a great quaffable "sauce" for grilled sausages and meats.

Smoke beers:
Rauchbier, another German invention, is an acquired taste, but great with smoked meats and sausages. It's made by kilning the malt over a smoky beechwood fire. If you like Scotch, give this one a try.

Fruit-flavored beers:
Whether they're infused with real fruit or enhanced with syrups, fruit beers offer an interesting twist. For an apéritif or a post-yard work cool down, try a light raspberry wheat beer or an apricot ale. For dessert, a heavier beer body or bolder fruit flavor will add a special note. Think cherry or raspberry lambic or even a cranberry ale. For a fall feast, try pumpkin ale. Chile beers add to the fire of a spicy meal.

Of course the possibilities for mixing and matching beer with grilled food are endless. As far as we're concerned, that's the fun of it!

From Weber’s Big Book of Grilling. Copyright © 2001 Weber-Stephen Products Co. All rights reserved. First published by Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, California.

More Recipes from the Weber's Big Book of Grilling Cookbook:
01-The Grilling Gospel According To Weber
02-The Birth Of American Grilling: Sparking A Passion
03-Choosing A Grill: Features Are A Grill's Best Friend
04-The Griller's Toolboox: The Right Stuff
05-Grilling And Food Safety: Be Careful Our There
06-Hot Pants Are Out: Lesson Learned
07-Mastering The Fire: Direct Cooking
08-Mastering The Fire: Indirect Cooking
09-Mastering The Fire: Charcoal Grilling
10-The Briquet Shuffle: Tricks Of The Trade
11-Mastering The Fire: Gas Grilling
12-Check Your Char-O-Scope: Free Your Inner Griller
13-Grilling In The Elements: Grillers In The Mist
14-Mastering The Fire: Smoke Cooking On The Grill
15-Tips For Beginners: Getting Started
16-Smoking Woods: Where There's Smoke, There's Flavor
17-A Match Made In Heaven: Beer And A Barbecue
18-Perfect Margaritas
19-Sippin' In The Shade: Summertime Lemonade
20-Which Wine? Drink What You Like
21-The Fifth Taste: Umami
22-Classic Iced Tea: With Lemon, Please
23-Life's A Party: What To Serve
24-What You Need To Know About The Recipes
25-Is It Done Yet? A Word Or Two About Doneness