A Summer BBQ's Best Friend * | Just Add Ginger

My taste in beer has changed dramatically over the past few years. The girl who used to crack open a bottle of Coors Light has been replaced by a woman who enjoys sampling all different kinds of beers, ales, IPas and Pils. A few weeks ago when the opportunity to try out some beers from UK importer Morgenrot arose, I was only too happy to get involved.

And what better excuse to crack open a few cheeky beers than at a BBQ we were holding. Since early on this year Ryan has been really involved in lighting up the BBQ and trying out all sorts of different recipes for pulled belly pork, ribs, burnt ends and more. He is an awesome pitmaster, and knowing that we would have a selection of beers to pair with his latest offering really was the cherry on top of the (very delicious looking) cake. 

For me beers and BBQ food go hand in hand, so instead of writing just a straight up review, in celebration of the summer we have (kind if) had I'll be - with Ryan's guidance - recommending meats that have worked or would work well with each beer too.

Cerveses La Pirata 

Spanish Brewery - First opened in 2015 

I went into this beer tasting deliberately not knowing anything about any one of them. I very much consider myself the voice of the every man when it comes to trying food or drink. I am not an expert. I don't know all the fancy terminology. I like to think I write the way most people think. Simple. Straight forward. Honest. 

So please believe me when I tell you that I completely fell in love with the two beers I received from Cerveses La Pirata. They were absolutely beautiful. Both with a really rich and interesting flavour without being too intense and overpowering for my palette. They also paired really well with the ribs that Ryan cooked. I tried the American IPA first and as soon as I had the first sip I knew I had to find out how I could get my hands on more. The flavour sung to all the senses and was the perfect blend of mellow citrus notes and well-bodied undertones.

The Amber Ale had a slightly more full-bodied flavour, but still went down a treat and was not too overwhelming. It complemented the meat really well with subtle hits of sweetness blending with the rub on the ribs and pulled pork and the tang of the accompanying sides. This one was slightly more malty and for my former self might have been too much. But for me, this was perfect. If I had to settle for a favourite it would be the IPA that took the edge, although the Amber cut a ridiculously close 2nd place.

Beercat Brewery 

Spanish Brewery - Established in 2012 

To be frank I wasn't the biggest fan of the Siete Vidas from Beercat. The hints of coriander in the beer were somewhat reminiscent of Blue Moon, which has always had too intense a flavour for me. After a few sips it all became a bit too much and I had to move on. However Ryan enjoyed this one. This one didn't make an appearance at our BBQ but the cilantro would have worked well with the richness of the belly pork and balanced out the flavours, cutting through nicely and cleansing the palette. 

Krombacher 

Germany Brewery - founded 1803 

I only wish I had known about Krombacher when I was pregnant. Both the Pils and the low-alcohol version were brewed so well that the flavour differences between the two were practically indistinguishable. These beers were unpretentious, light, crisp and a much more grown up version of the beers I used to drink. With a perfect balance of flavour that would make them ideal to crack open on a warm summer's day and sip with your more traditional BBQ food. 

For those who enjoy a cheeky tipple but are turned off by too intense a flavour, these are great. And for those out there who are expecting and have had to forgo their beer appreciation, if you get your hands on the low alcohol Pils for a once-in-a-while treat, you will not be disappointed at all. 

Windhoek 

Namibian Brewery 

Just like the Krombacher, this lager from Windhoek was light, crisp, straight-forward and grown up. Ever just a touch more bitter than most lagers I have tried, this would have made a good choice at one of our BBQs where either more simplistic or complex flavours were on offer. However was it clearly distinguishable or memorable from the other beers I got to sample? No, not really. It wasn't stand-out to me, but maybe that it because I've worked so long on moulding my palette so am instinctively in search of something with a bit more individuality.

I'm so grateful to Hungry Communications for the opportunity to try out these beers. Everybody's tastes are different so naturally there were some that stood out more to me than others. However if you are planning a BBQ or a big beer fan I suggest giving any of these a try. You might just find yourself a new favourite.

* I was very kindly sent all these beers by Hungry Communications for review consideration, for which I a very grateful. This however does not influence my opinions. They are 100% honest and guided by my own personal experience of products. 

Please drink responsibly and only if you are above the legal age to do so!

An Alcohol Free Alternative For Fizz Fans | Just Add Ginger

It's really no secret that I am a girl who loves her fizz. A discovery I made in my later twenties, I am a true appreciator of a fine prosecco or bottle glass of champagne. That was until I found myself with a growing child in my belly and unable to pop the cork on a cracking set of bubbles on a Friday night. And whereas I could treat myself on the very rare occasion, with Christmas and my 30th birthday approaching in the next few months, I want to save the two drinks I'm allowing myself for then.

I didn't even realise Tesco stocked alcohol-free offerings until last week, when MG called to let us know that she had found some alcohol free fizz during the weekly shop that she would save until we came down. Sufficiently intrigued, I awaited Saturday evening to roll round so that I could see just if this discovery would live up to the real thing.

Image: c/o Tesco

Having picked up both the Pinotage Blush and the Chenin Blanc from the Tesco Finest range, MG let me decide which to sample first as we sat down around the dining table that evening. Opting for the blush (the colour looked too tempting) and glass in  hand, as soon as the bubbles started to pop, I started to wonder just if this would fool me and be an apt substitute for what had been one of my guiltiest pleasures. I've tried alcohol free variations before and nothing has blown me away, so you can imagine how dubious I was stepping in to this experiment. 

When it comes to rosé I am normally a fan of the sweeter varieties, and the pinotage blush definitely hits you from the get go with a fruity fragrance, Not just tasting of grape, there is something behind it that rang slightly of a Brown Brothers Moscato Rosa that I adore but they unfortunately no longer seem to stock anywhere. This made my taste-buds very happy, although, after a few sips, I was still unable to quite place what it was I was tasting. Irregardless of this, it was really rather like drinking fruit juice. Glass after glass went down so well that if this had have been alcoholic, I would have been pickled very quickly. There was no snap and bite that I find with "normal" prosecco or champagne, which I must say I did miss a touch. When it came to the flavour, there was just a little something missing. 

However, there were bubbles by the dozen. Had I been at a party or get-together where I didn't want to feel left out, this definitely would have delivered. On the outset you couldn't tell this was alcohol free. It still looked like a little glass of luxury. And from an aesthetic perspective, the bottle looked really fancy too - sleek and chic, with the recognisable Tesco Finest typography and a cork to pop for an extra touch of extravagance. 

Although I wasn't 100% blown away by the pinotage blush, it served as an enjoyable alternative, and would be perfect for anybody (pregnant or otherwise) who does not or cannot drink. We've saved the chenin blanc for Christmas, and I am really intrigued to see if the white variation brings out that crispness that always takes my breath away with prosecco or champagne. Because that is something -especially after a testing day - that I do still miss. 

Both drinks are currently listed as unavailable on the Tesco website, but keep your eye out online or in-store for them if you'd like to give them a try too!