A Slice of Heaven: Discovering the World’s Best Pizza Pubs
Pizza and beer are undoubtedly the perfect pair. Both are beloved by millions across the globe, serving as the ultimate comfort food and drink. Thankfully, this fantastic duo has led to the rise of pizza pubs – establishments that serve up delicious pizza alongside a wide variety of refreshing beers. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to discover the world’s best pizza pubs, guaranteed to satisfy your palate and quench your thirst.
Table of Contents
- What is a Pizza Pub?
- The Rise of Craft Beer
- The Perfect Pairing: Pizza and Beer
- Top Pizza Pubs in the United States
- Notable Pizza Pubs Around the World
- The Future of Pizza Pubs
- Conclusion
What is a Pizza Pub?
A pizza pub is a casual establishment where you can enjoy delicious pizzas and an extensive selection of beers. They cater to a wide range of customers, including beer and pub enthusiasts, casual socializers, or tourists and travelers. Pizza pubs offer a relaxed atmosphere where patrons can enjoy freshly-made pizzas combined with their favorite brews.
These establishments often pride themselves on their unique pizza recipes, incorporating local ingredients and flavors, setting them apart from your average pizza joint. Alongside their pizzas, these pubs curate exceptional beer lists to appeal to the craft beer community and casual drinkers alike, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
The Rise of Craft Beer
In recent years, the popularity of craft beer has skyrocketed, giving rise to a new era of beer enthusiasts. Craft beer offers a vast array of flavors, styles, and brewing techniques that cater to various tastes and preferences, allowing beer lovers to explore and enjoy unique creations.
An increasing number of pubs have started to feature extensive craft beer selections, elevating the beer-drinking experience. The rise of craft beer enthusiasts has contributed to the growth of pizza pubs, as the two go hand in hand in creating a memorable dining and drinking experience.
The Perfect Pairing: Pizza and Beer
Pairing pizza and beer may sound simple, but there’s a delicious art to it. Much like wine pairing, finding the right beer to complement your pizza can enhance your dining experience tenfold. Here are some pairing suggestions to level up your pizza and beer game:
- Margherita Pizza: This classic pizza features fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Opt for a light, crisp lager or pilsner to cleanse your palate and let the flavors of the pizza shine.
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Pepperoni Pizza: The salty, spicy flavors of pepperoni are best matched with an American pale ale or amber ale, which can stand up to the boldness of the pizza without overpowering it.
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BBQ Chicken Pizza: The smoky and sweet flavors of barbecue sauce-covered chicken call for a beer that can balance it out, such as a brown ale or a porter.
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Veggie Pizza: A refreshing, hoppy IPA pairs well with a veggie pizza, enhancing the fresh flavors of the vegetables and providing a bright contrast to the creamy cheese.
Experiment and find the combinations that delight your taste buds the most. The possibilities are endless!
Top Pizza Pubs in the United States
The United States is home to countless pizza pubs, offering variations of the classic dish and incredible beer selections. Here are some of the top pizza pubs in the country:
1. Piece Brewery and Pizzeria – Chicago, IL
Piece Brewery and Pizzeria is a popular pizza pub in the heart of Chicago. Their award-winning, New Haven-style pizza is thin-crusted and cooked to perfection, ensuring a satisfying crunch with each bite. Their extensive menu offers various toppings and sauces, allowing patrons to customize their pies. Alongside their mouth-watering pizza, Piece boasts an impressive lineup of house-brewed beers and guest taps.
2. Apizza Scholls – Portland, OR
Apizza Scholls, located in Portland, is known for its thin-crust, East Coast-inspired pizzas. Each pizza is crafted with meticulous care and features high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. Pair your pizza with a beer from their curated list of local craft beers for the ultimate Portland dining experience.
3. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, CA
San Francisco’s Tony’s Pizza Napoletana combines the art of Neapolitan pizza-making with an extensive beer list. At Tony’s, you’ll find authentic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in their wood-fired oven, offering a true taste of Italy in the heart of San Francisco. Their beer menu comprises over 30 rotating taps and 80 bottled selections, ensuring there’s a beer to satisfy every taste.
4. Pizza Port – Multiple Locations, CA
With several locations throughout California, Pizza Port is a must-visit for both pizza and beer aficionados. Each of their locations boasts a laid-back atmosphere, making it the perfect spot to unwind with friends. Their handcrafted pizzas are generously topped, resulting in a perfect blend of flavors. Pizza Port also brews their award-winning beers, ranging from refreshing IPAs to robust porters.
5. Pizzeria Paradiso – Washington, DC
Pizzeria Paradiso has earned a reputation as one of the best pizza pubs in the nation’s capital. Their Neapolitan-style pizzas feature a thin, crisp crust and are topped with a variety of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their beer selection is extensive and carefully curated, featuring an ever-changing lineup of craft beers from around the world.
Notable Pizza Pubs Around the World
The pizza pub craze is not limited to the United States; pizza and beer enthusiasts can find fantastic establishments around the world. Check out some noteworthy pizza pubs from other countries:
1. Yard Sale Pizza and The Four Quarters – London, UK
In London, Yard Sale Pizza is a popular spot for its tasty, stone-baked pizzas featuring creative toppings and combinations. To enjoy a slice with a good beer, head to The Four Quarters in Peckham, where Yard Sale Pizza has a resident kitchen. The Four Quarters has an extensive selection of local and international craft beers, making it an ideal spot to indulge in the perfect pizza and beer pairing.
2. Bir & Fud – Rome, Italy
When in Rome, don’t miss out on the chance to visit Bir & Fud, a pizza pub that blends Italian culinary traditions with modern craft beer culture. Their delicious wood-fired pizzas are made with top-quality ingredients, staying true to their Italian roots. Alongside their pizza, Bir & Fud offers an impressive selection of Italian and international craft beers, ensuring a memorable dining experience in the Eternal City.
3. Crate Brewery – Melbourne, Australia
Crate Brewery in Melbourne is a local favorite, offering delicious thin-crust pizzas and an impressive lineup of craft beers. Their menu features inventive pizza toppings, such as Middle Eastern-spiced lamb or kimchi and pork belly, ensuring a unique and flavorsome experience. Their beer list showcases a variety of Australian craft beers, perfect for sipping alongside their mouth-watering pizzas.
The Future of Pizza Pubs
As the popularity of craft beer and artisanal pizza continues to grow, we can expect to see even more pizza pubs opening up around the world. The demand for unique, high-quality food and drink offerings will continue to drive innovation and experimentation within the industry.
We may also see further refinement of the pizza pub concept, with establishments catering to specific niches within the pizza and beer market. This may include pizza pubs that focus solely on locally-sourced ingredients, or those that specialize in unique pizza and beer pairings, elevating the dining experience to new heights.
Conclusion
Pizza pubs have established themselves as the ultimate destination for pizza and beer enthusiasts, providing the perfect setting for a casual night out or a memorable dining experience. With incredible pizza and beer options around the world, there’s never been a better time to be a fan of this fantastic duo.
Whether you’re a seasoned pizza pub-goer, or you’re just starting to explore the world of pizza and craft beer, this guide has you covered. Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below, and let’s continue the conversation about the world’s best pizza pubs!
Cheers to the irresistible combination of pizza and beer!