When pairing food and beer occasionally you have to think outside the norm. I have been pairing my Oktoberfests with German sausages, vinegar laced pickles and pretzels for years. Recently, I came across a food and beer pairing chart from the Brewers Association. (Get it here) To my surprise, it made the suggestion of pairing Oktoberfest beers with Mexican food.
Ok, this caught me off guard because it was so far out off what I normally think of when drinking German beers. I began thinking of why this would be. As a kid who loved Western Civilization, I know there was an influx of Germans in the first half of the 1800's to modern day Texas and Mexico. Modern day Mexican food also seems to originate in the same area. In fact Mexico City even has a rather large Oktoberfest celebration.
I have prepared a few dishes such as nachos and quesadillas, and I have been pleasantly surprised at the match. Additionally, it should be noted that the truer the beer holds to the style the better the pairing. Spiciness seems to hold up to Oktolberfests and the beer provides the requisite cooling. The spice cumin seems to play really nice with the maltiness of Oktoberfests as well.
So when thinking of beer and food, think beyond the obvious, and you never know what you may find. If you have a good pairing suggestion please leave a comment. I am always looking for something new to try.
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