IPAs and Craft Chocolate Pairing
IPAs are the most popular family of beer styles in craft beer today. However, they aren’t the first beers most people think of for pairing with craft chocolate. While IPAs can pair beautifully with craft chocolate, it’s not an effortless pairing. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of IPA beer and chocolate pairing!
Challenges of IPA Beer and Chocolate Pairing
IPAs present challenges that can lead to chocolate pairings with harsh, bitter, astringent, and/or clashing flavor qualities. Understanding these challenges is the first step towards creating delightful pairings.
Common Styles of IPA
In this section, we’ll look at some common styles of IPA and discuss their sensory attributes. Each style brings unique elements to the table for IPA beer and chocolate pairing.
- American IPA: Known for its strong hop flavor and aroma.
- Double IPA (DIPA): Offers intensified hop bitterness and higher alcohol content.
- New England IPA (NEIPA): Features a juicy and hazy profile, less bitterness.
Sensory Attributes of Craft Beer
When planning an IPA beer and chocolate pairing, it’s crucial to understand the sensory attributes of Craft Beer, especially IPAs. Attributes like bitterness, aroma, and flavor profile play significant roles in the pairing process.
Chocolate Pairing Tips with IPAs
For a successful pairing, seek out chocolates with complementary flavors and avoid those that clash. Here are some tips:
- Pair bitter IPAs with dark chocolates that have high cocoa content.
- Sweet chocolates might pair well with less bitter, fruity IPAs like NEIPAs.
- Avoid overly sweet or creamy chocolates that can clash with hop bitterness.
Explore More About Hops and Pairings
If you’re curious about hops and want to delve deeper, you can read more about hops here, or listen to a bonus episode explaining hops here.
More On Pairing Techniques
You can order my book Pairing Beer & Chocolate on the Bean to Barstool shop or on Amazon. This book will provide comprehensive insights into IPA beer and chocolate pairing.
Music and More
The music for Bean to Barstool is by indie folk musician Anna ps. You can find out more about Anna’s music in the show notes or at her website annapsmusic.com, where you can also get in touch to book her to play at your brewery or other establishment.
Conclusion
Bean to Barstool is a podcast that looks at the intersections between Craft beer and craft chocolate, using them as lenses for exploring the world of flavor. Hosted by Advanced Cicerone® David Nilsen, this podcast offers a wealth of knowledge on IPA beer and chocolate pairing. Be sure to check out all the episodes here for more tips and insights!
