The Best Beers for Pizza: Our Top Picks
Pizza and beer is a classic for a reason. You want something crisp to cut the cheese and a little hop or malt to match the toppings. These four all pair well whether it is a margherita or a loaded meat feast.
| Beer | Style | Our rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro | Italian Pale Lager | 3.7/5 | A classic Margherita |
| Birra Moretti | Italian Lager | 3.6/5 | An easy, authentic match |
| Stone IPA | American IPA | 4.4/5 | A loaded, meaty pizza |
| Sierra Nevada Pale Ale | American Pale Ale | 4.3/5 | Cutting the cheese |
Pizza is more flexible than you think. A crisp Italian lager suits a simple slice, a hoppy IPA takes on a loaded one.
The Best Beers for Pizza, Reviewed
Peroni Nastro Azzurro
The pizzeria pour. Crisp and dry, it slices through mozzarella and tomato without any fuss. Read the full Peroni Nastro Azzurro review.
- Crisp and elegant
- Made for Italian food
- Dry, clean finish
- Light on flavour
- Premium price
Birra Moretti
A touch maltier, which suits a heavier pizza with sausage or plenty of cured meat. Read the full Birra Moretti review.
- Clean and easy drinking
- Made for Italian food
- Gentle bitterness
- Mild flavour
- Nothing that stands out
Stone IPA
For a spicy or heavily topped pizza, this bold IPA has the hop punch to keep up. Read the full Stone IPA review.
- Bold pine and citrus hops
- A classic West Coast IPA
- Punchy and full
- Aggressive bitterness
- 6.9% ABV
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
A great middle ground: citrus hops to cut the grease, malt to match the crust. Read the full Sierra Nevada Pale Ale review.
- Bright Cascade pine and citrus
- The benchmark pale ale
- Very versatile
- Hop bite is a lot for some
- Not sweet
How to get a proper crust at home
A home oven struggles to hit real pizza temperatures. A dedicated grill and pizza oven gets hot enough for that blistered, leopard-spotted crust.
Pizza and Beer: FAQs
What beer goes best with pizza?
A crisp lager for a simple pizza, a hoppy beer for a loaded one. Peroni suits a Margherita, while Stone IPA stands up to meat and extra cheese.
Is IPA good with pizza?
Yes, especially with rich, greasy toppings. The bitterness cuts the fat. For a broader spread, see our Italian food pairings.
Related pairings: beer for Italian food, beer for wings, beer with fried chicken.
