by Glenn Magas

Created on: August 20, 2009   Last Updated: August 21, 2009

Living in California, my beer samplings are of many 'west coast' brews, but that doesn't limit my tastes. I love microbreweries and enjoy sampling the different types of beers on their menu. Usually, they feature beers from all over the world, including their very own 'micro-brew', as well as a list of local brews. The flavor of the beers vary and individual's tastes will obviously also vary. But of course, there is a big influence in what I drink here in Los Angeles.

So here are 5 of my beer favorites - with suggested pairings that any beer lover or new beer drinker can appreciate.

1. Blue Moon (http://www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com/)
A Canadian, Belgian-style wheat ale (Toronto Canada based)

This beer is brewed by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. The beer is smooth, light and has a citrus taste to it. It's a frothy beer and great in a chilled mug but I love it straight from the bottle. This beer is best when garnished with a slice of orange as it brings out the citrus flavor of the brew. Blue Moon is paired with just about anything or all by itself. I usually have a burger and fries or spicy chicken wings with this beer.

2. Hite Prime (http://www.hite.com/ in Korean or http://english.hite.com/ in English)
A Korean beer (South Korea based)

According to their website, "This beer is brewed faithfully to the spirit of Reinheitsgebot and German beer brewing tradition." It's a top quality beer, made purely of 100% barley. The beer has a rich aroma and deep flavor. It's best paired with any type of BBQ, Korean short ribs preferred and spicy soon du bu (spicy tofu soup), as well as anything spicy with an Asian flair!

3. Lost Coast Great White (http://www.lostcoast.com/)
An American beer (California based)

This beer is a crisp beer with a hint of citrus. It is extremely refreshing - especially at the beach/pool on a hot summer afternoon. I'm grabbing this beer with a pizza for sure. But it also goes perfect with seafood: crab, lobster, pan seared ahi tuna are also excellent pairings in my opinion. I don't know, I just feel it's a 'beach' kind of beer. Lost Coast has a nice selection of beers that I love, from the Pale Ale to the Downtown Brown so you can't go wrong with their own selection.

4. Widmer Hefeweizen (http://www.widmer.com/)
An American beer (Oregon based)

This brew is my favorite "hef" which is extremely refreshing! It's a great summer beer yet extremely refreshing after a day of snowboarding. It's paired with just about anything: from salad to seafood, but definitely one of those beers to drink with food. Every year I have a Super Bowl beer of choice and Widmer Hefeweizen might be the first 'repeat' beer for my party.

5. Pilsner Urquell (http://www.pilsner-urquell.com/)
A Czech/German beer (Czech Republic based)

This is the official beer of The Open Championships (golf). Which is perfect - because at the 19th hole, I'm looking for a bottle of Pilsner Urquell! It pairs extremely well with golf! I've always loved Pilsner Urquell late at night to close out a long day - or a long drive back from vacation. For me, this pairs well with relaxation!

There is no right or wrong way to pair beer with your food. There are websites that can help, but its your own taste buds and trail and error to get the right beer going with the right food.

Here are some for reference:
Beer Town: http://www.beertown.org/education/pairing.html
Beer Travelers: http://beertravelers.com/lists/pairings.html
Brew Monkey: http://www.brew-monkey.com/articles/pairingbeer.php

In my opinion, beer goes with anything.

Enjoy

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