Camra wants beer at Christmas table
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is calling on anyone serving up a Christmas dinner to consider offering one of the 800 bottled real ales available with their food.
CAMRA Press Officer Owen Morris said: "The traditional Christmas turkey dinner is a great time to enjoy the company of family and friends, and for too long people have thought that wine is the only beverage to serve.
"Beer is much more suited to sit next to any dish.
"You do not have to have a pint of each different style. In fact a small stemmed glass is a much better way to enjoy these beers with a meal and a third of a pint measure is perfect for beer and food matching."
CAMRA suggests:
BREAKFAST: Smoked salmon and scrambled eggsTRY: An English style wheat beerWHY: The beer will complement the delicate flavour of the fish, but is not too hoppy as to overwhelm it.RECOMMENDED: Meantime Wheat Grand Cru (Contact brewery for stockists) or O'Hanlon's Double Champion Wheat. (Available at Booths, Thresher and Majestic).
DINNER:For an Aperitif, try fruit beer such as Meantime Raspberry Grand Cru. (Contact brewery for stockists).
STARTER: Vegetable SoupTRY: A pale bitter.WHY: The gentle perfume flavours of the beer will complement the taste of the vegetables and leave a pleasant hoppy aftertaste.RECOMMENDED: Coniston Bluebird Bitter. (Available at Asda, Booths, Co-op, Sainsbury's, Waitrose)
MAIN COURSE: TurkeyTRY: Malty AlesWHY: The bittersweet malt will bring out the subtler tastes of the turkey without overpowering the flavours in the vegetables and trimmings.RECOMMENDED: Fuller's 1845. (Available at Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose).
VEGETARIAN: Nut LoafTRY: A Malty Ale suitable for vegetariansWHY: The spicy, smoky flavours of the malt will complement the nuttiness of the dish.RECOMMENDED: Black Isle Organic Scotch Ale (Suitable for vegans. Contact the brewery for stockists).
DESSERT: Christmas Pudding or mince pies.TRY: A dark stout or porterWHY: The roast coffee and chocolate flavours in dark stout or porter are a perfect match with sweet desserts(including the after dinner chocolate mint).RECOMMENDED: Titanic Stout. (Available at Sainsbury's)
