Guest blog written by Amanda Zessin, Communications Director for Rogue Ales.

Rogue Ales is the Official Beverage for Back to Barbecue Day, 2021.  Amanda Zessin, Rogue’s Communications Director, shares Rogue’s passion for grilling and her own personal experiences around the grill.

For me, grilling is a time machine.

It takes you to the past, when some of your fondest memories with family and friends took place outside, around the grill.

Grilling can also take you to the future.  When you grill, you’re giving yourself space and time to experiment with new flavors – with each occasion, you move forward a better cook than you were the day before.

Most of all, though, I grill for the present moment. When you cook for someone – especially on a grill – it’s an act of love and respect. I enjoy being in the moment around the flame knowing this is a special time for all those who are with me.

You know what else I love about grilling?

The pairings.

Nothing brings a great, hot meal off the grill to life better than a nice, cool, perfectly paired beverage. And, exploring and finding the ideal beverage pairing can be just as exciting as mastering a new grilling technique.

I’m of course partial to beer pairings, specifically those from Rogue. That’s one reason why all of our Rogue beers have food pairing recommendations on their labels. Specifically, we recommend pairing two of our most popular core beers, Batsquatch Hazy IPA and Dead Guy Ale, with grilled foods. I love pairing (and highly recommend you give this a try) grilled salmon with our Batsquatch and grilled asparagus and BBQ ribs with Dead Guy.

We at Rogue are excited to be a part of Back to Barbecue Day on May 29, the official kick-off to grilling season. We’re optimistic this will be one of the best summers ever for outdoor grilling with friends and family, enjoying a refreshing beer together under the sky. We’ve all earned it.

Here’s to the memories we have made, the future we have to look forward to – but most of all the moments we have together right now.

To get inspired for your next outdoor grilling party, check out our unique recipes here!