The Best Beer & Booze That Goes With A Low & Slow BBQ

BBQ and a beer. They just go well together. That’s no secret. And if you like your barbecues Low N Slow, your booze options don't end at a beer. 

There's plenty of drinks that bring out the full flavour of the meat and give your palate just the right hit. Such as these six:

Lager

Why does an ice cold froth taste so damn good with slow-cooked meat? Answer: it’s partly the crisp, refreshing cold of the lager. But mainly it’s the sweet, malty taste complementing the peppery or vinegary sauce on the meat. The dry finish of the beer on the rich meat is just the finishing touch. Any of the good old amber lager beers like VB (yes, it’s a lager, despite the name), Toohey’s New, XXXX, or Heineken are terrific BBQ beers. If you’re having a roast pork or something fatty, go for a snappier, bright pale ale to cut through the fat. Avoid hoppy, dark ales or stouts that will overwhelm the meat… and your palate.

Cider

Criminally ignored by most BBQ lovers, but cider makes total sense for enjoying rich, smoky, peppery food. The sweet drink is best served over ice and is always a winner, especially with pork.

Wine

The trick with wine is to match it to the flavour of your meat. If you’re barbecuing something with a rich, tangy sauce, find a fruity white with citrus notes or a smoky red with spiciness, such as a Malbec. Cooking something with classic tomato sauce or spicy chilli marinade? A Sangiovese or Shiraz is what you’re after. The right wine will bring out the flavours of the meat even more so you truly appreciate the rich flavours therein. But what if you’re going somewhere and not sure what meat or sauce you’re going to be eating? Try a rose; versatile enough to match anything whether it be sweet, spicy, salty or peppery.

Prosecco

There’s a saying among some Low ‘N Slow-ers: Bubbles are a BBQ’s best friend. And that sure goes for Prosecco. Taking a bottle to a friend’s BBQ will always go down well…in every sense.

Bourbon

Sweet, spicy, oakey, aged…bourbon offers all the same, great flavours of a low and slow barbecue: That beautiful taste of the American South. Bourbon is a surprisingly versatile drink. Delicious neat or easily worked into any number of cocktails, or just go for the classic and serve it in a tall glass over ice then fill to the top with cola.

Whisky Highball

Cocktails at barbecues need to be refreshing. That means long, tall glasses (highballs) and lots of ice. Send down a shot or two of whisky and top with ginger ale for something simple-yet-sensational. You could substitute soda for ginger ale (which is apparently all the rage in Japan at the moment), but where’s the fun in that?

There’s nothing quite like a Low ‘n’ Slow BBQ. Start your Low & Slow journey and talk to the experts at Barbeques Galore in store or online.