Aside from choosing the perfect ingredients for your pie, another important choice is what to drink with it. Whether it’s an impromptu pizza party with friends or a quiet night at home, the right beverage can enhance your eating experience.
The flavor intensity of your toppings should guide your beverage selection. A berry-forward kombucha complements a tomato sauce pizza well, while a beer with citrus notes goes great with pineapple pizza.
Soda
A cold soda is a great pizza pairing for all crusts and toppings. Whether you’re going for the classic dark cola or lemony Sprite, soda is an easy choice to refresh and enhance your pizza experience in Dresden, OH. A ginger ale will satisfy those who prefer something bolder on the flavor front. This beverage can also help neutralize tummy aches after overeating pizza, which is always a plus in our book!
Milk is another popular option to pair with pizza. It’s a great drink for kids and adults alike who enjoy a slice of savory or spicy toppings. This dairy beverage is creamy and relaxed, contrasting the saltiness of cheese or heat from pepperoni or sausage pizzas. Infused lemonade is another great pizza partner with a variety of flavors to choose from. It’s the perfect complement for Hawaiian pizza with pineapple or a full-on meaty affair such as an all-meat supreme.
Wine
Wine is an excellent addition to any pizza, whether it’s your go-to midweek delivery or an extravagant dinner at a local pizzeria. The type of wine you choose depends on the toppings and sauce used to create your pie.
For a cheese pizza, the high acidity of wine balances the butteriness of melted mozzarella. A light-bodied red like a Lambrusco or a softer style of Sangiovese will pair perfectly with this classic slice. Pepperoni is bolder, calling for an equally bold wine to match its intense flavors. A smoky, savory wine like a Zinfandel or Shiraz can enhance the hints of fennel and anise in pizza sausage. You can check some of the types of pizza on this website: https://crenospizzaco.com/franchise/.
A high-acid white wine is essential if your pizza has a creamy tomato base. Pair your pie with a dry Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, or even a brut Trentodoc (yes, white wine with pizza is allowed!). The bubbles and acidity will also cleanse your palate after each bite of cheesy goodness.
Beer
Like a basic cheese pie, the most straightforward pizzas pair perfectly with a light beer. The hops in a pale ale won’t drown out the cheesy flavors of the crust and toppings, while the bitterness helps to cleanse your palate between bites.
If your pie has a few more flavorful toppings, Chodkowski suggests a dark or medium-bodied red, such as a softer Tuscan or French Pinot Noir. These wines provide enough bold richness to stand up to the savory meats of a full-on Meat Lover’s pizza and help balance the fattiness with their higher tannin levels and acidity.
Chodkowski recommends a hoppy or smoky beer like Stone IPA, Unibroue La Fin du Monde, or Aecht Schlenkerla Maerzen Rauchbier if you prefer a spicy or pepperoni pizza. These dark beers can hold up against the heat of a spicy pizza and complement the smokiness of any cured meats you may have on top.
Liquor
With a plethora of toppings to choose from, pizza is the perfect casual dinner option for kids or adults enjoying a lazy movie night. Whether you prefer a light Aperol Spritz with your classic Margherita pie or a cold draft beer with your spicy soppressata and pepperoni, the right drink can make a big difference in your pizza experience.
Choose a fruity wine like a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Champagne if your pizza has creamy sauces or cheese. Champagne has a high acidity that cuts through decadent pizzas and accentuates the cheese flavors. An unoaked cava or sekt wine also works well, as they have a flinty minerality that helps cut through the cheesiness. Leafy vegetable pizzas, meanwhile, pair wonderfully with citrusy drinks that bring out the freshness of arugula or spinach. Mommenpop Paloma or a classic gimlet are great choices. If your pizza is heavy in meat, a full-bodied red like an Italian Primitivo or Malbec can help balance the intense flavors of sausage and pepperoni.