Weekend Beer Tasting: Beer for Crayfish

The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter offers a guide to pairing beer with crayfish, a popular delicacy in Sweden. The article, written by Sanna Lindberg, suggests that beer is an excellent companion for crayfish due to how it interacts with the dish's distinct flavors.

Lindberg explains that the saltiness, sweetness, and umami of crayfish significantly mellow the bitterness in beer. This interaction allows the beer's fruity notes to become more prominent. She advises against overly fruity or banana-like wheat beers and hazy IPAs, which might overpower the crayfish.

The article recommends four specific beer styles for a crayfish party: a light lager (Drip from Omnipollo), a pale ale (Norn pale ale from Oppigårds), a saison (Saison de Dottignies from Brouwerij de Ranke), and a stout (Wisby stout from Gotlands bryggeri). Each is presented with its alcohol percentage, volume, and Swedish Systembolaget product number.

Lindberg details how each beer style is affected by the crayfish. For instance, the lager's malt body might become toastier and its citrus notes fresher. The pale ale's bitterness could soften, bringing out stone fruit flavors, while the saison's yeast aromas might become more floral. The stout, in particular, is highlighted for its roasted notes contrasting with the crayfish's saltiness and sweetness, further enhancing chocolate and coffee undertones in the beer.