Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken and Craft Beer Pairing
Chicken and Beer
Lemon pepper grilled chicken provides zest, tangy with a nice grilled, bold flavor, so what type of brew would be good with this recipe? To find out what would pair well with this delicious and yet light entree would require an understanding of what is in the recipe itself and how to prepare it properly. Let's look at the recipe outline and instructions and then take a look at what kinds of beer would make an overall great meal the way a meal was meant to be enjoyed.
"The way a meal was meant to be enjoyed."
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 chicken half | |
| Calories | 277 |
| Calories from Fat | 18 |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Fat 2 g | 3% |
| Carbohydrates 7 g | 2% |
| Protein 28 g | 56% |
| Cholesterol 68 mg | 23% |
| Sodium 1182 mg | 49% |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup lemon pepper
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 cups dry white wine
Cook Time
Instructions
- Grab a small bowl and mix the lemon pepper, dry mustard, and crushed dried rosemary together.
- Grab a medium sized bowl and place the chicken halves inside. Rub them with the garlic and then mix the lemon pepper and rub it in also. Grab the lemon juice and dry white wine and pour them in. Cover and then refrigerate for 3 or more hours before grilling.
- Go outside and preheat your grill for high heat and lightly oil grate.
- Place the chicken on the pre heated grill and begin to grill until meat is no longer pink and juices run clear. Grill to the desired level of tenderness you prefer.
Beer Pairing
Now that we have an idea of what all ingredients and cook time is required for the meal, let's take a look at the next and final factor is completely the perfect overall meal. Beer pairing is an art and a science which needs careful planning to truly get the most out of your food and beer. Let's look at the 3 best craft beer picks for this particular pairing.
Lakewood Brewing Company: Hopochondria Session IPA
Sitting at only 3.5% ABV with a nice bitter hop rate of 57, this beer not only tickles this senses and cleanses the palates, but also provides drinkability without burning the chicken. A light and refreshing brew that fits perfectly with grilled chicken. The bitter hops will boost the spiciness provided by the pepper and enhance the flavor of the lemon zest while cleansing the palates after each sip and giving a fresh start to each new bite brought in. This brew is a perfect combo for grilling and the heat as well, so go ahead and refresh yourself with a lighter hop brew!
Real Ale Brewing Company: Gose German-Style Wheat Beer
When it comes to lemon zest and salt licking good, this is the brew to drink. At an ABV level of 4.4% and an IBU rate of only 5, this beer is another light drinking brew that will allow you to drink a six pack without getting hammered. Gose is a light and refreshing brew providing a tangy and zest that would really compliment the lemon flavor of the chicken and bring a balanced finish with the salt taste of the beer and the pepper of the chicken. Overall goodness to give a well rounded enjoyable experience to both the meal and the beer.
Stone Brewing Company: Stone Smoked Porter
Last, but surely not least is a venture over to the dark side of the force with a smoky, robust flavor that is sure to soothe your palates and enhance the grilled melody of the chicken. A little stronger on the ABV scale sitting at 5.9% with a IBU rate of 53 leaning more towards the side of a sipper with a nice bitter cleanse, but overall rounded and smooth going down. This beer is sure to put out any fire for the drinkers that don't like the pepper spice of the chicken, but add an interesting twist to the lemon zest as the smoky notes intermingle together, creating a whole new overall flavor to the meal. The brew is great for cool fall time days, but can still be enjoyed in the shade on warm summer evenings as well.
Meal+Beer+=Perfection
Overall the three brews should enhance the lemon pepper grilled chicken experience and allow for a refreshing evening. Remember a meal is not complete without the proper beer, so don't skimp out on what real dining and enjoyment is all about. Cheers!
