Pocket Cicerone
Beer pairing for US restaurants, bars & taprooms

Beer pairing, made for your menu.

Pocket Cicerone is a beer pairing guide built for working American kitchens. Match every dish to the right beer style and a local craft brewery — then print staff-ready pairing cards your team will actually use.

Build your menu

Type a dish or pick a common one, then tag flavor, spice and cooking method for a sharper beer pairing.

Beer style recommendations

A rules-based pairing engine explains why a hazy IPA cuts through fried heat — in plain English.

Local craft brewery finder

Google Maps-powered search surfaces nearby US microbreweries that match each pairing.

Beer style library

Flavor, ABV, IBU, body, aromas, and food-pairing notes — a Cicerone-style reference.

Printable pairing cards

One dish, one beer, one story your servers can actually memorize on a Friday rush.

AI beer pairing assistant

Ask 'what beer pairs with our fall menu?' and get a grounded answer in seconds.

Beer pairing basics, in plain English

Great beer pairing follows three moves: match intensity with intensity, contrast a rich dish with something crisp, or cut fat and spice with bitterness and carbonation. Below are the pairings we lean on most for American menus.

Burgers & smash burgers → Amber ale or West Coast IPA
Caramel malt echoes the sear; hop bitterness cuts the fat.
Fried chicken & spicy tacos → Hazy IPA or Pilsner
Soft bitterness and carbonation reset the palate between bites.
Oysters & raw bar → Dry stout or crisp Pilsner
A classic beer pairing — roasted dryness mirrors the brine.
BBQ brisket & ribs → Brown ale or Porter
Chocolate and coffee notes ride alongside smoke and bark.
Chocolate dessert → Imperial stout or Barleywine
Match the richness; let the roast carry into the finish.