My requirements are simple: As cold as physically possible, and light so as not to overdo the crab

I'm not a beer drinker either, EL. So, I defer to my GF who is a consumate beer lover. She always gets Backfin when it's available to have with crabs. Says it's a good beer anyway and likes that it's locally brewed (or bottled or something) and says it's great with crabs.

Yes, it does matter what kind of beer to drink with crabs. See my post on Rob Kasper's blog.

Reters in Reisterstown. The surfboards give it away.....

Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai beers. Singha is the perfect complement to spicy food.

I think Amanda's vid on the enchiladas was great and she demomstrates excellent taste in a matching beer for Mexican style food; Pacifico I believe.

Champagne goes great with crabs and most seafood.

Pimm's Cup with seltzer, a lemon slice and a cucumber stick is the most civilized drink for warm weather eating. Silly Americans.

Prosecco? Too sweet? Spanish cava would be refreshing. Vinho verde would be terrific. If you think you are being too refined, just burp a lot to fit in.

Definitely does matter. Cannot be too heavy or dark. I agree with many of the posts on the Kasper on Tap thread. Of course in Bmore, Natty Boh is first choice (even though it is no longer brewed here, the tradition of it is still there). Otherwise, any typical American brew will do (Budweiser preferred, but also Bud Light, Miller Light (MGD is terrible), Natural Light(more of an Eastern Shore thing), etc.). Also agree that it must be cold and by the pitcher is also preferred.

Fresca for me or Squirt.

It has to be COLD for me!

Tina said "squirt"!

hehe

It has been a very long time since I had an Indian beer, but I think there are good reasons you don't see Indian beer around much (if at all). I had a few different kinds, and they were all worse than Bud Light.

The mention of Indian beer, though, makes me wonder how a nice salt lassi would go with crabs. Or salty nimbu pani.

I remember those old Natural Light commercials from when I was a kid. There were big baskets of crabs and lobster served along Natural Light, the beer with a taste for food.

Then I got older and found out that Natural Light isn't a beer with a taste for food. It is not a beer with a taste for anything...unless the taste one is going after is skunk

Is that Seaside pictured?

Squirt rules

http://www.usasoda.com/images/squirt8.JPG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirt

Quick tip for drinking beer from a pitcher on a hot summer day -- ask the server for a glass of ice and drop it right in the pitcher (of course, after the initial pour). Learned that down South. I can drink beer as fast as anyone, but when you are working on a crab that pitcher might sit for a few minutes.

In my younger days, I loved Squirt mixed with Sloe Gin - sort of a quick & easy Sloe Gin fizz.

Hey Joyce W. - love the shout out for Backfin. It's a great beer and the fact that it's local makes it even more of a winner to pair with crabs.

Rocket Girl -- thanks for the B&B riff, but I think it really should be "heh-heh, heh-heh."

Never thought of Vinho Verde with crabs, but what a great idea! Thanks, RevEd.

My favorite beer for 20 years has been Weizen. Its slight citrus edge goes well with crabs, BBQ, and other spicy foods.

thanks hmpstd - it had been so long i forgot how to type it just right... but you got it! i'm cracking up.... squirt! squirt! heh-heh, heh-heh

Oh, Rocket Girl. I picture you with a head of curls, pudgy 6-year old hand over your mouth giggling uncontrollable and saying squirt, squirt.

Ops, my name fell off. I hate when that happens. Maybe I just sluffed a shell, it is Crab Week.

RTSO - are you too young to know Beavis and Butthead??

And don't you know better than to call a girl fat???

Ms. Girl, no, I am not too young to know of Beavis and Butthead (but have only ever seen their images, not their work.) Rather, I am too old to understand their purported humour: it is a rare bit of vulgarity that I find funny. And, yes, I do know better then to call a girl fat. Even were it true, I hope my manners would prevent me from mentioning it.

And now I shall slink back into my old fartdom and leave modern cultural references to those in touch with modern culture.

Of course, heffeweizen would be great. But not with fruity additions or a floral skank like Blue Moon. Widmer makes a good one. Apparently there are tons more out there, but I don;t know them. I'm not against a slice of lemon in mine. Heffeweizen is the best beer for really hot summer and the flavor will complement the crabs.

Even if you are a BBW, all you have to do is rub some cashew nuts on your "perfume points" and men will go crazy over you. Mr. Peanut wouldn't lie, would he?

I Love You Bay-bee...

I posted this a while back, but it's very appropriate today as well:

There's no better food and cocktail pairing than ice cold domestic beer and a pile of freshly seamed blue crabs smothered in Old Bay (or your favorite maryland crab seasoning--some prefer the Obrycki's black pepper/dry mustard blend, others prefer the traditional Old Bay/J.O. style. I like both ).

But please, when it comes to steamed crabs, NO European beers, Canadian beers, Mexican beers, or Australian beers. Hold the Bass, the Molson, and the Fosters. No thanks for the New Castle, the Amstel, or Heineken. No fancy microbrews, pale ales, nut brown ales, amber ales, oatmeal stouts, Irish stouts, porters, bachs, brown lagers, red lagers, cherry-wheats, honey wheats, raspbery wheats, weizenbachs, or heifweizens. None of the above! Not with steamed crabs, hon!.

When it comes to steamed crabs, it HAS to be ICE COLD domestic American beer. I'm talking about beer that tastes like "beer." Your Miller, your Natural Light, Michelob, Coors, Bud, and of course our beloved Natty Boh. I'll even take a Schlitz, a Pabst, or a Stroh's. My all-time favorite with crabs was the late great "National Premium". Oh what I wouldn't give to get National Premium back in its original form. They didn't call it "The Pride of Baltimore" for nothing. And it was GREAT with crabs!

There really is no better food/drink combination than beer and crabs, period. Whoever married those two together deserves a statue and an official state holiday.