Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner and that means two things are on everyone's shopping list, snacks and beer!
Our Photography Process
It's always fun to photograph combinations like popcorn and beer, especially when we get to work with the great folks at Garrett Popcorn (AKA the best popcorn company in the world)! We blended both food photography and beverage photography for this image. When shooting with models and food it is important to plan our lighting with the reminder that we will also have the shadows cast from the models on each side. Our main light was coming from the left with a large diffused light source and a medium soft box to light the right side and fill in light on the popcorn, the bowl, the models hand and the beer glass. We included another diffused light source from the left to light the "bar" in the background and give us those nice highlights
Which beer pairs best with popcorn?
The same way you wouldn’t serve a meal of Spaghetti and Cranberry sauce, you should plan which beer flavors pair well with your favorite popcorn! This year you don’t have to worry about showing up at the store without a plan; we did all the research for you.
Buttery Popcorn - Blonde Ale
Buttered popcorn is a pretty light flavor so you don’t want something to overpower the sweet and savory flavor of butter so a blonde ale is a perfect match.
Caramel Popcorn - Malty Amber
A malty amber beer already has notes of a sweet caramel flavor that will help your caramel corn really pop (no pun intended). These beers, although sweet, don’t give your caramel popcorn a sweetness overload.
Kettle Corn - Pilsner
The salty/sweet popcorn compliments the smooth malt and hops of a pilsner. The flavor of a pilsner is bold but not too bold to take over the crisp and delicate flavors of kettle corn.
Spicy Popcorn - IPA
IPA pairs well with nearly all spicy foods. The bitter taste brings out the salty flavors of the spice. These beers also have caramel flavors that bring out the sweetness in the popcorn.
Chocolate Popcorn - Imperial Stout
The strong flavor of a chocolate with not compete but balance with the strong essence of an imperial stout. The smooth yet rich flavors of an imperial stout are just about your best match for a bold chocolate covered popcorn.
Cheesy Popcorn - Pale Ale
Pale ales pair with a wide range of foods, and cheesy popcorn is no exception to that rule. The hops in a pale ale are not as strong as an IPA but still balance with the richness of cheeses that make a cheesy popcorn.