Serving the Right Appetizers with Beer

With microbreweries and home brewing on the rise, many people like to sample their latest finds or creations at home with friends. If you're planning on entertaining and serving beer, you may be interested in a few suggestions for appetizers that will help to enhance your gathering by complementing the flavor of a good beer.

There are just some foods that seem to go perfectly with beer. Although caviar is a gourmet appetizer, it just isn't one you'll ever want to serve with beer. Crudites may be lovely with a light wine, but they'll never hold up to a fine pilsner. Following are a few suggestions for appetizers that you may want to consider the next time you gather a group of friends together for that tasty beverage we commonly know as beer.

The four most important things to remember when choosing appetizers to go with beer are: meats, cheeses, spices and more beer. If you can include all four, you're guaranteed a winning combination!

A cheese fondue made with a mild cheese and beer can be great fun for your guests. Dippers that can be served with your fondue are meatballs, cocktail sausages and beer and cheese biscuits.

Meatballs are a versatile choice to consider. In addition to serving them with a cheese fondue, you could serve them in a barbeque sauce, salsa or a cheese and salsa "queso" sauce. You could also serve a platter of plain, baked meatballs, garnished with fresh parsley and radishes with salsa, barbeque and cheese sauces on the side.

Cocktail sausages are a great meaty option. In addition to serving them with a fondue, you can serve them in or with a barbeque sauce. Cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon and served with toothpicks are a tasty option as well. For fancier cocktail sausages, wrap and bake them in small crescent rolls. Consider wrapping them in bacon or cheese before wrapping them in crescent rolls and baking them.