Are you looking for an excuse to have a party? If so, why not make gourmet finger food and craft beer the stars of your show? Sure, chips and dip are tasty but don’t let that be the only thing on your menu. Take it up a notch by treating yourself to delicious mouth-watering bites accompanied by unique flavor profiles of craft beers meant to tantalize taste buds like never before. Come with us as we explore new possibilities for your next foodie gathering or just simple night in!
Gourmet Finger Foods
Finger foods are a must-have for any gathering, and these gourmet upgrades take finger foods to the next level.
Pigs in a Blanket
This classic favorite just got more sophisticated with our gourmet upgrade – replacing the traditional hot dog with freshly made sausages infused with herbs and spices, wrapped in flakey puff pastry. A pilsner beer pairs well with this dish as it complements its savory flavors without overpowering it.
Deviled Eggs
These delectable bites are given an upgrade by using a mixture of cream cheese and Dijon mustard for the filling, topped off with capers for a slight hint of salty brininess. An IPA beer is the perfect match for these eggs due to its hoppy bitterness that contrasts nicely against their creamy texture.
Cheese Straws
These cheesy tubes get an upgrade by adding aged Cheddar or Gruyere cheese to their dough base, bringing out their irresistible flavor even more. This can be paired best with a crisp white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc, which offers lightness and acidity that cuts through the richness of the cheese.
Crab Cakes
Instead of breadcrumbs, we opted to use panko crumbs as they add airiness and crunch to these cakes, plus utilizing only fresh crabmeat gives them an added depth of seafood flavor. To pair this dish, try a semi-dry Riesling – its fruity sweetness helps bring out all the delicate flavors in the dish without being overly sweet.
Spanakopita
This Greek favorite gets more flavorful by providing more spinach than feta – allowing you to truly taste all those delicious veggies! An oaked Chardonnay wonderfully complements this appetizer’s earthy notes and brings out additional layers of flavor in each bite.
Chicken Satay
Ai??Instead of using store-bought peanut sauce, homemade satay sauce makes this chicken skewer much tastier! The herbal notes from coriander, lemongrass, galangal and green chili perfectly balance out the nuttiness from peanuts and coconut milk used in this sauce. Pilsner beer is great choice when serving satay since its maltiness adds an extra layer of complexity to this savory dish without overshadowing it.
Vegetable Samosas
These traditional Indian treats get remixed by using vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and peas rather than beef or lamb mixtures usually found in samosas. For best results pair vegetable samosas with a dry rosé wine or sparkling cider – both enhance their subtle flavors while still remaining light enough not to overpower them.
Caprese Skewers
Tiny mozzarella balls are threaded onto skewers along with cherry tomatoes and basil leaves before being drizzled with balsamic glaze – making sure each bite is bursting with Italian flavors! To accompany these flavorful delights try pairing them with Rosso di Montalcino which has red fruit aromas that meld together beautifully with the salad’s sweetness.
Grilled Shrimp
Shrimp is marinated in garlic butter before being cooked on skewers over charcoal fire giving them an irresistible smoky aroma that sets it apart from other shrimp appetizers.. A Belgian witbier pairs brilliantly well due to its biscuity characters that compliment the grilled shrimp’s delicate sweetness without overwhelming it.
Fried Calamari
To add some zest we season our calamari rings liberally before battering them – resulting in morsels bursting full of flavor! Paired best served alongside Belgain dubbel beer; which has dark roasted qualities similar to squid ink present in calamari yet without detracting from its natural taste too much..
Lobster Rolls
We use Maine lobster meat combined into mayo-based dressing then stuffed into lightly buttered brioche rolls giving these sandwiches a luxurious touch.. Pairing it up would be easy thanks to India Pale Ale (IPA); whose strong hoppiness stands up well against thick richness while opening up all those tasty flavors within lobster rolls even further!.
