The Best Snacks That Go With Beer: Munchies for Beer Drinkers

The week was tough. Work was hard, days were stressful. It’s times like these when nothing sounds better than sitting back, shooting the breeze with friends (or the dog) and drinking some cold ones.

Beer tastes great and can be refreshing after a long day. But do you know what’s even better? Adding snacks into your evening plans. Nothing hits the spot like beer snacks, especially when the grub is salty or savory.

Tips for Pairing Beer With Food

The best snacks that go with beer play into the strengths of the specific drink. If a beer is strong and rich like a stout, choose a snack that complements it. You can use this same idea with light beers, bitter beers and so on.

A Little Goes a Long Way

One thing to keep in mind is that you don’t need to overdo it. Variety can be nice, but it’s not mandatory to get a bunch of different snacks. The cuisine doesn’t need to be some fancy, elaborate culinary masterpiece. Sometimes the simplest foods make the biggest impact!

Strong Flavors Should Be Paired With Other Strong Flavors

Even in its lightest form, beer is a distinct and potent beverage. There are exceptions, but it’s usually going to be front and center on the taste buds no matter what foods you eat with it. Lean into that fact, and choose options with robust flavors!

Take heavy beers like double IPAs and imperial stouts, for example. These drinks are dark and rich, so they’ll go best with smoked meats like goose and beef brisket or with dense desserts made with dark chocolate.

On the flip side, let’s say you’re drinking a lager or wheat ale. Generally, these types of beers are light and refreshing, so you could eat just about anything with them from spicy wings all the way to baked fish.

What Are the Best Snacks With Beer?

Everyone’s got their own preferences. Some people have homemade cuisine that’s been part of their family tradition for generations. On the other hand, you have people who never eat anything when they’re drinking and are looking to change their ways.

If you fall into the first category, then kudos! You know what you like and you’re sticking with it. But if you fall into the latter category, we’re here to give you some delicious beer snack options for the next time you’re cutting loose.

Beef Jerky

The old reliable snack that’s been a favorite for ages. Whether you’re out on the lake or stashing it at home, beef jerky is a filling snack that takes a little more effort to chew than other options. But that’s part of what’s great about it!

You can’t just idly munch on it, you have to take your time and work at it. This gives you the chance to absorb the boldness and appreciate how it mingles with your beer.

Wild River Old Fashioned Beef Jerky

When you want a traditional flavor made with 100% beef, Wild River® jerky is your best option. It’s rugged and meant to be eaten slowly so you can savor every rich, satisfying piece.

Mild Old Fashioned Beef Jerky and Black Pepper Old Fashioned Beef Jerky are authentic, classic and full-flavored beef jerky that pair well with lagers, pilsners and porters.

Green Chile Old Fashioned Beef Jerky and Hot Old Fashioned Beef Jerky are two quality jerky snacks that pack a spicy kick. These styles would both taste great with IPAs, amber/red ales and wheat beers.

Flavored Chips

Who doesn’t like that salty crunch of chips with their beer? Standard potato chips, barbecue-flavored, jalapeno cheddar, salt and vinegar–doesn’t matter. When you open up a bag of chips, it’s hard to keep your hand out of it.

You start chomping a handful of chips and before you know it, you’re holding the bag upside down and dumping the crumbs into your mouth. Nearly all chips go well with nearly all beers, but we’d recommend eating chips when you’re in the mood for a refreshing lager or pilsner.

Meat Sticks

Hunters and the people in their lives know the gamey goodness of venison sticks. Those who don’t hunt or have hunter friends or family members still appreciate a quality store-bought beef stick.

The standard beef stick profile is mild and slightly smoky, but they can also come in variations that include spicy, cheese-infused and more. A cold pilsner or pale ale would be the perfect beer to enjoy with any style of meat stick.

Salted Nuts

Back in the day, you’d walk into a dive bar and see peanut shells scattered all over the floor. Bartenders would let the customers crack the nuts and let the shells fall where they may. The staff would sweep up the debris at the end of the night after the last regular wandered out of the building.

Things have changed for the most part, but nuts are still a favorite among beer drinkers. Peanuts, cashews and almonds have the perfect combination of salty and sweet and can pair well with any style of beer.

Pretzel Bites with Cheese

Right now in a small town in Wisconsin, some lucky guy is chowing down on a hot mound of soft-baked pretzels with a side of melted cheddar cheese. Better yet, he’s washing it down with a smooth, crisp American light beer. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?

Pretzels are excellent. Doesn’t matter if they’re fresh out of the oven served with gooey cheese or bite-sized crunchy ones you eat by the handful. Similar to salted nuts, you can’t go wrong coupling this snack with just about any beer.

Fries or Onion Rings

Plenty of appetizers and treats are better for you these days, but sometimes you’re in the mood for something greasy. French fries and onion rings fit the bill with their decadent crispiness that reminds us of good times at the state fair. They’re ideally served with a blonde, pale or red ale, but they also go well with a dark lager.

Popcorn

Popcorn is a classic snack that never seems to lose popularity. Popcorn may not be suitable as a main course, but it does a great job of keeping people content between meals without making them feel stuffed.

Popcorn is light and salty but very mild. However, it also makes a good base to add a bunch of other flavors to, from chocolate to hot spices. It’s a versatile snack that can happily make any beer its dance partner.

Standard buttered popcorn works with light lagers all the way up to IPAs, while kettle corn or other dessert popcorn options would do nicely with a porter or stout.

Try Beef Jerky With Your Next Beer

Seven solid choices to consider and you can’t go wrong with any of them. But we’d obviously recommend Wild River beef jerky for your next beer snack. It has a satisfying flavor that teams up well with numerous beer styles.

Our jerky contains 15 grams of protein and is made with 100% beef. Wild River beef jerky can be purchased online or at a store near you.

Snacks for Beer FAQs

Is Beef Jerky Good With Beer?

You bet it is! Beef jerky requires slow, deliberate chewing that builds up the juices in your mouth. Mix in a sip of beer and ignite your taste buds.

What Kind of Beer Goes With Beef Jerky?

Everything from light lagers to porters will go with beef jerky. It all depends on the style and flavor of the jerky!

What Snacks Don’t Go With Beer?

Interesting question. Hot take: ANY snack goes with beer! Even something distinct like peppermint, if you pair it with the right drink (probably a coffee stout), goes with beer.

The key is to indulge your own flavor profile. You’ll appreciate the beer even more with a good snack by your side.