You could argue that there is no bad beer/pizza combination, and on a certain level you’d be right. Close your eyes and point at any tap handle at your favorite pizza joint, and there’s a good chance you’ll land on a beer that goes pretty well with the slice in front of you. But there are some beers that can take an ordinary slice of pizza to transcendent levels. These beers aren’t just good with pizza. They’re fu#$ing great. Behold, five of the most perfect pizza beers in America.
Allagash Saison
Allagash Brewing Co.
Portland, Maine 
I don’t think Allagash had pizza in mind when they developed their Saison, their newest year-round beer released last spring. As far as I know, Maine doesn’t have a strong pizza tradition. But you can’t argue with the results. There’s a sugary sweetness to this Belgian, with a round, malty body but there’s also an acidity to it that cuts through the greasiness of crappy take out pizza, which is what I was eating the first time I had this beer. And it made the whole meal so much better.
Swami’s IPA
Pizza Port Brewing
San Diego, Calif.
Pizza Port is consistently considered one of the best breweries in San Diego, which is no small feat considering the volume and quality of beer coming out of that town (as if San Diegans didn’t have enough to brag about, what with the weather and the beach). The brewery’s Swami IPA is a classic West Coast IPA, with big citrus notes and plenty of hop bitterness. It works well with really salty meats, like everything you’d put on top of a pizza. Pizza Port starting canning recently, but their distribution is localized. If you live on the other side of the country, consider another West Coast style IPA, like NoDa’s Hop Drop n’ Roll.
Gold Leaf Lager
Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Roseland, Va. 
Lager and pizza is probably the original pizza/beer pairing, but you shouldn’t settle for just any lager. Devils Backbone has quietly risen to become a veritable king of craft lagers in the last few years, pulling down the Small Brewing Company of the Year award from GABF in 2013, then Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year from GABF in 2014. Gold Leaf is the perfect example of why Devils Backbone is killing it. This lager has an incredible malty backbone that delivers bread-like qualities that compliment pizza’s doughy goodness. And it’s light enough in both body and ABV (4.5%) to not get in the way of the pie.
Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower
Saint Arnold Brewing
Houston, Texas
The German-style Kolsch is delicate—light and crisp, with just the right amount of hoppiness to give it a bit of gravitas. Fancy Lawnmower is the epitome of the style, and it is the Yin to the pizza’s Yang. The Kolsch is all about contrasting the heaviness of the pie. Think of this as a palate cleanser—a break between cheesy bites. Maybe the best part? While most Kolsch’s in America are summer seasonal fare, you can find this one year round.
Bell’s Oarsman
Bell’s
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Okay, Bell’s Oberon is an incredible wheat ale that knocks the hell out of a pizza slice, but it’s only seasonal. Need something right now? Look no further than the Oarsman, a Berliner Weisse that relies heavily on wheat, with just enough fruit to balance a pleasantly tart edge. You don’t want to go full sour against the pizza, but the tartness here acts as a cleansing agent without overpowering the cheese and tomato sauce. Now that’s a happy marriage.