It’s #nationalhotdogday, and you’re already too preoccupied trying to figure out if it’s a sandwich or not, that you completely forget that nothing goes with a footlong like a perfect craft beer. So you swing by the store to pick up a nice ale and it hits you: “What should I get to go with my tube steak?”
Look no further, as here is a quick and easy guide to make that brat even better with a beautiful brew.
Classic Dog
The original. The champion. The kind you really don’t want to see somebody eat 72 of at a time.
Amber/Red Ale
The malty sweetness goes great alongside the caramelized meats and sweeter condiments, as well as the light sweetness of the bun, while still pushing back with some light hop bitterness.
Personal Pick: Sooke Oceanside Brewing Renfrew Red Ale
Belgian Dubbel
Similar to above, the sweetness is the prominent match, but more through the candi sugar. Great alongside the saltiness of the dog.
Personal Pick: Category 12 Brewing Induction Dubbel
IPA
Using more of the bitter/floral notes to contrast the hot dog, lean towards a more classic British-styled IPA, or even an ESB.
Personal Pick: Sooke Brewing Company IPA
Polish Sausage
The stronger flavours scream for a more emphatic beer.
Scotch Ale
A little more sweetness, a little more caramel, a little more of everything. Big flavoured dog calling for a big flavoured beer.
Personal Pick: Russell Brewing Angry Scotch Ale
Aged Beers
Have something you’ve been keeping set aside for a while? A lot of the sweet, malty, warm notes will pair amazingly with the punch of a polish sausage, while some of the sherry notes and possible savoury flavours from aging will carry through even better.
Personal Pick: Howe Sound Brewing Wee Bugger Barley Wine
Amber Ale
A little more restrained than the above options, but providing a balance of sweet, lightly bitter, and palate-cleansing.
Personal Pick: Twa Dogs Brewery Gowden Locks Amber Ale
Chili Dog
Take your classic, and pile on the chili, cheese, and find a private corner to eat this, because it is never a pretty sight to watch that.
Brown Ale
An underrated style, this lighter, malty beer with nice caramel notes can cut through the impact the chili will have on the pairing.
Personal Pick: Spinnakers Brewpub You Otter Have Another Nut Brown Ale
Altbier
Bready, light, crisp. The perfect opposite of the rich, meaty, thick, and spicy notes.
Personal Pick: Driftwood Brewing Crooked Coast Altbier
Pale Ale
Instead of contrasting, this pairing matches up a lot of the same experiences, matching each drink with the weight of the meal.
Personal Pick: Vancouver Island Brewing Piper’s Pale Ale
Chicago Dog
For the uninitiated, this is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled peppers and a dash of celery salt. So sweet, savoury, spicy, tart, and salty.
Fruit Beer
Going a little lighter, but matching up against the amount of light and tart flavours on the dog, a nice bright fruit beer can amplify many of the already bright flavours.
Personal Pick: Swans Brewpub Guilty Pleasure Raspberry Blonde Ale
Hefeweizen
Crisp, light, and helping to subdue some of the heat from the peppers with its wheat base, this will be a nice easy-drinking option to wash it down.
Personal Pick: Moon Under Water Brewpub This Is Hefeweizen
Pale Ale
Using the savoury notes to its advantage, the maltiness of the pale ale along with the bitterness will bring out some of the saltiness, meatiness as well as the tomato flavours.
Personal Pick: Phillips Brewing Blue Buck
Corn Dog
A hot dog on a stick, so if you happen to be at the state fair today, reach for one of these.
Pale Ale
The light hop bitterness will play off the cornmeal shell and saltiness, and the maltiness against the savoury dog make for a perfect combo.
Personal Pick: Canoe Brewpub West Coast Ale
IPA
Kick up the hoppiness, and play off the sweetness even more.
Personal Pick: Hoyne Brewing Devil’s Dream IPA
Amber/Red Ale
Go the other way, use the maltiness and brighten the saltier and savoury aspect of the corndog.
Personal Pick: Lighthouse Brewing Race Rocks Ale
So there you have it, whatever you’re grilling today, make sure you match it with a perfectly paired beer.
Matter of Beer 