Cheese And Beer: Perfect Pairing For A Tasty Treat

Beer and cheese are a match made in heaven. While wine and cheese have long been considered the perfect pairing, beer's freshness, carbonation, and complex taste notes make it a great match for cheese. Beer's carbonation works well with cheese as it cuts through the density and richness of most cheeses. The bitterness and floral notes of hops in beer can also lift the cheese to new heights. So, which beers go with which cheeses?

Mild cheeses go with mild beers

When pairing beer and cheese, it's important to remember that mild cheeses go with mild beers. A beer should never overwhelm the cheese with alcohol, strong flavours, or a lot of hops.

Muenster, Butterkäse, Havarti, and Brick cheese are all mild, delicate cheeses that go well with lower-hopped beers like pilsner, amber ale, saison, or stout. Brie, Camembert, and other soft-ripened cheeses with bloomy rinds pair well with ciders, fruit beers, and pale ales.

If you're looking for a simple, widely available option, a classic pale lager from any brewery will complement many cheeses. The carbonation and crispness of a pale lager cut through the density and richness of most cheeses, and they pair especially well with soft cheeses like brie or other Double Crème cheeses, which bring out the caramel notes in the beer.

Riper and richer cheeses can handle stronger beers

Riper and richer cheeses can stand up to stronger beers, so don't be afraid to experiment with more intense flavours. A full-bodied, matured cheese pairs well with heavier beer types, such as pale lager, brown ales, and even stouts. A heavy barley wine could also be a good choice.

Sharp blue cheeses, for example, can handle a heavy black stout, which would otherwise easily smother other flavours. The frothiness of a Guinness, for instance, helps to balance the buttery richness of a blue cheese, while the peppery kick of the blue mould is smoothed out by the roasted notes of the malt. Hoppy beers also work well with blue cheese, as the hops can take the edge off and bring out the floral notes and acidity.

If you're looking for a more unusual pairing, try a bold imperial stout with Colston-Bassett Stilton. The beer's residual sugar is a fine counterpoint to the saltiness of the cheese, and the fruity and roast malt flavours of the beer bring out a chocolatey side to the Stilton that you might not have tasted before.

For classic British Cheddars with earthy undertones, a best bitter like Fuller's London Pride, or a British IPA like Worthington's White Shield are good choices. If you're opting for a stronger cheddar, such as Fiscalini Bandaged Wrapped Cheddar, an American IPA like Dogfish Head 60 Minute will complement its flavour.

Fruity beers go well with cheese

When it comes to pairing beer and cheese, it's all about balance. The right combination can create a delightful contrast that enhances the flavours of both the beer and the cheese. While mild cheeses go well with mild beers, riper and richer cheeses can handle stronger beers with higher alcohol content.

Fruity beers, in general, go very well with cheese. For instance, a Belgian cherry beer or other beers with prominent fruitiness can be a great match for cheese. The fruitiness of the beer can balance out the sharpness of the cheese, creating a delightful taste experience.

For blue cheese, a heavy, fruity beer is an excellent choice. The sweetness of the beer will take the edge off the blue cheese while enhancing its floral notes and acidity. A New England IPA, for instance, pairs beautifully with the nutty flavour of Manchego cheese.

If you're looking for a unique pairing, consider a fruit beer like Delirium Red, brewed with cherries and elderberries. This beer can be paired with Camembert or a Camembert-style cheese like Berkshire Bloom. The sweet and sour notes of the beer will smooth out any sharpness from the cheese, resulting in a harmonious combination.

Additionally, fruity beers can also complement fresh cheeses like burrata. The acidity and carbonation of a sour cherry beer, such as New Glarus Belgian Red, can cut through the buttery richness of burrata, while the intense fruit flavour creates a delightful berries and cream combination.

Hops-rich beers can bring out new flavours in cheese

Hops, the flowering buds of the Humulus lupulus vine, add bitter, fruity, and floral notes to beer. These flavours complement the herbal, nutty, and earthy notes of many cheeses. Hops-rich beers can bring out new flavours in cheese, enhancing the dining experience.

When pairing beer and cheese, it is important to consider the balance of flavours and intensities. The right combination can create a contrast that enhances the taste of both the beer and the cheese. For example, the sharpness of aged cheddar pairs well with the boldness of an IPA, while the creaminess of brie complements the complexity of ales.

Hops-rich beers, such as IPAs and pale ales, can particularly accentuate the flavours of blue cheese. The bitterness and floral notes of these beers can lift the cheese to new heights, bringing out its floral notes and acidity. A sharp blue cheese can also be paired with a heavy black stout, which helps to smooth out the peppery kick from the blue mould.

For cheddar cheese, a hops-forward beer like an IPA can highlight its sharpness. The bold, west coast flavours of an IPA complement the rich and sharp taste of aged cheddars. Similarly, a hoppy lager can bring out the acidity in a creamy blue cheese, reminding one of elderflower.

Aged gouda, with its sweetness and caramel notes, also makes an interesting complement to a hops-rich lager. The lager can bring out spring-like flavours in the gouda while accentuating its acidity. This pairing demonstrates how hops-rich beers can elevate and transform the flavours of cheese.

In conclusion, hops-rich beers can indeed bring out new flavours in cheese. The bitterness and fruity or floral notes of these beers create unique combinations that enhance the dining experience. Whether it's a sharp cheddar, a creamy blue cheese, or a sweet aged gouda, there is a hops-rich beer that can bring out unexpected and delightful flavours.

Pale lager goes with soft and aged cheeses

A relatively simple pale lager from just about any brewery goes well with many cheeses. Soft cheeses like brie or other Double Crème cheeses will bring out the caramel notes in a pale lager. In aged cheeses, both hard and semi-soft, a classic pale lager really brings out the caramel notes and the sharpness.

How to Host a Beer and Cheese Tasting

First, taste the cheese and beer separately. Take your time and notice the various taste notes. Are there bitter notes or sweet? Caramel? Fruity? Floral? Then, notice what happens when you taste the cheese and beer together. Take a small bite of cheese, smell it, too. Notice all the flavours. And smell the beer before sipping it. How do the tastes combine? Do they harmonize or challenge each other? Do you taste anything new, which neither the cheese nor the beer had on their own?

Beer and Cheese Pairing Tips

When pairing cheese and beer, the same factors that apply to pairing cheese and wine hold true: a strong cheese demands a strong beer. A light lager will be beaten into submission by a well-aged Cheddar, just as a super-hoppy IPA will completely drown a mild Brick. Instead, if you’re pouring a pale, crisp Pilsner, pair it with a mellow Muenster or Butterkäse. Quaffing a heavy, toasted stout? Here’s where that sharp Wisconsin Cheddar is at home.

Complement or Contrast?

As with wine pairing, match notes in the beer that complement or contrast with flavour and texture notes in the cheese. A nutty Swiss or Gouda, for example, is a perfect match for the nutty notes in a brown ale. For a contrast, a super-creamy Brie is a nice counterpoint to an acidic cider or fruit beer, or a pungent pale ale.

Frequently asked questions