In July, we can’t get enough hot dogs. It’s the perfect handheld food at the ballpark, camping, or in your own backyard. Plus, hot dogs are fully customizable to fit your taste. Slather them in mustard, onions, a pickle if you’re in Chicago, and ketchup if you’re feeling squirrelly (we won’t judge). Deep fry them, grill them, or even boil them if you’re into that sort of thing, we’ll enjoy them any way possible.
The one thing we stand firm on is the belief that they must be paired with an ice-cold beer. That’s why we asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us their favorite beers to pair with hot dogs. Their answers ran the gamut from big names to craft staples. Check them all out below, grab a beer and throw some dogs on the grill.
Miller High Life
Rich Depascale, beverage manager at The Wilson in New York City
This is almost an impossible question to answer with the massive amount of great beer options today. When I think grilled hot dogs, it reminds me of a family Sunday barbecue. This may be a bit out of left field for a craft beer enthusiast like myself, but I’d go with a classic, The Champagne of beer, Miller High Life.
The High Life has been my Sunday beer for quite some time now. The perfect beer to relax on a warm summer day — clean, crisp, light, delicious, and you can have many of them and not feel weighted down.
Budweiser
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Laura Mitchell, bar lead at BEER PARK in Las Vegas
Well, that would be Budweiser, the king of beers, of course! What says America in the summer more than having some Buds, hot dogs, and hanging out with friends?
Reissdorf Kolsch
Daniel King, beverage director of Liberty Common in Nashville
When I think of an oily, messy dog, I think of beer that’s bright with a bit of hop bite. I also want something that can just slide right on down the throat. My mind instantly goes to a German Kolsch. American Craft Kolsch copies simply won’t do but I think a tall glass of Reissdorf Kolsch would be quite satisfactory.
Old Style
Jack Galobich, bartender of The Gage in Chicago
When enjoying a hot dog, you have to go with a classic, refreshing beer. Since we’re in Chicago, you have to go with Old Style. It’s is perfect at a tailgate or backyard cookout.
Avery White Rascal
Joey Biñas, bartender at Bootlegger in San Diego
Grilled hot dogs leave me nostalgic of my childhood days — summer barbecues and lounging in the pool. I really like lighter beers like hefeweizens or Belgian white ales paired with them. Specifically, Rip Current or Avery White Rascal.
Dogfish Head SeaQuench
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Torrence R. O’Haire, beverage director of Gage Hospitality Group in Chicago
Grilled sausages need cold, sour stuff, as far as I’m concerned. I’m devoted to Dogfish Head’s salted lime SeaQuenchAle; perfect for cooling down outdoors, grill-side.
Coors Light
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Casey Lyons, bartender at Pacific Hideaway in Huntington Beach, California
Coors Light aka Silver Bullets, aka C.L. Smooth — the perfect liquid libation for a proper barbecue. Just enough crisp sweetness and full flavor in a light beer to pair with anything that comes off the grill. Almost good enough to make me forget about that new mustard stain I just earned on my star-spangled board shorts.
Dos Equis Lager
Justin Monell, general manager at BLVD & MAIN in Las Vegas
For hot dogs during the summer, you’re probably spending time outside, so it has to be something crisp and refreshing. A Mexican lager like Dos Equis would pair perfectly with a hot dog.
Wynwood La Rubia
Ilan Chartor, spiritual advisor at KYU in Miami
Best beer for a hot dog would be Wynwood’s La Rubia. It’s crisp, sweet and acidic. The perfect counterplay for a steaming hot dog.
Suarez Palatine Pils
Megan Reynolds, certified Cicerone at R&R Taproom in Woodstock, New York
Suarez Family Brewing Palatine Pils is perfect with a grilled hot dog. It’s a German pils and a classic pairing — clean with a firm bitterness to cut through the fat of the sausage.
33 Acres Ocean
Matteo Caniglia, restaurant manager at Honey Salt at Parq in Vancouver, Canada
33 Acres of Ocean pale ale. It’s my current session beer, as it’s great for any time, and hot dogs are my guilty pleasure, so those two together can only be a good time.
Montauk Wavechaser IPA
Kelly McGee, beverage manager at Park Avenue Tavern in New York City
I like a nice Montauk Wavechaser IPA with a grilled hot dog. I think it cuts through the smoky taste of the grilled dog along with being refreshing and delicious.
