This Beer Was Brewed to Pair Perfectly with Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise may be the most polarizing condiment on the continent. Fans love to slather mayo on everything from sandwiches to French fries; haters can't decide which is worse, the taste or the texture. But both sides of the debate may take interest in this new product: A mayonnaise brand and a brewery have collaborated to create the ultimate beer for pairing with mayo — which sounds like it could be great for either elevating your mayonnaise experience or washing the sauce off your tongue.

South Carolina-based Duke's Mayonnaise teamed up with Virginia's Champion Brewery Company to tackle a simple question: Can we create the perfect beer to pair with Duke's mayonnaise — specifically, a Duke's-slathered BLT? Don't worry: No mayonnaise was harmed in the making of this beer, except maybe during the taste-testing phase. This beer is strictly meant to further improve mayo-accentuated dishes.

The results are Family Recipe (named after Duke's origins) — a 5.1 percent ABV Vienna-style lager made with Vienna malt and Magnum and Saaz hops for a bit of bitterness (27 IBUs, as they say in the brewing biz). Though I haven't tried this specific beer, a Vienna-style lager is a sensible choice. Mayonnaise is a fatty condiment, so the crisp and bitter finish of a lager can help cut through any lingering fattiness on the tongue. But Vienna malts also add a touch of bready sweetness more so than other lager styles, making this pairing about more than just straight palate cleansing.

"The spirit of this collaboration truly encapsulates the Duke's brand — it's bold, southern, and a little saucy," Rebecca Lupesco, Duke's brand marketing manager of "mayohem," said in the announcement. "Champion has perfected the art of beer and food pairings with Family Recipe — sun-ripened, juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, lots of Duke's mayo, and a refreshing sipping beer is basically what summertime is made for."

Champion owner Hunter Smith added that he was already very familiar with Duke's product. "It's the only mayo that is used in our restaurants, so it only made sense to collaborate," he explained. "We think we've created a beverage that celebrates the southern heritage of our respective products."

Family Recipe will have a launch event on Friday, August 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Champion Tap Room in Charlottesville. And, of course, it will be paired with a special Duke's-inspired menu from the brewery's culinary team. The beer will also be available at Champion's breweries, restaurants, and retailers across Virginia and North Carolina, as well as at the Duke's Mayo Classic games this year in Charlotte, North Carolina.