Seafood and beer is one of the great summer pairings, but it takes a light touch. Shrimp, fish and shellfish are delicate, so they want a beer that is crisp, clean and refreshing enough to lift them, not overpower them.
Below are eight of the best beers to pair with seafood, each tasted and rated for the site. There are crisp European pilsners, bone-dry Japanese lagers made for sushi and grilled fish, and soft wheat beers that flatter shellfish. Every pick links to its full review and you can grab a case in a couple of taps.
As a rule, the more delicate the seafood, the crisper and lighter the beer. Save the bold IPAs for the burgers and reach for something clean here.
Best Beers for Seafood at a Glance
| Beer | Style | Our rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro | Italian Pilsner | 3.7/5 | Best crisp all-rounder |
| Estrella Damm | Spanish Lager | 3.6/5 | Best Mediterranean match |
| Asahi Super Dry | Japanese Rice Lager | 3.7/5 | Best with sushi and grilled fish |
| Allagash White | Belgian Witbier | 4.7/5 | Best with shellfish |
| Hoegaarden | Belgian Witbier | 4.5/5 | Best soft, citrusy wit |
| Stella Artois | Belgian Pilsner | 4.0/5 | Best clean pilsner |
| Pacifico Clara | Mexican Lager | 3.6/5 | Best with shrimp tacos |
| Sapporo Premium | Japanese Rice Lager | 3.8/5 | Best dry Japanese lager |
Seafood is delicate, so the beer should be too. Crisp, dry and light styles lift shrimp, fish and shellfish, while anything heavy or aggressively hoppy tramples the flavour. Think pilsner, wit and dry lager, not imperial stout.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro
A crisp, stylish Italian pilsner with a dry, faintly citrusy finish. Peroni drinks light and elegant, the kind of lager that suits a warm evening and a plate of pizza or seafood. Read the full Peroni Nastro Azzurro review.
- Crisp, dry and elegant
- Great with Italian food
- Feels premium
- Light body, not much depth
Estrella Damm
Barcelona’s easy-drinking lager, crisp and lightly bready with a clean finish. Estrella is Mediterranean sunshine in a glass, made for warm evenings, seafood and tapas. Read the full Estrella Damm review.
- Crisp and Mediterranean
- Great with seafood and tapas
- Easy warm-weather drinking
- Light, simple lager
Asahi Super Dry
The definition of dry and crisp. Asahi finishes clean and sharp with almost no aftertaste, which makes it superbly refreshing in the heat and a natural match for sushi and grilled food. Read the full Asahi Super Dry review.
- Super dry, crisp finish
- Extremely refreshing
- Great with Asian food
- Very lean, little malt sweetness
Allagash White
A benchmark American wit, hazy and soft with orange peel and coriander over a pillowy wheat body. Bright, refreshing and beautifully drinkable, it is one of the best summer beers made. Read the full Allagash White review.
- Bright citrus and spice
- Soft, refreshing wheat body
- World-class witbier
- Pricier than a macro
Hoegaarden
The original Belgian wit, cloudy and soft with orange, coriander and a gentle tang. Light-bodied and endlessly refreshing, it is a classic hot-weather beer that goes down like sunshine. Read the full Hoegaarden review.
- Soft, spiced and refreshing
- Light and very drinkable
- A summer classic
- Delicate, can feel light
Stella Artois
A crisp Belgian pilsner with a clean, faintly bitter finish that feels a cut above the macro lagers. Poured cold in its chalice it is an easy, elegant summer drink. Read the full Stella Artois review.
- Crisp and clean with real bite
- Feels a step up in class
- Widely available
- A little bitter for some palates
Pacifico Clara
A crisp Pacific-coast pilsner-style lager built for sunshine. A little more character than Corona with the same easy, thirst-quenching finish, and it loves a squeeze of lime. Read the full Pacifico Clara review.
- Crisp and thirst-quenching
- A touch more flavour than Corona
- Made for hot weather
- Still a light, simple lager
Sapporo Premium
A crisp, clean Japanese lager with a little more body than Asahi and the same dry, refreshing finish. In the iconic silver can it is a cool, easy pour for a hot day. Read the full Sapporo Premium review.
- Crisp with a bit more body
- Clean, dry finish
- Great with grilled and Asian food
- Still a light, lean lager
The Gear That Makes Better Grilled Seafood
Beer sorted, now the grill. These three help you cook delicate seafood cleanly and dress it well.
Beers with Seafood FAQ
What beer goes with seafood?
Crisp, dry and light beers are the best match for seafood. Pilsners like Peroni and Stella, dry Japanese lagers like Asahi and Sapporo, and soft wits like Allagash White and Hoegaarden all lift shrimp, fish and shellfish without overpowering them.
What beer goes with sushi?
Dry, crisp Japanese lagers are the classic sushi pairing. Asahi Super Dry and Sapporo Premium finish clean and refreshing, cleansing the palate between pieces. A crisp European pilsner works well too if that is what you have to hand.
What beer pairs with shrimp?
Light, crisp beers flatter shrimp best. A wit like Allagash White is lovely with grilled or buttery shrimp, while Pacifico is a natural with shrimp tacos, and a clean pilsner like Peroni suits a shrimp boil or garlicky prawns.
Should I avoid IPAs with seafood?
Generally, yes, with delicate seafood. A bold, bitter IPA can overwhelm the subtle flavours of white fish and shellfish. Stick to crisp lagers, pilsners and wits, and save the hoppy beers for richer, oilier fish or fried seafood if you want to experiment.
