10 Favorite Backyard Barbecue Drink Pairings

There’s something special about backyard barbecue drink pairings. Whether you’re grilling burgers for a casual family dinner, smoking ribs for a weekend gathering, or hosting a summer cookout with friends, good food and refreshing drinks are all part of the fun.

When I’m planning a barbecue menu, I usually spend most of my time thinking about what we’re going to eat. What goes on the grill? Which side dishes can I prepare ahead of time? And, most importantly, will there be enough food for everyone?

Choosing the drinks often comes later. However, I do know that a few thoughtful pairings can make an already delicious meal even more enjoyable.

Barbecue offers a wonderful variety of flavors, from smoky pulled pork and tangy ribs to juicy burgers, grilled vegetables, and creamy pasta salads. The trick is finding barbecue drink pairings that complement those flavors without overpowering them. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a wine expert or stock your refrigerator with a dozen different beers to find something everyone will enjoy.

I generally prefer lighter, fruitier wines with good acidity and softer tannins, especially when it’s warm outside. My husband is more likely to reach for a cold beer, and I enjoy a hoppy IPA, too. Of course, there’s always room for refreshing nonalcoholic choices like iced tea and lemonade.

For inspiration on what to serve, here are my 10 favorite backyard barbecue drink pairings.

1. Zinfandel

Zinfandel is a classic wine choice for barbecue, particularly when you’re serving foods with smoky, sweet, or slightly spicy sauces. Its bold fruit flavors and peppery notes complement hearty grilled and smoked meats.

Try it with: Barbecue ribs, pulled pork, burgers, and baked beans.

2. Pinot Nois

Pinot Noir is a lighter-bodied red wine with bright fruit flavors and relatively soft tannins. It’s a nice choice when you want a red wine that won’t overwhelm your food. I especially like it with grilled chicken, pork, and lightly smoked meats.

Try it with: Grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, salmon, and turkey burgers.

3. Riesling

Riesling is a refreshing choice when your barbecue menu includes spicy seasonings or tangy sauces. An off-dry Riesling offers a touch of sweetness to balance the heat, while its lively acidity keeps the pairing fresh.

Try it with: Spicy barbecue chicken, Cajun shrimp, grilled pork, and dishes with hot or peppery sauces.

4. Cabernet Sauvignon

For a barbecue featuring steak, burgers, or beef brisket, Cabernet Sauvignon can be a satisfying choice. Its fuller body and firm tannins stand up to the rich flavors of grilled beef.

Try it with: Grilled steak, beef brisket, hamburgers, and beef ribs.

5. Light Lager

A crisp, cold lager is one of the easiest choices for a summer barbecue. It’s refreshing, doesn’t overpower the food, and works well when you’re serving a variety of dishes.

Try it with: Burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, seafood, and classic barbecue sides.

6. Pale Ale

Pale ales offer a refreshing combination of malt flavor and moderate hop bitterness. They can balance rich grilled meats and sweet barbecue sauces without overwhelming the food.

Try it with: Barbecue chicken, grilled sausages, pulled pork, and burgers.

7. IPA

I’m a big fan of hoppy beer, and IPAs can be a flavorful companion to smoky barbecue. Be mindful when serving very spicy foods, though: strong hop bitterness and higher alcohol levels can make the heat feel more intense.

Try it with: Rich pulled pork, grilled burgers, and smoky barbecue dishes with moderately sweet sauces.

8. Wheat Beer

Wheat beers are often refreshing, with citrusy, fruity, or gently spicy notes, depending on the style. They’re especially enjoyable with lighter grilled foods and summer sides.

Try it with: Grilled chicken, seafood, vegetable skewers, and summer salads.

9. Classic Iced Tea

Sweetened or unsweetened iced tea is a Southern cookout staple. It works with a wide range of barbecue dishes, and you can easily dress it up with fresh lemon or mint.

Try it with: Pulled pork, ribs, fried or grilled chicken, and baked beans.

10. Fresh Lemonade

Lemonade is a refreshing companion to smoky, salty, and rich barbecue flavors. Its tartness offers a bright contrast to grilled meats and dishes with sweet barbecue sauce.

Try it with: Barbecue ribs, grilled chicken, burgers, and pulled pork.

Why Barbecue Drink Pairings Matter

Barbecue brings together several distinctive flavors that can help guide your drink choices:

Smoky flavors often pair nicely with bold, fruity wines and malt-forward beers.
Sweet barbecue sauces work well with drinks that offer complementary fruit flavors or a refreshing contrast.
Tangy sauces and marinades pair well with crisp wines, refreshing lagers, and citrus-based drinks.
Spicy rubs and seasonings often benefit from a little sweetness and lower-alcohol drink options.
Rich, fatty meats pair well with drinks that offer acidity or carbonation to refresh your palate between bites.

The sauce and seasonings can influence your drink choice just as much as the meat itself.

Quick Guide to Backyard Barbecue Drink Pairings

Here’s a simple reference guide for some favorite Louisiana dishes.

Barbecue Food	Wine Choices	Beer Options	Nonalcoholic
Pulled pork	Zinfandel, Pinot Noir	Amber ale, pale ale	Iced tea
Barbecue ribs	Zinfandel, Syrah	Brown ale, amber ale	Lemonade
Beef brisket	Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah	Brown ale, porter	Unsweetened iced tea
Hamburgers	Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir	Lager, pale ale	Sparkling lemonade
Hot dogs and sausages	Rosé, Riesling	Lager, amber ale	Iced tea
Grilled chicken	Rosé, Pinot Noir	Wheat beer, lager	Lemonade
Grilled shrimp	Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling	Wheat beer, pilsner	Citrus sparkling water
Grilled salmon	Pinot Noir, Chardonnay	Wheat beer, pale ale	Lemon water
Spicy barbecue	Off-dry Riesling, off-dry rosé	Light lager, wheat beer	Watermelon spritzer
Baked beans	Zinfandel, fruity red blend	Amber ale, brown ale	Iced tea
Pasta salad and coleslaw	Sauvignon Blanc, rosé	Pilsner, wheat beer	Lemonade

Drink Pairings with Grilled Chicken Wings

Helpful Tips for Backyard Barbecue Drink Pairings

Keep the selection simple. You don’t need a different drink for every dish. One versatile wine, a couple of beer options, and a refreshing nonalcoholic beverage will usually cover most of your menu.
Think about the sauce. Sweet, smoky, spicy, and tangy sauces can shape your pairing as much as the food on the grill.
Offer something light and refreshing. Even with hearty meats, a crisp lager, chilled rosé, or sparkling water is welcome.
Consider the weather. Cold drinks are especially enjoyable during a hot summer cookout. Keep plenty of water readily available, too.
Know your guests. Give your nonalcoholic selections the same thought you put into choosing wine and beer.
Choose what you enjoy. Pairing suggestions are helpful, but personal preference comes first. If your favorite drink tastes good with your meal, that’s a perfectly good pairing.

A Few Final Thoughts

One thing I’ve learned from years of cooking for family and friends is that a great meal doesn’t require complicated planning or fancy ingredients. The same applies to barbecue drink pairings.

Whether you’re serving smoky ribs with a bold red wine, enjoying pulled pork with a cold brown ale, or sipping fresh lemonade alongside grilled chicken, a thoughtful pairing can make those barbecue flavors even more enjoyable.

The next time you’re planning a backyard cookout, take a few minutes to think about what everyone might enjoy drinking with the food. There’s no single perfect pairing for everyone. A good barbecue is about delicious food, refreshing drinks, and time spent with the people around your table.

That’s what makes it special.

Cheers!