Creating Masterpieces: The Relationship Between Art and Beer

March 1, 2014 By Don Tse

Sidebar: How to Pair Beer with Art

While beer and food pairing is now a familiar concept, beer and art is less obvious. But the same way dinner can be enhanced by music and candlelight, so, too, can any artistic experience be enhanced by another. Here are some tips for enhancing your beer with visual art.

Work with the color of the beer. The beer itself has color, of course, but don’t be limited by that. Think of flavors as having color. A beer with grassy flavor can be thought of as green, tropical-fruit flavors as yellow and heather as purple, for example.

Think about size. Big beers work with large paintings and sculptures. Lighter beers work with smaller works.

Pair simple with simple and complex with complex. That barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with nine different malts will work well with detailed, intricate paintings, while a classic German helles would work better paired with a simple, balanced abstract work.

Texture adds another dimension. Levels of carbonation and viscosity contribute to a beer’s texture. Work that dimension into your art pairings, with silkier beers working with flatter or amorphous abstract paintings and effervescent beers working with textured paintings or sharp sculptures.

Think historically. Art of all kinds is a reflection of our society. So, historic beer styles work well with old art while cutting-edge beers work with contemporary art.

As with beer and food pairing, there are no wrong answers. Some pairings work better than others, but art is meant to bring you pleasure. Have fun experimenting!