Bar food and beer go hand in hand and there really is nothing better than sharing a pint with your friends over a plate of chicken wings. But if you aren’t particularly a beer lover, the great news is that there are lots of great cocktails that also pair well with bar food.
Regardless of what your preferred beverage of choice is, we’ve put together a few great food and drink combinations to try next time you visit a Kelowna sports bar for game night with friends.
Chicken Wings & Wheat Ale
Beer and chicken wings are a match made in heaven, so there is nothing wrong with ordering this classic combo. Wheat beers are typically one of the easiest styles to drink because of their natural, citrusy flavour. This makes them both easy to consume but also easy to pair with your favourite chicken wing glaze or rub. You could keep this combination simple by ordering a classic buffalo wing, but if you really want to take it to the next level, consider ordering lemon pepper or sweet chilli to help bring out the citrus flavour in the beer.
Brandt’s Kettle Chips & Old Fashioned
An Old Fashioned might be the last thing you think of pairing with kettle chips, but the combination of vanilla and caramel notes in the Old Fashioned mixed with the salty kettle chips is surprisingly delicious. Our Brandt’s Kettle Chips are covered in smoked blue cheese crumbles, blue cheese dressing, bacon crumble, balsamic glaze, diced tomatoes and scallions. Paired with a classic drink like the Old Fashioned, this combination is sure to make your taste buds happy!
Apple Bourbon BBQ Ribs & IPA
An IPA (Indian Pale Ale) is traditionally a stronger beer with more of a bitter taste that often appeals to a more seasoned beer drinker. Because of its robust flavour, it makes a great partner for our Apple Bourbon BBQ ribs. The sweetness from the apple and barbecue sauce does a great job of balancing out the bold flavours of an IPA, so the two go together like two peas in a pod.
Nachos & Hard Seltzer
Nachos are an all-around fan favourite when it comes to bar food, which makes them a classic choice for game night. They are also a great food option if you or someone else in your group is gluten-free, as most sports bars can swap their regular chips for corn chips. While beer and nachos are another classic combination, if you are wanting to be mindful of gluten a hard seltzer can be a great alternative to pair with nachos. Hard seltzers have become increasingly popular over the past few years and there are lots of different flavours to choose from, but lime would be a classic flavour to pair with a plate of nachos.
Whether you’re looking to stick with your classic beer and wings combination or experiment and try something a little different, these food and drink pairings are a great place to start. Next time you’re out at a Kelowna sports bar for game night with your friends, consider getting a bit creative and trying something a bit different than what you’re used to!