When you think about beer what comes to mind?  I’d wager it is more likely hot dogs and hamburgers than an elegant dinner. Similarly, for wine most people tend to think fancy dinner rather than a pizza.  Both of these views are stereotypes; stereotypes that Marnie Old and Sam Calagione want to squash with their book “He said beer, She said wine”.  While one book is unlikely to remove these stereotypes, it does provide a great starting point in enlightening us on what beer and wine are and how they pair with food. And it does it in a fun style that revolves around an on-going banter between Marnie, the wine person, and Sam, the beer guy.  In the process they share a huge amount of knowledge and teach the fundamentals of tasting and pairing both food and wine with common everyday food. 

It is clear Marnie Old has done a lot of teaching concerning wine tasting.  Her descriptions on wine tasting, with comparisons to everyday tastes, are clear and easily understood.  She follows this up with an overview of what is important in tasting wine and how to look for it.  I’ve read lots of texts on wine tasting, yet Marnie taught me a lot.

I was fairly unfamiliar with beer tasting until I read this book.  Sam Calagione turned his passion for home brewing beer into a career with his own brewery and restaurants.  His passion and knowledge show.  He provides interesting descriptions of the various (and many) components of beer and the resulting styles of beer with a nice historical perspective.   I was amazed to find the complexity of beer available and am now eager to put my newly learned tasting skills to the test. 

The food pairing sections are vast with details on pairings for cheese, veggies, sandwiches, pasta, fish, poultry, meat and desserts.  For each type of pairing, several common foods are chosen with specific wine and beer pairings provided for each.  While these pairings, and associated discussions, are informative I doubt I’d be able to easily get my hands on many of the wines or beers.  Fortunately, an alternative pairing is given for each in terms of a general wine varietal and beer style.  A later section also provides a handful of recipes from chefs across the country with specific wine and beer pairings.

The book revolves around a back and forth banter between what she says about wine and what he says about beer.  While this gets a little old, the various ‘discussions’ they have do serve a purpose; they provide a nice way to give a clear view of the pros and cons for both beer and wine with the various food pairings.  Ignore some of the more teasing text and you’ll find this information very helpful in understanding how to complement food with wine or beer.  

About He Said Beer, She Said Wine

He Said Beer, She Said Wine is the first fully illustrated book on the market to give in-depth instruction on how to successfully pair both beer and wine with a wide variety of foods. Co-authored by Marnie Old, an esteemed sommelier, and Sam Calagione, a successful brewmaster, He Said Beer, She Said Wine teaches you everything you need to know to get the best out of your beverages, with food or without. Each author divulges the secrets of their respective trades, using clear, easy-to-understand language and, of course, a little good-natured banter to keep things lively. The book is full of fantastic tips and tricks, specific beer and wine recommendations, and interactive elements to help you identify your preferences along the way. So, from cheese to dessert, you'll always know what drinks to serve for sublime flavor combinations. 

Available at Amazon.com