Complete Guide to Pairing Beer with Pizza

Beer and pizza is one of the great food pairings. Pisa Bar Kitchen breaks down exactly which beers enhance which pizza styles to help you build the perfect pairing every time.

One. Lager and Classic Margherita
A clean, cold lager is the universal pizza companion. Its carbonation cuts through mozzarella fat, its mild bitterness contrasts tomato sweetness, and its neutrality never competes with simple, classic flavors.

Two. IPA and Spicy Pizza
The hop bitterness and citrus notes of a well-made IPA counterbalance the heat and fat of spicy pizza. Spicy pepperoni, Calabrian chili, or 'nduja pizzas are enhanced by a piney or tropical IPA.

Three. Dark Lager and Mushroom Pizza
Earthy mushroom pizza with a dark lager creates a complementary pairing where the roasted malt notes mirror the earthiness of the mushrooms. Czech dark lager styles work particularly well.

Four. Wheat Beer and Vegetable Pizza
The soft, banana and clove character of a German Hefeweizen or Belgian witbier pairs beautifully with fresh vegetable pizzas. The yeasty bread notes of these beers echo the pizza dough's own fermented character.

Five. Stout and Meat-Heavy Pizza
Rich, thick stouts with notes of coffee and dark chocolate stand up to the heaviest, most intensely flavored meat pizzas. A properly poured nitro stout alongside a soppressata or BBQ chicken pizza is deeply satisfying.

Six. Sour Beer and Cheese-Heavy Pizza
The tartness of a Berliner Weisse or Flemish red ale cuts through rich, multi-cheese pizzas in the same way that wine acidity works. The sourness refreshes the palate between bites of fat-rich cheese.