When it comes to summertime snacks, charcuterie is one of our favorites. Meat and cheese pair perfectly with craft beer, especially when you choose beer in Buffalo. 

Pairings can be tricky, so we put together a list of Buffalo craft beer and charcuterie pairings we recommend for picnics, parties, and the rest of your summer celebrations.  

As you’re choosing meats, cheeses, and beers, remember balance is key. Certain beers can enhance the flavors and spice, while others can tame it. 

If you’re new to the world of pairing, start with these Buffalo-themed recommendations:

IPAs 

Pair With: Hot Capocollo + Brie

This slow-roasted pork is full of spicy and smoked pepper flavor, so it pairs well with a creamy cheese like brie and an IPA to highlight the spicy flavors. 

Buffalocal Picks: Big Ditch’s Dayburner, Community Beer Works’ That IPA, Ellicottville’s Ellicottville IPA, Pressure Drop’s Sticky Trees, Resurgence’s Green Heart IPA, Southern Tier’s Nu Haze, West Shore’s Ferry Run

Kolsch & Pilsners

Pair With: Italian Dry Salami + White Cheddar

This slow-cured specialty meat has a unique richness that pairs well with a white cheddar cheese. Light and crisp beers like kolsch or pilsner are mellow enough to allow the flavor of the salami to shine, but acidic enough to cut through the fat.

Buffalocal Picks: 12 Gates’ Table Smasher, 42 North’s Illumination Pilsner, Community Beer Works’ Let’s Go Pils, Flying Bison’s 716 Kolsch, Resurgence’s Tangerine Kolsch, Steelbound’s Orange Kolsch

Pilsners & Goses

Pair With: Classic Prosciutto + Parmigiano Reggiano

A classic prosciutto is mild, sweet, and a little salty which goes well with a hard aged cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano. Complete the pairing with a light and crisp Pilsner for easy drinking in the summertime or a Gose if you want to enhance the meat’s salty flavor. 

Buffalocal Picks: 42 North’s When the Sun Gose Down, Community Beer Works’ Gose With Strawberry & Lemon, Community Beer Works’ Let’s Go Pils, Resurgence’s Fruited Pils, Hamburg’s Blackberry Gose

Porters or Stouts 

Pair With: Hot Soppressata + Chevre

This coarsely ground salami has a spicy, intense flavor which pairs well with soft chevre and a creamy, rich porter or stout that can cut the heat.

Buffalocal Picks: 12 Gates’ Coffee Porter, Big Ditch’s Make Me Wanna Stout, Southern Tier’s 2XSTOUT

Shop Local

When it comes to pairings, Buffalo beer is the first thing we reach for. As you’re shopping for craft beer in Buffalo, look for our logo. Bottle shops like Consumer’s and grocery stores like Tops and Wegmans are always stocked with Buffalocal brands.