Pesto Pasta Pairing Challenge – The Vote

Beer with Basil Pesto?  Who would have thunk?  I wouldn’t have, but Beer in my Belly sure thought it was a winning combination with this month’s first suggestion of Saison Renaud from Mystic Brewery.  So did KC Hop Talk with their nomination of Boulevard’s Tank 7, a farmhouse ale.  I was stymied.  I couldn’t believe the first two suggestions were beer!  I guess this further exemplifies the purpose of this challenge – to force us to question norms.

Pesto Pasta!

The universe was righted though and the white wine suggestions started to pour in like Natty Light at a college frat party (hmmm…  maybe next month’s pairing challenge?).  Five different were suggested from a herbal New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Armchair Sommelier to a dry, crisp Verdicchio from Wander and Wine to a fruity North Carolina Viognier by yours truly.

Alas, you get to be the judge!  Which of the following beer or wines do you think matches best with Pesto Pasta!   

• Beer in my Belly – With pesto pasta, I’d probably use the ‘beer pairing Swiss army knife,’ the saison. In particular, I’d grab a bottle of Saison Renaud from Mystic Brewery in Chelsea, MA. The beer has a nice simple malt and hop bill (pilsner malt and saaz hops) and is decorated with the funky esters that Mystic’s Renaud yeast puts off. The beer has hints of citrus that will cut nicely through the fattier aspects of the pesto and pasta, while the soft cracker/bready malt will blend nicely with the pasta backbone of the dish. Meanwhile, the phenomenal attributes of the spicy saaz hops and the earthy/spicy yeast will tango beautifully with the herbal, basil boost that every pesto needs. In fact, the hops should really make that basil pop. Best of all, Saison Renaud has a lovely carb on it that will scrub the tongue nicely and keep the dish popping, cool, and refreshing, even as the day gets hot and the meal threatens to get heavier on the palate. The beer is also on the light side of medium in body, allowing it to not overpower the dish but accentuate it, which should also do nicely in the summer heat.
• KC Hop Talk – One of my favorite places for Italian influenced dishes in Kansas City, keeps Boulevard Tank 7 on tap, with good reason, because it is the perfect match-up for bold flavorful dish of pesto pasta. Tank 7 is a farmhouse beer with a lot of hop bitterness that includes citrusy, grapefruit, and peppery flavors. All of the characters you would want in a beer paired with pesto pasta.
• Mark Reed via my Facebook Page – Dry white wine. Sauvignon blanc or similar.
• Armchair Sommelier – I love pesto pasta . . . especially in the summer with fresh basil! I always go with an herbal Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. But I’ll bet it would be killer with an Italian Vermentino, as well. Salud!
• Sixteen Paws – Ok, this was fun. I went outside the box on the pesto and did an arugula pesto with orzo pasta. My husband and I debated about the pairing, but we decided to go with a Napa Sauvignon Blanc – Axium. It was crisp without being grapefruity and stood up well to the peppery arugula in the pesto.
• Wander and Wine – Love hearing what everyone would pair with pesto pasta! Pesto is a tough one because it’s rich but not creamy, with a lot of herbal and green notes. Since a few people already suggested a couple of options I’d pair with my pasta, I’ll go out on a limb here and say Italian Verdicchio. It’s a dry and crisp white with nutty and citrusy/green characteristics and a good amount of acid. Could be a great match to match the herbal and nutty notes of the pesto. Cin Cin!
• The Wandering Gourmand – My turn to play. Try as I might, I just can’t imagine a beer with Pesto Pasta. The pesto I prepare tends to be on the spicy side – maybe because I used a little too much garlic (if there can be such a thing…). I pair mine with a NC Viognier. I realize most people outside of NC haven’t tried one of our Viogniers, but think big tropical fruits – mango, tropical fruit, etc. The fruity nature and soft mouth feel will nicely cut through the spicy, sharp, and herbal notes of pesto.

Please cast your vote by Tuesday, July 22!