There’s a Beer for That: Flavors to Match Every Craving

By Neil Witte, Master Cicerone

One of the most common things I hear from people is, “I just don’t like beer.” My answer is always the same: you probably just haven’t found the right beer yet. Beer is one of the most versatile beverages in the world, offering an incredible range of flavors from tropical and citrusy to sweet and malty. With so many styles, brands and flavors, beer can be beautifully paired with almost anything, any time of year.

Now that summer’s heat stretches well past Labor Day in many parts of the country, giving us more warm evenings and outdoor gatherings to enjoy, the flavors consumers are craving match up perfectly. Recent Beer Institute polling shows adults 21+ prefer fruity (33%), tropical (30%) and crisp (18%) flavors during the summer. Among Gen Z, those numbers jump significantly—51% prefer fruity and 43% prefer tropical.

As a lifelong beer professional and Master Cicerone, I’ve spent years helping people discover how beer has an option for everyone. One of the many tools I’ve used is a simple meal pairing to make beer more approachable with the flavors that people know. In the heart of the late summer heat, I invite you to try one of the pairing ideas that showcase beer’s breadth for these long, warm days:

Fruity: Wheat Beers with Fresh Citrus and Light Fare

Wheat beers—like hefeweizens and American wheat styles—often have fruity notes of citrus and banana.

• Try it with: Citrus salad, gazpacho or weekend brunch dishes.
• Why it works: The beer’s fruitiness complements the citrus in the salad and its gentle sweetness helps balance the acidity of a chilled gazpacho—ideal for a light late-summer meal.

Tropical: Hazy IPAs with Sweet-Heat Dishes

Hazy IPAs are known for juicy tropical flavors like mango and pineapple.

• Try it with: A Mexican fruit cup with pineapple, mango, Tajin seasoning and Chamoy.
• Why it works: The beer amplifies the tropical fruit flavors while the spice and tang of Tajin and Chamoy add a pop of contrast that plays beautifully with the beer’s malt sweetness—perfect for warm-weather snacking.

Crisp: Pilsners with Classic Comfort Foods

Pilsners are clean, refreshing and effervescent—perfect for cutting through rich flavors.

• Try it with: A classic smashburger with melted American cheese.
• Why it works: The beer’s carbonation and crispness balance the burger’s richness, refreshing the palate with every sip—a great choice for backyard grilling that continues well past Labor Day.

Malty & Sweet: Amber Ales with Grilled Favorites

Amber ales and lagers have a pleasant and caramelized malt character balanced nicely with a touch of hop bitterness.

• Try it with: Grilled bratwursts.
• Why it works: The malty sweetness marries nicely with the caramelized flavors of the sausage while the beer’s effervescence and moderate bitterness help cleanse the palate—a cozy pairing as late summer transitions into early fall.

Expanding the Way We Think About Beer

If you’re someone who thinks beer isn’t for you, I encourage you to think about beer the same way you think about other drinks: as a wide-ranging spectrum of flavors and experiences. Beer’s diversity allows it to meet you where your tastes are—whether you’re drawn to fruity and tropical flavors, crisp refreshment or malty sweetness, and it now includes more low-to-no-alcohol options than ever before.

These ideas only scratch the surface of what’s possible. With so many styles available, there’s truly a beer for everyone—you just need to find the one that fits your flavor profile.

So as we enter the last weeks of summer, now’s the perfect time to give beer its shot—with the right pairing in hand. Whether you’re sipping a hazy IPA alongside tropical fruit or cracking a crisp pilsner at your next backyard barbecue, beer has the range to surprise and delight. With so many styles and flavors to explore, there’s truly something for everyone.