When choosing the perfect beer, the starting point is the time and place: what’s the occasion? For example, a summer barbeque will demand something ‘sessionable’ and refreshing, whilst a dinner party will suit beers to savour.
The first aim is to match the intensity of the beer and food flavours. We can make the beer complement the food, or be in contrast. Beer is better than wine for food matching because its carbonation and acidity make for perfect palate cleansing.