Pocket Cicerone
Beer, wine, cocktail & non-alcoholic pairing for US restaurants

Beverage pairing, made for your menu.

Pocket Cicerone is a pairing guide built for working American kitchens. Match every dish to the right beer, wine, cocktail, spirit, or non-alcoholic option — then print staff-ready pairing cards your team will actually use.

Beer Wine Cocktails & spirits Non-alcoholic & mocktails

Build your menu

Type a dish or pick a common one, then tag flavor, spice and cooking method for sharper pairings.

Beer style recommendations

A rules-based pairing engine explains why a hazy IPA cuts through fried heat — in plain English.

Wine pairings by the glass

Match varietals and regions to each dish — from crisp whites with seafood to bold reds with steak.

Cocktails & spirits

Classic and signature cocktails paired to your menu, with tasting notes servers can memorize.

Non-alcoholic & mocktails

Zero-proof pairings, craft sodas and shrubs for the sober-curious guest — no more afterthought menu.

Local brewery finder

Google Maps-powered search surfaces nearby US microbreweries that match each beer pairing.

Beer style library

Flavor, ABV, IBU, body, aromas, and food-pairing notes — a Cicerone-style reference.

Printable pairing cards

One dish, one drink, one story your servers can actually memorize on a Friday rush.

AI pairing assistant

Ask 'what wine pairs with our fall menu?' and get a grounded, menu-aware answer in seconds.

Beer pairing basics, in plain English

Great beer pairing follows three moves: match intensity with intensity, contrast a rich dish with something crisp, or cut fat and spice with bitterness and carbonation. Below are the pairings we lean on most for American menus.

Burgers & smash burgers → Amber ale or West Coast IPA
Caramel malt echoes the sear; hop bitterness cuts the fat.
Fried chicken & spicy tacos → Hazy IPA or Pilsner
Soft bitterness and carbonation reset the palate between bites.
Oysters & raw bar → Dry stout, crisp Pilsner, or Muscadet
Roasted dryness or bright acidity mirrors the brine — beer or wine, both work.
BBQ brisket & ribs → Brown ale, Zinfandel, or a smoky Old Fashioned
Chocolate, jammy fruit, or charred sugar ride alongside the smoke and bark.
Spicy tacos → Hazy IPA, off-dry Riesling, or a Paloma
Soft bitterness, a touch of sweetness, or citrus and salt all cool the heat.
Sober-curious guests → Craft mocktails, shrubs & NA beer
Zero-proof pairings deserve the same tasting notes and talking points as the rest of the list.
Chocolate dessert → Imperial stout, Tawny Port, or espresso martini
Match the richness; let roast, dried fruit, or coffee carry into the finish.