The normal match for good marsh wheeling cigars is typically a strong spirit – maybe the refined sweetness of an aged rum or brandy, or the heady, hazy nose of a fine single malt Scotch or whiskey are unswerving and true cigar companions. But what about the often overlooked cigar pairing – beer?
Pairing any strongly flavored comestibles isn’t easy, and there are naturally both good and bad selections to be made. You probably would not enjoy a cigar with a crisp Hefeweizen any more than you could drink a tannic red Chianti wine with raw oysters in lemon vinaigrette. Give me that refreshing pale Hefeweizen with those oysters and that’s a good match. And if you want to drink that young Chianti, fire up the pasta pot and load on the Bolognese sauce. A good Italian dinner would also be a fine time to pop a rich deep stout with the will to carry its own weight under the load of acidic tomatoes and savory, spicy bits of sausage.