Beer or Wine – The Perfect Chicken Wing Pairing?
As a foodie and an admirer of both craft beer and fine wines, I often wonder what the perfect food pairing is. What follows is a monthly debate on just that. Once a month I’ll toss out a food for pairing suggestions from my fellow beer geeks and wine snobs. Some dishes will come with a convention that popular opinion dictates a specific pairing. Other posts will present a dish that is a toss-up between beer or wine. I look forward to hearing your suggestions in this conversation. Be creative, challenge norms, have fun, and check back often to read what others have to say.
I have a dirty secret. And yes, one day Mrs. G. is going to catch me red, er, orange handed. She is going to come home early one evening and find me in the bedroom passed out with orange buffalo sauce caked onto my face and stained all over our crisp white sheets. Diana Krall will be playing in the background as I lay in ecstasy with a deviant grin smudged across my mouth. A littering of bones will be tossed haphazardly around me and our pug will most likely be lying dead from choking on the splinters.
I know this picture is sad, but I just can’t help myself. I am addicted to chicken wings. I could eat them every meal of the day. When I was in Ecuador studying abroad what I craved most from home wasn’t my Dad’s steaks and homemade wine nor my Grandparents’ homemade spaghetti and meatballs. No, it was chicken wings and an ice cold beer. And it didn’t even have to be good beer. Bush Light would suffice. (As a side note, this doesn’t say a lot for neither Ecuador’s quality of beer nor my taste at the time.)
Which brings me to this month’s Beer or Wine Pairing challenge – Buffalo Chicken Wings. I’m talking real Buffalo Chicken Wings and not any of those hundreds of other flavors that fill up wing joint menus. I’m talking hot. I’m talking spicy. I’m talking peppery. I’m talking buttery. I’m talking Buffalo. Don’t give me Thai or honey mustard or even spicy garlic. To quote Cousin Bobo, “That’s bull-a-shit.” And don’t you dare mention wings with sticky, goopy BBQ sauce. I’m talking the original served with blue cheese dressing and celery. What would you pair them with and why?
Me? It has to be beer. Thankfully, my taste buds are a bit more enlightened than in college. I enjoy a pale ale with strong citrus hops alongside my hot chicken wings. The fruit notes help wash down the spice. IPAs a tad bit aggressive and tend to fight with the spice of the wings. Bitter pale ales are also out as the flavors clash between the dishwater of the bitter and the heat of the wings. What about you? What do you prefer? I am especially curious to hear from my wine snob friends. What wine would you pair with wings? Chenin Blanc? Chardonnay? Maybe you are out of the box and will toss me Muscadine?
If you like those citrus notes in your beer, I’m thinking that a dry yet fruity Alsatian riesling or German kabinett-to-spaetlese riseling would do fine. Me? I’d go for a sauvignon blanc that had a nectarine aroma and dryish-fruity taste, like maybe from Napa or New Zealand’s Marlborough Valley. But that’s me (I’d also skip the bleu cheese, keep the celery, and add Jump Up And Kiss Me hot sauce with passion fruit; call me a philistine, but I’ll take passion fruit over bleu cheese any day).
Good suggestions on the wine! I have thought of trying a riesling with my wings. Although, I might look odd sitting in a greasy wing joint with a glass of white wine in hand. If they’d even have any…
Not sure on the dry finish of the sauvignon blanc though. I don’t think it would quench the heat.
I have to agree with everyone here – I would go Pale Ale and if I wouldn’t go craft. I’d do straight up “American” Bud Light/Miller Light. However, I did try Summer Shandy with wings and it was spot on. As far as wine, I think Riesling is the way to go. It’s just to easy of a pair. But in the end, drink what you want to drink. If you like some Boone’s or Arbor Mist, then drink it with the wings.
I hear you on all but the Boone’s and Arbor Mist… I did have a Shock Top seasonal a few weeks ago with my hot wings. It was their apple and honey crisp spring and dang did it go well.
OH MY GOSH! Have I got the place for you…if you ever make it down to Tampa. It’s called Hattricks. Great sports bar in an old building – read character with lots of flat panel TVs. I, too, have been having odd cravings for wings and beer lately, and they really do have the best ones in town! As well, they have craft beers! My favorite to go with the wings is a Florida pale ale that has fruity undertones. And I’m not even a huge wing fan! Now the G-man on the other hand…y’all should talk.
You’ll never believe this but I was in Tampa this week for work and ate at Hattricks last night. Check out my Twitter and Untappd checkin. I ordered the wings and they were awesome. I definitely understand the designation as best wings in town. For beer, I had the Florida Avenue India Pale Ale.
Holy cow! No way! And yes, it’s the Indian Pale ale that I think pairs so well!! Talk about serendipity. If you ever get back this way, gives us a shout! I know a great wing joint….
I’m headed to Tampa soon. Do you and G-man want to meet for wings at Hattricks? Send me an email if you do.
Oh my! I did a very similar article to this, but it was in reference to spicy food – which for me, always involves wings! I’d say a nice, clean lager or pilsner, and I happen to have a list of preferred favorites if you want to take a gander:
http://iamthebeersnob.com/2011/11/27/beer-that-tames-the-fire/
I see you have two personalities online. I was confused at first! I enjoy both!
Why thank you. And yes, I’m a certified multi-personality!