Fab Four Craft Beer Pairings

By John Fortunato

In 1964, world culture forever changed when the Beatles led the British Invasion up the music charts. Besides popular music, the Fab Four transformed fashion, movies, cartoons, hair styles, clothing design, and the entire Baby Boomer generation who’d survived the ‘62 Kennedy assassination. They sold over a billion records by 2010, topping Elvis Presley.

Meanwhile, thanks to President Jimmy Carter, homebrewing became legal in the late ‘70s, completely altering the United States’ brewing landscape. By the mid-‘80s, worthy microbreweries and brewpubs began springing up in the United States, creating a beer revolution that has expanded beyond large cities and into tiny towns countrywide.

Finding the perfect music-beer match-up may be subjective, but this fun journey is merely meant to open people’s minds. I tried to endorse beers that have wide enough distribution to be accessible for nearly the entire US populace.

But who’s to say what beer to drink with what song? You be the judge. Drink intently, but listen responsibly.

See Fortunato's complete Beatles and Beer pairing list. 

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I Want to Hold Your Hand | Light Lager

The Beatles first #1 single in America started the entire historic British Invasion in ‘64. With a gloriously pubescent multi-harmony, ‘Yeah! Yeah!’ chant that never lets up and an echo-laden sonic resonation upping the electrical charge, they became legendary. Still the greatest musical group in history--besting the Rolling Stones--as they were first to achieve recognition creating a new music market by writing their own songs. Learning rock from pop instead of rock from Blues, as the Stones did, the Beatles were like children receiving first Communion when this tune innovated a new form of Rock & Roll one step beyond Elvis, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. This blaring love anthem christened the Fab Four as ‘the next big thing.’ For Confirmation, try a bubbly light lager to go with the vivid pop fizz ringing in your ears. Give a cheer with lively spice-hopped biscuit-like Bavarian smoothie, Wurzburger Hofbrau Premium Pilsner (to celebrate the ‘Moptops’ inaugural success in Germany). If pressured for an easier-to-find American alternative, sturdy cereal-grained citric-floral Brooklyn Pilsner will suffice. Good luck finding even one decent British light lager though.

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Penny Lane | Porter

Marvelously complex, gorgeously arranged, and simply beautiful Paul Mc Cartney pop gem sat atop the charts in ’67 thanks to its luminescent sunny day piano-strolled neighborhood reminiscing, stunningly psychedelic-influenced piccolo trumpet overlay, and high-spirited jollity. The sweetest suburban serenade ever recorded, it’d go well while imbibing a chocolate-y cappuccino-fronted crème de cocoa-backed molasses-sapped Breckenridge Vanilla Porter or rich chocolate milkshake-like dessert beer Left Hand Black Jack Porter (both from Colorado’s unrivaled mountainous sanctuary yet spiritually connected to Liverpool).

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Oh Darling | Strong Ale

Paul Mc Cartney’s urgent plea for reconciliation stands as one of the Beatles coarsest Rhythm & Blues numbers. His rugged baritone purging and Ringo Starr’s pounding drums contrast the swooning backup harmonies and becalmed New Orleans-styled piano rolls. Its blazing catch and release tension matches the soothing wine-like appeal and counteractive boozy astringency guiding Austria’s cognac-warmed sherry-finishing Samichlaus Doppelbock (an excellent 14% alcohol ‘malt liqueur). If that’s hard-to-find, get California’s bourbon-barreled cedar-smoked cacao liqueur-like Port Old Viscosity Strong Ale to go alongside Mc Cartney’s equally brawny entreaty.

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Here Comes the Sun | Maibock

The positive vibes emanating from George Harrison’s sunshiny mid-tempo classic helped inspired the entire Flower Power hippie scene pre-Woodstock. A perfect ode to springtime flowering, its rejuvenating spirit would match up fine with an autumn-brewed vernal-seasoned maibock such as fruity Sangria-like floral-herbed Harpoon Mai Bock. But a better year-round choice would be a golden-hazed medium-bodied Munich-styled helles lager, such as the enticing hop-spiced honey-roasted butterscotch-candied cherry-daubed Rogue Dead Guy Ale.

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Let it Be | Winter Ale/Spiced Beer

In ’69, this spiritual ballad topped the charts and may’ve influenced Simon & Garfunkle’s equally conscientious and larger selling “Bride Over Troubled Waters.” Its distinguished religiosity gets reinforced by Billy Preston’s gospel organ drones and Mc Cartney’s church-like piano solemnity, paying respect to the Beatles well-regarded Rhythm & Blues influence and symbolizing their impending breakup as well. Due to its gloomy ‘winter of our discontent’ moodiness, it’d seem appropriate to consume a crisp winter ale such as creamy maple-sapped apple-glazed Alesmith Yulesmith Holiday Ale. Otherwise, try peachy cinnamon-apple-spiced floral-herbed remedy, Goose Island Matilda, or medicinal brown-sugared gingerbread-honeyed nightcap, Left Hand Snow Bound Winter Ale, before the brooding organ-piano finale fades out.

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