Oktoberfest Traditions

• The classic sausage-and-beer pairing is one that delights beer lovers every Oktoberfest. Weisswurst, also known as bockwurst, is a traditional German sausage made of pork and veal. Its mild flavor makes it a perfect combination for lighter German beers like weissbier. The delicate, complex flavors complement each other without the risk of one overpowering the other. As a bonus, the combination is easy to remember: weisswurst goes with weissbier.

Getting Heavier

• Not every sausage has the mild, herblike flavor of a weisswurst. A spicier sausage needs a more robust beer to keep up with it; lighter beers may cool the mouth, but their flavors will be overpowered by spices. An online article from "Draft" magazine in March 2012 recommends pairing a spicy andouille sausage with a potent brew like a double porter. The slight sweetness of the beer will complement the spicy sausage. Like porter, full-bodied, rich-flavored stouts can stand up to the spiciness of a hot sausage.

Poland and Mexico: Natural Allies

• Polish sausage and Vienna lager are an excellent combination of flavors, according to a guide jointly released by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, a project of the American Meat Institute, and the Beer Institute. Although Vienna lagers originated in Austria, as the name implies, beer expert Jay Brooks reports in the "San Jose Mercury News" that these beers are most common in Mexico, and how that came to be. These sweet, lightly malty lagers complement the simple beef and pork flavors of Polish sausage without overpowering them. "Straight beers need straight food," according to British beer expert Rupert Ponsonby, and this pair of simple, wholesome flavors is no exception.

The Perfect Hot Dog

• The hot dog is an American staple, particularly in the summer. It's fitting, then, that its perfect partner is cream ale, another American classic. This blend of lager and ale has more body than the typical light American lager, complementing the strong, simple pork flavor of a good frankfurter. Cream ale can also stand up to the combination of spices in a bratwurst without overpowering it as a heavier ale might.