As far as pairings go, sausage and beer are a match made in heaven. Both come in many varieties, and the same style of beer or sausage can taste different depending on who made it. Variety is great because it gives you more opportunities to find a match that brings you to a gastronomic heaven, but it also means that you have a lot of options to consider before you find the perfect pair.

If you’re looking for a couple of general styles that taste like they’re made for each other, you can’t go wrong with these duos.

Italian Sausage & English Porter
Italian sausages really have a range of flavors, going from mild to spicy with the herbal flavor of fennel or crushed anise seed often shining through. A beer that can handle this rage of flavor without overpowering the milder recipes would be an English Porter. With malty notes that can balance out the spice, an English porter is light enough not to overpower your meal and has earthy, floral notes from the hops that complement the herbs in the sausage.

Try it at Sausage Fest!
Order GetLinked’s Italian sausage &  Ms. Brown’s Porter

Spicy Sausage & IPA
When it comes the the bold, spicy flavors of some sausages like chorizo and andouille – or if you’re from Buffalo, chicken wing or jalapeno – you need a big beer that will be able to hold it’s own. That’s when it’s the perfect time to order an IPA. The big, hoppy flavor of an IPA will cut the spice while amping up the experience. With this pairing, neither sausage nor beer will overpower the other.

Try it at Sausage Fest!
Order GetLinked’s Smoked Jalapeno Cheddar sausage &Ebenezer IPA

Veggie-stuffed sausage & Cream Ale
No, we’re not talking about vegetarian sausages (though those would likely taste good with Cream Ale too!), we’re talking about sausages that have a healthy mix of meat and vegetables. You know – the kind that makes you proud to be getting your veggie quota in while simultaneously making your taste buds thank you. In this case, you want to make sure that your beer doesn’t overpower your food, so we suggest leaning towards a brew that’s light and refreshing like a cream ale.

Try it at Sausage Fest!
Order GetLinked’s Asian Potsticker sausage with Not Yo’ Grandpa’s Cream Ale

Chicken Feta Sausage and a Belgian Tripel
Chicken sausages come in a pretty wide variety. If you’re looking for a pairing with a spicy chicken sausage, scroll up for our suggestion! Chicken feta sausages, though, pair nicely with a Belgian Tripel. Feta is a creamy, tangy cheese with a distinct flavor that pairs well with many dishes without taking over the flavor. A Belgian Tripel has enough malt-forward flavor that will stand up to both the cheese and the chicken in the sausage, but this beer still won’t overpower your meal.

Try it at Sausage Fest!
Order GetLinked’s Chicken, Spinach, Feta sausage and Girls, Girls, Girls

If you love sausage as much as you love beer, then you’ll definitely want to visit us on January 19 for Sausage Fest! This annual celebration of our favorite meat will feature sausage specials from our partners at Get Linked including tasting platters and full sandwiches.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to get creative with their meat, enter our Sausage Fest competition! There is no entrance fee, but we do ask that you register before the day of the competition. Prizes include RNBC gift cards and sausage making gear courtesy of our sponsor, The Sausage Maker
Additional information can be found online.