We all have to eat. And, if you're eating at Summerfest, it's likely you're also slugging down one of the many beers available on the grounds. 

As more and more folks become knowledgeable about food and beverage pairings, we thought it might be interesting to come up with some of the best mouth-watering Summerfest food-and-suds combos. So, we took Summerfest favorites – both new and old – and matched them with pairings that bring out the best of both the beer and food.

Of course, in the end, it's all about eating and drinking what you love.  So feel free to use our beer guide to find your own perfect pairings. 

1. Venice Club’s fried eggplant

Pairing: Blue Moon (Harley-Davidson Roadhouse)

You can’t go wrong matching a Blue Moon with your fried eggplant. The bright beer is driven by citrus-y aromatics and coriander, which immediately shines next to the soft, pliant eggplant flesh. Meanwhile, the beers' soft sweetness gently balances saltiness and the acidity of the marinara.

2. Robby’s roasted corn

Pairing: Leinenkugel’s Canoe Paddler (Miller Lite Explorer/Miller Lite Oasis)

Kölsch tends to be an easy pairing for food of all stripes. Its spritzy bubbles and fruity roundedness play well with both the sweetness and smoke of the corn. Canoe Paddler is brewed with a touch of rye, so it has a slightly spicy note and a clean, dry finish.

3. Vagabond’s Flaming Hot Cheetos Tacos

Pairing: Lakefront El Wisco Mexican Lager (Lakefront Tent)

Refreshing on a hot afternoon, Mexican lager is a no brainer when it comes to tacos. The tortillas meet their match in the grain bill, which includes flaked Venicemaize. Meanwhile the clean flavor cuts through the spice, while offering a fresh counterpoint to the rich beef.

4. Mader’s jumbo pretzel

Pairing: Leinenkugel’s Anniversary Lager (U.S. Cellular Stage)

This Mӓrzen-style lager, co-brewed with Munich-based Hofbräu München is the perfect pairing for a Bavarian style pretzel. The toasted malts and herbal hops notes of the Marzen highlight the glossy, toasted skin of the soft, warm pretzel, offering a match made in heaven, er, Germany.

5. Water Street Brewery Yard Bird Nachos

Pairing: Water Street Brewery Punch You in the IPA (Water Street Brewery)

What do you pair with nachos made from chicken cracklins? If you ask me, an IPA is a great match. You have lots of fattiness and some assertive flavor from the jalapenos, both of which the hops cuts right through. In kind, the salt and fat tone the bitterness down and call attention to the meager malt underneath while both the bitterness and carbonation refresh the palate between bites in a similar manner to an acidic wine.

6. Saz’s sour cream and chive fries

Pairing: Miller Lite (BMO Harris Stage)

Ah, Miller Lite. You’re a great match for French fries, especially these. Your dainty bubbles cut through the fattiness and salt, allowing the starchy flavor of the potatoes to shine through, ensuring that the last French fry tastes just as good as the first.

7. Saz’s mozzarella sticks

Pairing: Lakefront Clutch Cargo Double IPA (Lakefront Tent) OR Redd’s Raspberry Ale (Redd’s Tent/Brigg’s Big Backyard)

Deep fried cheese is a beautiful thing. And creamy cheese loves fruit. That’s why it loves the intense tropical notes from the hops in Lakefront Clutch Cargo. There’s citrus, pineapple and mango, along with roasty malts (which are complemented by the toastiness of the fried exterior wrapper) and a subtle sweetness on the finish.

Of course, another great option is Redd’s Raspberry Ale. Here you get a berries and cream effect, the juicy raspberry offering fruitiness and tartness that cuts through Juicy raspberry flavor that is refreshing and crisp. It starts with a surge of berry flavor with slight tartness and finishing with Redd’s signature crisp apple.

8. Wong’s Wok shrimp fried rice

Pairing: Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat (Johnson Controls World Stage)

Fried rice is delicious. And so is the Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat, which doesn’t bring anything assertive to the table, just a slightly sweet flavor reminiscent of clover honey and a hint of citrus. And now you know why it loves the shrimp. There’s also a light biscuity malt flavor that pulls out the caramel notes in the fried rice. Delicious.

9. Major Goolsby's Major Cheeseburger

Pairing: Lakefront Riverwest Stein (Lakefront Tent)

Riverwest Stein is a solid brew all around, and it’s great with burgers. The caramel notes in the beer fuse with the the meatiness. Meanwhile the browned crust on the meat pulls out some of the beer's toasty overtones. Hoppy notes balance things out and offer a foil for the vinegary condiments.