We asked MasterChef’s Conor Curran how to match food with fruity beer, and he delivered in a big way.
Spring has finally sprung, and with it comes fruity beer – the hot-ticket tipple changing the beer game for good. Brewed using cutting-edge (and top secret!) techniques, this brand new style is low in bitterness and full of natural fruit flavour. We’re betting it’ll be a springtime staple at picnics, backyard barbies and other al fresco adventures, and to help you nail the flavour combos, we asked MasterChef’s Conor Curran to hook us up with some excellent-but-effortless fruity beer food pairings.
“Spring is such a vibe to me,” he says. “The promise of summer just around the corner, Melbourne alive with footy finals fever, and that first hot day that makes you seek out a cold rooftop drink is what I always look forward to,” he says. The drink of choice? “I love sours, and fruity beer feels like a happy medium.”
Bridging the gap between seltzer and regular old beer, fruity beer is a bonafide crowd-pleaser. “I hated beer when I was younger,” Conor confesses. “But then I visited Germany, and there was no going back. I love the idea of a beer range that suits the Australian climate,” he says. With natural fruit flavour (think mango, blueberry, strawberry and more) and a clean, crisp finish, this revolutionary new brew sounds like just the thing.
If you haven’t tasted fruity beer yet, this is the season to get acquainted. From a fresh Viet-style salad to a grazing plate fit for a VIP, these picnic ideas are made for fruity beer season and come together in a flash.
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Blueberry Mosey with salmon bagels
Lime Mosey with Vietnamese chicken and coconut salad
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Watermelon Sungazer with a honey and ricotta baguette
Raspberry Sungazer with a grazing cheese board
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Orange & Mango Empire with fried chicken
With these pairings and your fave new fruity beer, you’re finally ready to greet the springtime splendour. But emerging from your winter hibernation can be difficult, and you might have forgotten how to picnic. No stress, Conor’s come through with some top tips for the perfect day out.
First up: keep it simple! There’s no need to over-cater, and there’s nothing worse than watching food go to waste in the hot sun. Pick one or two things, and do them well.
“Freeze your fruit before you go,” he says. This will lock in all that refreshing goodness. Plus, nobody likes a sunbaked watermelon.
Leave it to the pros. “If you’ve got the budget, outsource the food and support a local restaurant,” says Conor. “They know how to nail takeaway, especially after the last few years.”
And finally, don’t forget the accoutrements! “My perfect picnic means someone remembered to bring Bluetooth speakers, a good picnic blanket and sunscreen,” says Conor. “But most importantly, remember to bring the drinks!”