Mini Quiches
Our version features caramelized shallots thrown with diced ham pieces and Emmentaler cheese before being covered fragrant pastry case.. Enjoy mini quiches alongside German wheat beers like hefeweizen; whose smooth carbonated tones help offset quiche’s creamy texture splendidly!
Tartlets
Fresh blueberries baked atop tender vanilla crust make for beautiful tartlets when combined together.. Best enjoyed when served alongside lagers – due their carbonation aiding cut through tartlet’s creaminess close texture so one could enjoy their fruity goodness easier!.
Crostini
Traditional crostinis get an upgrade by transitioning from a sliced French baguette to crusty sourdough. To add savory depth to each bite, we top our crostinis with garlic confit then finish them off with freshly grated parmesan. A crisp Italian pinot grigio is an ideal accompaniment for this dish as its light acidity helps bring out all the flavors without overpowering it.
Bruschetta
We remixed traditional bruschetta by using a mix of white beans and diced tomatoes as our topping – providing a healthier yet equally tasty alternative! To maximize the flavor experience pour yourself a glass of a light, fragrant rosé which enhances this appetizer’s fresh taste while adding sweetness that punctuates the tomato’s acidic flavors.
Stuffed Mushrooms
These mushrooms get stuffed with seasoned pork, onions and bell peppers making sure each bite is packed full of flavor! An amber ale would be perfect partner-in-crime to stuffed mushrooms due its sweet maltiness which nicely accents the mushroom’s earthy tones while still avoiding overwhelming them in any way.
Fried Zucchini Blossoms
These little bites are given more delectable by replacing ordinary mozzarella cheese with creamy boursin cheese combined with crispy panko crumbs before being deep fried into golden perfection – allowing you to enjoy zucchini blossoms like never before! Bring out their flavor even better by pairing them up with saison beer; whose spiciness finds harmony amongst blossom’s cheesy goodness.
Arancini
Risotto gets reinterpreted here and replaced with Italian Arborio rice filled with fontina cheese and spinach – giving these balls extra depth of flavor apart from usual ones offered by risotto! Best enjoyed when served alongside Belgian tripel beer; which has enough body help balance out arancini’s creamy texture without detracting from overall deliciousness!.
Potato Skins
Potato skins get elevated here thanks to mixture of blue cheese, scallions and bacon sprinkled over them after baking causing those flavors meld together beautifully within single bite.. Bring out all those amazing aromas even further when serving alongside robust stout beer varieties – since they instantly uplift potato skins’ indulgent soul splendidly!.
Jalapeño Poppers
Instead of simply stuffing jalapeños full cream cheese we added diced chorizo sausage mixed within create tantalizing spicy treat! Cool down poppers’ heat somewhat finer Mexican lager such as Corona – its mild carbonation creates lovely contrast between pepper’s soft flesh hotness without taking away too much fun!.
Chicken Wings
Not your typical buffalo wings–these are baked in their own juices that have been heavily spiced before meeting oven resulting in some really flavorful morsels!. Best enjoyed when paired strong IPA beer – its hops bitterness helps cut through poultry fattiness close texture allowing one truly savor every aspect this finger food provides!.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ground chicken cooked slowly added layer complexity hot sauce cream cheeses becoming heavenly gooey mess everyone can’t help but love!. When serving dip try going Golden Ale – its hoppy light body brings out dip’s cheesy sweetness while letting one fully appreciate buffalo wing’s spice forward character too.
Gourmet Finger Food And Craft Beers
With many creative combos of finger food to choose from, there’s sure to be a match made in heaven for you and your guests. Whether it’s the unusual flavor combinations or just plain old deliciousness, finger foods can be both stylish and fun at a party. And no gathering is ever complete without a craft beer, especially when paired with these tasty treats. So don’t be afraid to combine the two in exciting new ways – discover what unique combinations you can come up with! If you found any specialty recipes or craft beer pairings that I didn’t mention in this post, leave me your story down below. Who knows – maybe your contribution will help revolutionize menus worldwide!