“These Brett beers deserve some Funk”
I recently gave a training about beer styles to a group of students. During the tasting breakout sessions I was playing some music to keep everyone tuned. Then one of them said “I believe these Brett beers deserve some funk” (private beer geek joke). Yet I turned up the volume and drop a Play that Funky Music from Wild Cherry. That was a beautiful match to Goose Island Sofie and Boulevard tank 7 we were just tasting.
After all Music and Beer are both very emotional experience. They capture signals through our 5 senses, then mix up with your memories, deep inside your lymbic brain, check your your mood, your environment, … add to it a bit a cortex reflection. So yes of course, there must be a way to complement Beer with Music to maximize the perception. Worse case, you’re still left with a great beer and a great song.
But where to start ?
First there’s the historical-traditional approach. Think Munich Weizener with Oum-pa-pa. Not saying it doesn’t work, of course it does but I’m not sure we talk to emotions really. It’s more an intellectual, contextual Beer and Music pairing. So as much as this is exactly what I want during Oktoberfest this won’t be the approach below.
Also most beer styles, at least classic styles, relates to geographies. Thin British beers, German beers, Belgian Beers, American Beers etc… so it could be appropriate to go down that path to pair Beer and Music. Again…Philharmonic Music will make me smile with a Vienna Lager….but for real… no goose bump.
So here we go for a subjective, arbitrary selection of Beer and Music purely based on gut-feel, some few reasons to believe… and definitely an opportunity to try!
Leave me your comments and your best pairing below
Porter & Trip Hop
Cozy with a bit of gravity. Sometime a notch smoky, often stronger than you know but without a useless complexity. Deep brown to black. Yeah man, relax. No need for a Mississippi hit, Bring my family back from Faithless and your best Porter.
Gose & Western Classic
You’ re not sure what’s going on in a Gose. It’s a bit sour, it’s salty, the name doesn’t remind you anything. It can have lime, lemon, cactus fruit. If I had a last wish lost in the desert….I’d have a gose. Try an Otra Vez with a classic from Ennio Morricone for a refreshing thrill
WitBier & French Pop
There’s a vibe of pic nic, just like “rose in the park”. I don’t know why but this unfiltered pale yellow make me feel I can let go. It’s light, it’s low bitter, and it pops with fresh coriander and orange peels. What I need to relax in the park, not too serious, casual and with a visible positive mood. Just discovered a cool song that will make it just cooler. Crisp fresh clean french song with just enough beat and zest: Mojo by claire Laffut with Hoegaarden Wit.
Double IPA & Progressive Rock
Just like a lot of big beer IIPA are meant to be sipped, the Belgian way. Every sip uncover some more flavours . Yet Hoppy beers have that nice simplicity of zesty, grapefruity, resinous or freshly cut grass notes that makes you feel comfortable. I like them rather dry so they don’t build up too much. I like them bitter as it keeps me thirsty. That’s a good job for Lynyrd Skynird – Free Bird and
Pilsner & Heavy Metal
Contrary to huge drums, heavy disto and crowd surfing, Heavy Metal doesn’t need a huge bold beer. Go to Grasspop Metal Meeting and you’ll see everyone with a pilsener, seeking refreshment, simplicity and the option to throw it in the air to go air guitar. Pils keeps you nice and fresh to stand the fire. Whiplash – Metallica with Pilsener Urquel or your local popular pils
Saison & Folk
Yes, folk that has a bit of that impro feel. Like this last stage that plays while the sun rise, with just a guitar and a deep voice. A beauty made of some mystery and some beautiful imperfection. If I would have been to Woodstock in 1969…I would have brought a 6 pack of Saison.
(Session) IPA & Rock
Popular, simple, guitar-bass-drum with that refreshing finish and sometime that herbal whiff floating frontstage. You don’t want to be too intellectual about it. All day IPA, Anytime IPA, Wolf Pup IPA… and Green Day -American Idiot (no no… not because Green reminds me of… hop)
Irish Pop & Irish Rock
I mean, not Titanic style with Di Caprio dancing on the tables. Something dark, roasted, burned but refreshing and casual at the same time. Something that leaves you with a line of nitro foam in your moustache in a pub with a wet dank carpet, tattoos and Irish sweat. Flogging Molly Drunken Lullabies (but as you’re likely to have many of them it doesn’t hurt to finish the night with a last One from U2.
Berliner Weisse & Acid House
Straightforward, jaw dropping lactic acid, total hacking of your taste buds. At the same time fresh, rather light and mouthwatering. Acid House? I’ll pass on that one but if you’re ready to listen to someone possibly under influence…then the incredible Darwin Deez is your hero. 10 Barrel brewing would probably put out loud snowboard hardcore with all their beers but I’ll steal Cucumber Crush with that special tangyness cucumbriness for the occasion or one of my fav…Bikini Sour.
Lambic - Wild Beer & Electronic House
I know a good Funk is definitely a cool vibe but look…Sour face, Complex Acids all the way just like these house beeps and blips, Funky flavors that reminds you a bit of this Tomorrowland moshpit. Put on that Vitalic OK Cowboy album and try a Belgian Gueuze Boon or a Wicked Weed Funkatorium experiment . By the time you’ll reach the bottom of your glass you’ll be at track 4 and it will be time to stand up and put your hands up in the air. Only caviat… you’ll hardly find any decent sour beer in the boiler room.
