What Beer Goes With Lamb Chops on the Barbie

Lamb chops off the barbecue are one of those meals that doesn't really need any help, and yet the beer you hand somebody while they're eating one can either sit quietly in the background or actually make the meal better, so it's worth about 30 seconds of thought before you open the fridge.

I'm not going to pretend there's a correct answer, because there isn't one, and anyone who tells you otherwise has never watched a backyard full of people all reach for something different. What I can give you is five styles that genuinely work with lamb, and the reason each one works, so you can pick the one that suits how you've cooked the chops.

Pale ale, the safe one that still has something to say

If you only want to think about this once, pour a pale ale. The hops bring a citrusy lift that cuts straight through the fat on a chop, and the light caramel underneath sits nicely against the charred edges, so nothing in the glass is fighting anything on the plate.

It's especially good if you've gone at the chops with rosemary or thyme, because the herbal side of a pale ale picks that up and carries it along.

Dark ale and stout, for anyone who likes it roasty

A dark beer next to a barbecue sounds wrong on paper and works better than it has any right to. The roasted malt in a dark ale or a stout lines up with the char on the chop, and if your marinade has any sweetness in it from honey or balsamic, the malt leans into that rather than arguing with it.

This is the pairing people are most surprised by, and it's the one I'd put in front of somebody who reckons they already know what they like.

IPA, when the seasoning is loud

An IPA has enough bitterness to stand up to the fat, and if you've been heavy handed with garlic or chilli, the piney citrus side of it will hold its own instead of disappearing.

One thing worth knowing is that not every IPA suits the job. Something sessionable works better than a big double, because at that strength the beer stops keeping the lamb company and starts talking over the top of it.

Amber and red ale, the one nobody thinks of

Amber ales are quietly brilliant with lamb. They're malty, just faintly sweet, and there's a roasted nuttiness in them that suits the slightly gamey thing lamb does. If the chops are wearing a spicy rub, that gentle sweetness takes the edge off the heat without flattening the flavour.

Wheat beer, for a hot evening and a light hand

When the chops are simply salted and you want the meat itself to do the talking, a chilled wheat beer is the one. It's soft, a bit citrusy, and it resets your mouth between bites rather than piling more flavour on top. A wedge of lemon in the glass is very good against lemon and herb seasoning.

Serve it properly, because this bit matters more than the style

Get the beer somewhere between 5 and 10 degrees rather than straight out of an ice slurry, because a beer that's too cold has no flavour at all and you may as well be drinking water. Pour it once the chops have come off and had a few minutes to rest, so neither of them is being rushed.

And honestly, I'd rather be told I've got this wrong than have everybody nod along politely. If you've found a pairing that beats one of these, come and tell me in the shop, because I want to know if mine is the lazy answer.

Shop related products

• Thomas Coopers Bootmaker Pale Ale 1.7kg. The pale ale kit, and the easiest place to start if you want to brew your own barbecue beer.
• Coopers Original Dark Ale 1.7kg. The roasty end of the range, and the closest thing on our shelf to that dark malty pairing.
• Thomas Coopers Family Secret Amber Ale 1.7kg. Malty and faintly sweet, which is exactly what lamb wants.
• Coopers European Lager 1.7kg. Crisp and clean for the evenings when you want the meat to do all the work.

Did you know we also stock the Coopers Hefe Wheat kit and the Mangrove Jack's craft cider range in store, including apple, pear, mixed berry and blueberry. They're not on the website, so give us a ring on (08) 8536 4333 to check what's on the shelf.

The rest of the brewing gear lives in our homebrew range and beer supplies, and if you'd rather ask a question than read a shelf, Brewhilder is our homebrew adviser and she'll talk you through a kit without any of the jargon.

Have a read of these next

• 5 beer and food pairings to try with your homebrew
• Why a homemade pale ale suits fish and chips
• How to pair homemade wheat beer with an Aussie brunch

Cheers,
Candeece

I'm still not convinced anybody needs five different beers to eat one lamb chop, and I keep five in the fridge anyway.