What better way to spend a weekend afternoon than gathered with friends around the fire and two very British institutions - afternoon tea and beer. Smell the woodsmoke, taste the delicious home-made fayre and wash down with some of the very best flavours beer has to offer. The findings of a pan-European quiz* released today by Friends of Glass show that despite beer reminding us of home more than any other drink, the British are more likely to sit down with a glass of red wine on a Friday night. This disheartens Jane Peyton, beer sommelier and author, who believes beer is far more versatile when it comes to finding a drink to match your food. She says:
“There is so much snobbery around beer being served with food and so it's an uphill battle trying to convince people to drink beer with food rather than wine. However, you only have to take a look around pubs, bars and shops to see the artisan and craft ales that are now on offer, and which are so much better at pairing with food than wine.
“What's more, beer doesn't have to be served in pint glasses. There are plenty of styles of beer suited for fine dining and which are perfectly suited to champagne flutes and wine glasses.
“Also, don't assume that beer is a man's drink and that women want to drink wine instead. Beer is historically female and has more female elements and connections to the feminine than any other. For example, women were the first brewers of beer; the part of the hop used to make beer is the female part; hops are a rich source of phytoestrogens; and the major deities of beer are female - Ninkasi and Dea Latis are two of them.”
At a beer tasting for Friends of Glass, Jane paired a selection of beers to accompany a cosy afternoon tea. “Many venues serve afternoon tea with a glass of champagne but beer is much better for a number of reasons such as a huge variety of flavours that enhance food and the diversity of styles that means the sweet dishes have a match too. Beer is Britain's national drink so what better excuse than to indulge and combine the best of British - beer and afternoon tea!” adds Jane.
