A few tips in choosing which cheeses to pair with which beers:
The last half decade has seen the emergence of cheese and beer pairings as a popular way to enjoy both. The most important tip is to choose cheeses and beers that you like; usually your own taste buds will guide you.
That being said, here are a few easy guidelines to assist you:
- As with cheese and wine, your cheese and beer should complement each other. The secret is to avoid having either overpowered by the other. For example, if you pair a mild, semi-soft cheese with an IPA, the beer will overpower the subtleness of the cheese and your only memory will be the beer. Although sometimes a cheese can be so potent, like a washed rind Camembert, that a lighter beer can tone down the pungent taste of the cheese.
- Choosing cheeses and beers from the same region is also an excellent way to find sublime pairings. For example pairing an Oregon Blue Cheese with an Oregon micro-brewery Stout brings out the best in both.
- Texture is important with cheese and beer. Rich cheeses seem to explode, taste-wise, when paired with a more effervescent beer.
I have prepared this chart to assist you in successfully pairing cheeses and wines for your next event or quiet evening at home relaxing:
| Asiago | Biere de Garde, Brown Ale, Dunkle, IPA, Saison | |
| Blue Brie | IPA | |
| Blue Cheddar | Barley Wine | |
| Blue Cheese | Gueuze, IPA, Pale Ale, Pilsner, Rauchbier, Triple, Weissbier | |
| Blue Triple Cream | IPA | |
| Brie | Doppelbock, Dortmunder Export, Dubbel, ESB, Gueuze, Helles, Old Ale, Scotch Ale, Kölsch, Blonde Ale, Biere de Garde | |
| Camembert | Altbier, Bock, Brown Ale, Doppelbock, Pale Ale, Saison, Kölsch | |
| Cheddar (Mild) | Pilsner | |
| Cheddar (Medium) | American Amber Lager, | |
| Cheddar (Sharp) | Barley Wine, Weissbier, Gueuze, Imperial Stout, IPA, Lambic, Pale Ale, Pilsner, Rauchbier, Triple | |
| Chevre (Fresh Goat Cheese) | Hefeweizen, Witbier, Lambic | |
| Chevre (Ripening Goat Cheese) | Weissbock | |
| Colby | Biere de Garde, Brown Ale, Dunkle, ESB, IPA, Saison | |
| Comte | Bock, Oktoberfest, Porter, Dunkle | |
| Feta | Biere de Garde, ESB, Hefeweizen, IPA, Pale Ale, Weissbier, Witbier | |
| Gorgonzola | Barley Wine, Dubbel, IPA, Lambic, Saison, Triple | |
| Gouda (Aged) | Brown Ale, Gueuze, Helles, Imperial Stout, Scotch Ale | |
| Gouda (Smoked) | Doppelbock, Old Ale, Witbier | |
| Gouda (Young) | Biere de Garde, Dortmunder Export, ESB, Hefeweizen | |
| Gruyere | Bock, Oktoberfest, Porter, Dunkle | |
| Havarti | Doppelbock, Dortmunder Export, Dubbel, ESB, Gueuze, Helles, Old Ale, Pilsner, Scotch Ale | |
| Limburger | Barley Wine, Doppelbock, Dubbel, Gueuze, IPA, Lambic, Saison, Triple | |
| Monterey Jack | Pale Ale, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, American, IPA, Kölsch, Amber Lager, Rauchbier, Witbier | |
| Muenster | Pilsner, Schwarzbier, Red Ale | |
| Myzithra | Scotch Ale | |
| Parmesan | American Amber Lager, IPA, Biere de Garde, Brown Ale, Dunkle, ESB, Imperial Stout, Pale Ale, Saison | |
| Provolone | Pale Ale | |
| Romano | Pale Ale | |
| Roquefort | Barley Wine, Dubbel, IPA, Lambic, Saison, Triple | |
| Swiss (Mild) | Doppelbock, ESB, Dortmunder Export, Old Ale | |
| Swiss (Robust) | Bock, Gueuze, Helles, Oktoberfest | |
| Triple Cream | Abbey, Trappist |
For more pairings and other information regarding cheese, please visit my blog at cheesemonger .
©Copyright 2009 Marcella Wright and Echoes from the CheeseMines – Used by Permission
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