Beer Pairings For Global Scouse Day

Global Scouse Day is approaching.  For those unfamiliar with it, it is a day (February 28th) in which we celebrate all things Liverpool and usually with a pan of Scouse – the stew with which the city is synonymous. ​

​More on what Global Scouse Day is about can be found on the official website, here: Global Scouse Day
 
You can follow the Global Scouse Day Twitter feed right here at this link: 
​https://twitter.com/GlobalScouseDay
 
With a few weeks to go until the big day, we’ve decided to pick out some beer pairings you can try out with your Scouse – be it blind, with lamb or even with beef.  Ultimately, you can drink whatever you like best with your Scouse, but in the spirit of all things Liverpool, we’ve picked some options out for you all.  It just so happens that many of the Liverpool Beer Collective’s member breweries make some superb beers to go with Scouse and we’ve listed a few of them here and places where you can pick them up.

Photo courtesy of Black Lodge Brewery

Black Lodge Brewery
Combine our Minds - Black IPA
Black IPAs are often tricky beers for those unfamiliar with them; the debate still goes on whether an IPA (India Pale Ale) can actually be dark given the nomenclature involved, but that’s not what we’re looking at here at all. 

​Black Lodge Brewery’s recent foray into this style of highly hopped darker beer, Combine Our Minds, goes rather well with a meaty or hearty and rich stew.  Better than you would expect, even.

A rounded caramel-malt, nutty backbone courtesy of the malt bill and then the fruitiness from late hop additions in the brewing process go well with Scouse.  The balance of sweetness and bitter flavours along with the rounded mouthfeel of this ale mean it provides a competent foil to goes with your stew and brown bread.

Carnival Brewing
Urban Shaker – Oatmeal Stout
Sometimes eating Scouse, you just have to think of something deep, dark and rich which will stand up as a pairing.  If you want this but don’t want to wander into double figure abv territory, this Oatmeal Stout from Carnival fits the bill nicely.  

 The use of dark malts bring chocolate flavours and hints of umami to the front, which in turn bring out the best in the meat your using.  The subtle sweetness of the ale does bring an added dimension to the pairing too.

Photo courtesy of Alex Jackson

Alex Jackson's Instagram

Chapter Brewing
Puck at the Helm – Golden Ale
A Golden Ale is often regarded as a simple beast and usually underrated on the whole as a style when compared to other beers than are vying for the spotlight. 

​Again with this pairing, the balance between the sweeter elements of the beer derived from the malts are played off and reined in by some gentle hopping, just enough to provide a gentle bitterness and to add to the mouthfeel of this brew. 

The bready flavours also present from the malts are a welcome change of gear in pairing with the stew (and compliment the brown roll or crusty bread you have at hand to mop up the excess stew!

Glen Affric Brewery
Rutting Stag – American Red Ale
The combination of different roasted malts in tandem with a hoppy push gives a few notes in this Red Ale to bring attention to and compliment your dish. 

​Red malts give rise to sweet, but gently spicy notes, toast, honey and a nuttiness which should all bring something different out of your stew.  

Photo courtesy of Glen Affric Brewery

The use of hops to bring bitterness and juiciness and the level of residual sugar should also give a soft mouthfeel with enough lightness to cut through any fattiness or richness presented by the stew.

Photo courtesy of Mike Corbett

Handyman Brewery
No.03 Sour Ale
A slightly different take on things here, with a sour beer providing some very contrasting character which will bring the best out of both the beer and the Scouse. 

Sour beers are often excellent accompaniments to food and whilst they can be intimidating for those who’ve never tried them, it’s a chance worth taking. 

​The acidity and carbonation of this beer will provide a clean cutting edge to deal with the richness and fattiness of the lamb and/or stew.

It also provides flavours and aromas of hibiscus, dark berry fruit such as blackcurrant. It also carries a gentle earthiness that works wonderfully with sides of beetroot or cabbage and the stew itself.

Love Lane Brewery
Imperial Stout
An Imperial Stout could be just what you fancy to provide something big, luxiorious and flavoursome to go up against your pan of Scouse. 

This offering from Love Lane Brewery is a rich and warming brew with a broad flavour profile, from coffee, dark chocolate, toasted nutiness through to liquorice. 

Photo courtesy of Jack Walker

​It should play well with the umami notes of the lamb, with the earthier aromas and flavours pairing well with the cabbage or beetroot you choose to go on the side of your stew to make a thrifty meal into a veritable feast, fit for royalty.

Photo courtesy of Neptune Brewery

Neptune Brewery
Abyss – Oatmeal Stout
There are some great beers bein brewed over in Maghull these days, with Neptune cranking through the gears with ever new and excellently executed recipes.  This is one of their tried-and-tested core beers though and it just so happens that Abyss works wonderfully with Scouse.  

​An oatmeal stout, with roasted nutty malt flavours, plenty of coffee and chocolate in the flavour profile and a nice hum of umami to bring the best out of your stew and has an earthiness to work well with sides of either cabbage or beetroot.  

A smooth and full-bodied stout, this ale should help you get the most of of your Scouse and side dishes.

​You can pick some of these beers up or great alternatives in places across Merseyside and Wirral like the following (for delivery for most, given the circumstances!), links to webshops or social media as appropriate:

Craft Taproom
Haul Beer Shop
Hobo Kiosk
Londis, Penny Lane
The Ship and Mitre
Dead Crafty Beer Company
Tap and Bottles
The Black Toad
Hop House

Have a boss Global Scouse Day everyone!!