CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH AMERICAN CRAFT BEER

American Independence Day falls on Tuesday 4th July and presents a good opportunity to encourage footfall on a quieter day of the week and promote American craft beer and American-themed food to help generate incremental sales.

The tradition of Independence Day dates back to 1776 when American formally separated from British rule. Nowadays, family and friends come together to celebrate their independence with fireworks, parades, barbecues, family gatherings and, of course, American craft beer! In the UK, restaurants, bars and diners can set up their own celebration with US styles stars and stripes bunting and typical American themed craft beer and food pairings such as:

BBQ style meets such as pulled pork, ribs, brisket, burgers – load with toppings or sauce but remember the strong, intense flavours of red meat will work best with a porter, stout or brown ale that exhibits a similar level of intensity. Grilling meat encourages the Maillard reaction, ie. caramelisation of the surface also found in roasted malts used in dark beers.

Fried Chicken – pair with an American IPA containing a high level of bitterness that will cut through the fried batter. The more hot and spicy the fried chicken the more intense you can go with the beer.

Mac n’ Cheese – a perennial favourite amongst Americans and the perfect partner for a crisp, snappy pilsner. The high carbonation and subtle bready flavour notes of the beer will cut through the rich dairy content of the sauce leaving the diner refreshed and craving another bite. Other typical side dishes include potato salad and coleslaw.

S’mores – a typically American sweet treat of marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between two Graham Crackers (flat, hard, cinnamon flavoured biscuits) and perfect paired with a smooth, full-bodied barrel-aged stout bursting with chocolate malt flavours

Cherry/Apple Pie or Cheesecake– offer a beer that’s tart and tangy with a hint of acidity to balance the rich, sweetness of the dessert. If possible, serve a fruited lambic or Kriek that uses the same fruit as that of the dish to finish on a lighter note.

American craft beer is available through national wholesalers or on line from Athletic Brewing, or the Cascade Club Many of the American craft beers available in the UK are recent medal winners from World Beer Cup 2023, the biggest and most competitive beer contest in the world.

Chefs and restauranteurs are invited to make use of the free resources available on www.brewersassociation.org or www.craftbeer.com