What Beer Goes Best with Pulled Pork? A Perfect Pairing Guide

Pulled pork and beer is a match made in heaven. The tender, smoky porkcontrasts beautifully with the right beer, taking your barbecue experience to new heights. But with so many beer styles to choose from, what brew is best for pulled pork?

Through research and taste testing I’ve found that certain beer styles consistently complement pulled pork sandwiches tacos, nachos, and beyond. Here’s a guide to help you find the perfect beer to pair with your pulled pork and elevate your meal to beer nirvana.

Malty Brown Ales Are a Pulled Pork Favorite

Brown ales are one of the best picks for traditional pulled pork. Newcastle Brown Ale or Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale both have a toasty, caramel maltiness that echoes the sweet, smoky flavors of slow-cooked barbecue. Their medium body and subtle roastiness stands up well to pork’s rich unctuousness. The slight bitterness also helps cut through saucy, fatty pork.

Porter’s Roasty Notes Match Smoky Pulled Pork

Another great pairing is porter This dark beer style often has coffee and chocolate notes that complement the charred, smoky essence of authentic barbecue pulled pork Robust porters like Founders Porter or Deschutes Black Butte Porter can handle the meaty richness. Their roasted malt aroma and flavor when sipped alongside a tender pulled pork sandwich is downright magical.

Amber Lagers Bring Out Sweet Sauces

For pulled pork with a sweeter, ketchup or molasses-based barbecue sauce, an amber lager is sure to please. Alaskan Amber, Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan, or other German-style Vienna or Märzen lagers have a bready, biscuity maltiness that plays off the sauce’s tangy sweetness beautifully. Their crispness also cuts through the richness.

India Pale Ales Contrast Spicy Pork

Like heat with your pulled pork? A hop-forward IPA pairs excellently. The pleasant bitterness of an IPA like Bell’s Two Hearted Ale or Firestone Walker Union Jack helps temper chili pepper and cayenne spiciness. The hops’ grapefruit, pine, and tropical fruit flavors also contrast lusciously with smoky pork. Just avoid ultra-bitter double IPAs.

Wheat Beers Suit Ethnic Pulled Pork Dishes

For Asian fusion pulled pork buns, tacos al pastor, or Southern-style barbecue nachos loaded with pico de gallo, a wheat beer offers balance. Hefeweizens like Weihenstephaner or witbiers including Allagash White have low hoppiness, letting the acidity and flavor of citrusy salsas and sauces shine. The wheat provides a creamy mouthfeel that melds beautifully with the tender meat.

Pilsner Cuts Through Fat for Classic Sandwiches

Can’t go wrong with a classic pulled pork sandwich piled high with slaw? Then grab a crisp, clean pilsner. The bready maltiness plays off the sweet pork, while the hops slice through the meat’s richness. German pilsners like Bitburger or domestic craft versions like Firestone Walker Pivo Pils bring crunchy, palate-cleansing refreshment to balance out the heavy pulled pork.

Fruit Sours Contrast Sweet Sauces

For pulled pork with very sweet, fruity barbecue sauces, a tart, fruity sour beer makes an exciting pairing. The acidic tang contrasts with the sticky sweetness, while the fruit notes in beers like Cascade Sang Noir or Destihl Wild Sour Series complement the sauce flavors. It’s a riff on the classic sour and sweet combination.

Schwarzbier’s Roast Accents Smoky Pork

If you smoke your own pulled pork or use a deeply charred commercial version, a dark lager like schwarzbier adds another layer of roasted flavor. With notes of coffee and chocolate, these black lagers have a subtle burnt quality that enhances the smokiness. Try Samuel Adams Black Lager or Kosmic Mother Funk Schwarzbier alongside intensely smoky pulled pork.

Dunkel Lagers Balance Carolina Style

Vinegary, mustard-sauced pulled pork from the Carolinas benefits from a hearty, malty partner like a dunkel lager. Brews such as Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel have a rich Munich malt character and low bitterness that forms a delicious contrast to the pork’s sharp tang. The chocolate and nutty flavors also work well with pork’s richness.

Mexican Lagers Suit Tacos

For pulled pork tacos or tostadas with fresh salsas, reach for a light, easy-drinking Mexican lager. Tecate, Dos Equis Amber, or Negra Modelo have just enough maltiness to echo the sweetness of the pork but without overpowering the bright salsa flavors. Their crispness also helps refresh the palate.

Sample Brands to Find Your Favorite Combo

Beyond the style, try pairing your pulled pork with brands known for excellence in those categories. Some of my favorite beer and pulled pork pairings include Founders Porter with smoky pulled pork, Victory Prima Pils with tangy Carolinian pulled pork, and New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale with pulled pork nachos.

Experiment to find your own perfect match by picking up a variety six-pack with different recommended styles. Then taste test each brew alongside your pulled pork and experience the magic firsthand. With so many options, the possibilities for an incredible beer and pulled pork pairing are endless.