Better Together
Finding Commonalities and Connections with Two Classic Companions
Cheese and beer are foods of the people. They are made with such simple ingredients and are transformed through the magic of fermentation. We focus here on some local breweries that have made it their mission to engage in the community and work towards improving the quality of life of others. The cheeses we’ve chosen have come from producers that practice environmental stewardship, traditional methods, and have paved the way for innovation in renewability.
When creating a pairing like this, you’ll want to choose beers and cheeses of similar intensity, so as to not overpower one another. Remember: the more salt, the more sweetness/alcohol it can handle. The carbonation in beer really helps lift the butterfat in your mouth, so the richer the cheese, the more crisp the beer. For the fall, we’ve focused on seasonal duos that can work for a party or snack. Allow these pairings to take your taste buds across the pond and right next door. These are meant to be enjoyed with friends, neighbors, and lively conversation!
COMTÉ (French Alpine) & CORE 4 BREWING SOUL SHINE (Blonde Ale)
CHEESE TASTING NOTES:
Comté expresses lots of herbaceous aromas, with accents of toasted nuts. You can find Comté aged from anywhere between six months and three years, with each batch having a different flavor profile. We liked this combination because the cheese helps bring out all the wonderful floral notes of the beer.
BEER TASTING NOTES:
From Marty Simon, head brewer and co-owner: “A sweet malty aroma with light caramel and biscuit flavors that give a medium dry finish with medium body mouthfeel with Cascade and Tettnang hops to balance this beer.”
Places to purchase: CHEESE: Aldi, Uptown Grocery Co., Whole Foods Market / BEER: Core 4 Taproom, The Collective
JASPER HILL CAVE AGED CHEDDAR (Vermont) & COOP NATIVE AMBER (Red IPA)
CHEESE TASTING NOTES:
A well-made cheddar is always satisfying. When judging a classic clothbound cheddar, you’d want to look for a flavor profile that is reminiscent of a Sunday roast. When you get that crispy potato, a melt-in-your-mouth carrot, and a little piece of meat with a crunchy edge, this is what you’re looking for in a proper cheddar. Jasper Hill Farm has several cheddars in their wheelhouse under different labels: Cabot Clothbound, Karst, Vault No. 5, and also their basic Cave Aged Cheddar. Their commitment to doing things the RIGHT way has set them apart as one of the foremost cheese producers in the United States for the past twenty years. The sweet lactic aromas are balanced by a rich, brothy, almost smoky flavor. This makes for a great companion to a malty beer.
BEER TASTING NOTES:
From COOP: “A rich malt complexity & dry-hopped character from Cascade and Cluster hops. Native Amber is an audacious blend of hops and malt. Caramel and biscuit notes carry the Cascade and Cluster hop additions through to an enjoyably round finish. The malt complexity proves rich and the dry—hopped character is invigorating.”
Places to purchase: CHEESE: Aldi, Whole Foods Market, www.jasperhillfarm.com / BEER: Local grocery stores, Freeman’s Liquor Mart, Byron’s Liquor Warehouse, COOP tap room
AGED GOUDA (Netherlands) & ANGRY SCOTSMAN RUSTY KILTPIN (Scottish Style Export Ale)
CHEESE TASTING NOTES:
Aged gouda is the salted caramel of the cheese world. These sweet yet savory notes pair really well with something a little more impactful, and the crystalline crunch compliments the silky texture of this Scottish Ale.
BEER TASTING NOTES:
From Angry Scotsman: “Rich mahogany in color and packed full of biscuity caramel and complex vanilla malt notes with a clean finish.”
Places to purchase: CHEESE: Homeland, Uptown Grocery Co., Crest, Whole Foods Market / BEER: Freeman’s Liquor Mart, Angry Scotsman Brewery
PLEASANT RIDGE RESERVE (Wisconsin Alpine-style) & EQUITY PERIOD AMBER ALE (Amber Ale)
CHEESE TASTING NOTES:
Pleasant Ridge has won the American Cheese Society’s “Best in Show” more than any other cheese, three times to be exact. The cheese tastes of fresh herbs, hay, toasted nuts, and the sweetness of cooked custard. The subtle flavor of the hops cuts through the butterfat, and the smoked malt brings out the bacon undertones in this pairing.
BEER TASTING NOTES:
From Equity: “We partnered with Period OKC for this beer. The Amber is brewed with a bit of smoked malt to add a smoky flavor to the sweetness of this rich amber beer, and lightly hopped to provide a hint of citrus.”
Places to purchase: CHEESE: Whole Foods Market, www.uplandscheese.com / BEER: Equity tap room
HERVE MONS FOURME D’AMBERT (French Blue) & SKYDANCE SOVEREIGN NATION (IMPERIAL STOUT)
CHEESE TASTING NOTES:
This cheese is produced by the Fromagerie de Lauqeuielle and the affinage (finishing/ maturation) was done by Hervé Mons. The fromagerie works with small farms in the area, buying their milk to keep their community sustained. The cheese has notes of sweet cream, toasted nuts, and a dried fruit undertone. Blues always pair nicely with a rich, high-alcohol beer because their intensity can go toe-to-toe.
BEER TASTING NOTES:
From Jacob Keyes, owner and brewer: “It’s a strong 12% ABV stout with strong chocolate and roasted coffee notes. As brewed now, it may come across overly sweet for some. But the idea here is for customers to taste the base beer before we start to barrel age it. We currently have this beer in barrels now and will release the barrel aged version some time in early 2023.”
Places to purchase: CHEESE: Whole Foods Market / BEER: Skydance tap room, Freeman’s Liquor Mart
JASPER HILL FARMS HARBISON (Bloomy Rind; Bark-Wrapped) & COOP ALE WORKS BOCK
CHEESE TASTING NOTES:
Harbison is named after the “Grandmother of Greensboro”(VT), Anne Harbison. This cheese has no competition in terms of consistency, approachability, and overall feel-good factor. Look for the softest one you can find; it should smell of cooked cauliflower. Cut the top off and peel it back to reveal the custardy paste beneath. When fully ripe, it is reminiscent of that roasted state fair corn.
BEER TASTING NOTES:
A traditional German style beer, which explains the almost Marzen style sweetness, Bock is dark amber in color. The first whiff introduces classic biscuits notes with a slight hint of caramel toffee. With a lighter ABV than most other bocks, the sweet maltiness is much lighter in the mouth and the subtle hop bitterness rounds it out into a smooth, crisp finish.
Places to purchase: CHEESE: Whole Foods Market / BEER: Freeman’s Liquor Mart, Wine and Spirits Emporium (Edmond)
