Seven dinners, seven beers – all under 150 kroner

Let me be completely honest: I've wasted far too many Thursday evenings on expensive wine that didn't suit the food anyway. While the tomato soup was steaming away, I'd reach for the "nice" bottle – and end up with a combination that felt as out of place as flip-flops in a snowstorm. The truth is that weeknight dinners deserve a drink that actually speaks their language. And even better: you don't need to spend more than 150 kroner per bottle to find the perfect companion for the week's menus.

Pasta carbonara. That Sunday-to-Monday lifesaver we all reach for. Rich, creamy, maybe a touch too salty if you're like me and take the grana padano a little too seriously. Many people would go for white wine here, but hold on.

Rothaus Pils is one of the most underrated tricks in my cupboard. This classic German pilsner has a perfectly balanced bitterness that cuts through the egg yolk and fat without competing with it. The crisp, clean finish rinses the palate and makes you actually want the next forkful. And with 5 litres available it'll last for both you and your guests – or just you and several meals. The pale malt and the subtle hop bitterness create a contrast that makes every bite taste as fresh as the first.

Yes, I said it. Tacos. Don't judge me until you've heard the whole story. Most people reach for beer number one-hundred-and-forty from the nearest supermarket. But here's the thing: the complex flavour profile of tacos – the tartness from the tomato, the spice from the meat, the freshness from the salad – is crying out for something with a bit of pepper and fruit.

A West Coast IPA like Stigbergets West Coast IPA delivers exactly that. The bitterness from the hops harmonises surprisingly beautifully with chilli and cumin, while the citrus notes lift everything green. It's as if every ingredient on the table gets its own moment in the spotlight. Suddenly Monday tacos are no longer a chore – they're something you actually look forward to.

It's half past six. Chicken pieces are in the frying pan. You may have sprinkled a little paprika over them, or maybe not. Now you need something that says "I'm a grown-up" without having to dress up.

Here I love a light Belgian blonde. The pale, mildly spiced profile and the subtle yeast fruitiness – think apple and pear – lay themselves like a soft blanket beneath the chicken's own flavour. Chimay Blonde Dorèe comes in 75 cl, so you get good value here. It's delicate enough not to overpower, but full-bodied enough to make the meal feel complete. The fine sparkling carbonation lifts every bite, while the gentle sweetness from the malt perfectly balances any spices.

Pizza is the most social meal we have. And when you pull out the box – whether it's takeaway or homemade – it deserves something that can keep up with both the juiciness, the tartness, and that familiar wheaty bakery quality.

A classic pale ale, like Tørst Pennyless Pale Ale, costs under 150 kroner and has the balance I'm looking for here: not too bitter, not too sweet, with enough fruit to complement the tomato base and enough malt backbone to match the crust. It's like getting an extra slice without the calorie bill. The moderate alcohol content of 5% means you can enjoy several glasses without the evening becoming heavier than planned.

Honestly, is there anything better than coming home to a pot that's been doing its own thing all day? Beef ragù, stew, chilli – they need something darker and more serious in the glass. Something that matches the long cooking time and the deep, developed flavours.

Haandbryggeriet Dark Force is a Norwegian strong porter at 8% alcohol. It has the necessary weight – coffee, chocolate, dark fruit – to stand up to a hearty meat stew, while the price stays well under the maximum. It warms you from the inside at exactly the moment when January's distance to the weekend has finally been bridged. The roasted malt notes mirror the caramelised flavours in the stew, while the full body perfectly matches the juiciness of the meat.

Of course you can't grill outside in January, but the grill pan does the job. Steak, lamb chops, mushrooms – it's the weekend, and we're taking a little more time. Now you open an IPA with some muscle.

Fermenterarna Fresh Harvest Citra New England Double IPA or another powerful IPA with a tropical fruit profile matches the roasted flavours from the grill. The body you get from a DIPA at 8% balances the juiciness of the meat and gives every bite a little extra pop. Yes, it's a bit more expensive than a Monday beer, but you've been saving all week. The creamy texture and the intense hop aromas – mango, passion fruit, citrus – create a contrast to the roasted, caramelised flavours that makes the whole meal lift.

You have a pan full of sausages, maybe bacon, potatoes, caramelised onion. It's not haute cuisine, it's homemade comfort. Here I go for something clean and fresh that clears the way for the next bite without dominating.

A simple, classic lager or helles – think German or Czech styles – does the job perfectly. They rarely cost more than 100 kroner for a large bottle, they have enough body to handle fat and salt, and they stay just as good right to the last sip. It's the kind of beer that doesn't shout for attention, but makes you eat more than you planned because the combination just works.

Buy variety. Not seven bottles of IPA just because you liked one. Play with styles, alternate between light and dark, buy one more expensive bottle for Saturday and compensate with a cheaper one on Wednesday. Think of the whole week as a whole – that makes the budget easier to stick to, and you avoid beer fatigue.

And don't forget: the best option is always the one that makes you look forward to dinner. Whether it's a local pilsner or a Belgian classic doesn't matter as long as you sit down, turn off your phone, and let the flavours meet. Weeknight dinners deserve just as much attention as the weekend party – maybe even more, because that's where life is actually lived.