Are you planning a crawfish boil for yourself and few of your closest friends? If so, then chances are that you have given some thought to the menu items like Andouille sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes. But, what is the best drink? Ask any number of Louisiana crawfish boil connoisseurs and you will likely discover a common answer – Beer!

When it comes to consuming the tasty, tender LA crawfish, there is nothing that compliments their flavor like a beer! However, the trick is to select a beer that is not too high in alcohol content so that the Cajun crawfish enthusiast doesn’t get tipsy. Nor should you chose a beer that is high in calories, as that makes one full faster. So, what beers should be served at a Louisiana crawfish boil? Here are five specialty beers that would be great choices for your next crawfish boil.

1. The Black Lotus – With the scent of caramel, the flavor of apple and malty tones, the Black Lotus is an ideal match for an LA crawfish boil. Its light red-brown color and white head pack plenty of flavor while complimenting the succulent taste of the crawfish.
2. IPA (Indian Pale Ale) – The recommended IPA beer is the Two Hearted Ale by Bell’s Brewing Company. It has a strong citrus taste, floral aroma and hoppy undertones, which create a smooth tasting beer that works as a perfect flavor foil to the spices traditionally used in a Louisiana crawfish boil. If you want a more subtle option, then the Belt Pale Ale by Southern Star Brewing Company is also a hoppy choice for crawfish, as its unique pine taste married with the traditional seasonings of a Cajun crawfish party is the perfect union of flavors.
3. Czech Pilsner – Pairing this spicy beer with crawfish may seem a bit unorthodox, but many find it to be the ideal match of bitter, tang and spice. Popular Czech pilsners are Sierra Nevada’s Summerfest or the Sierra Nevada Porter.
4. American Pale Wheat Ale – With a mild flavor and an undertone of clove, this American beer is often accompanied by a lemon, as the essence of the lemon, crawfish and beer lend their subtleties of flavor for a fabulous meal. A particular favorite of this type of beer is the Blue Star Great American Wheat beer by North Coast Brewing Company.
5. American Pale Lager – This is an especially light beer as it does not contain fillers such as corn and rice but has a stronger malty flavor that works well with the seasonings used in a crawfish boil. If you opt for this type of beer, consider the Session Lager made by Full Sail Brewing Company.

Of course, there is nothing incorrect in opting for a basic beer such as a Bud or Miller Light. In fact, if you are throwing a rather large crawfish boil, you may want to just fill a few coolers with these more basic options and just hold back a few specialty beers for the cook!

So what is your favorite beer to drink with your crawfish? Do you have any tips to share about matching the flavors of your crawfish boil(s) to the types of beer you serve? We would love to hear from you and learn why you think a particular beer is better (or not) with your Louisiana crawfish!