Cheese And Beer: The Perfect Pairing Guide

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 the ideal beverage to serve with a cheese platter. The carbonation in beer, for instance, can cut through the denseness and richness of most cheeses. Many beers also have a sweet, slightly caramelized taste that goes well with heavier and riper cheeses. When it comes to pairing beer and cheese, it's all about finding a balance between the two.

Blue cheese and stout

When pairing blue cheese with stout, look for a beer with chocolate and roasty notes rather than coffee. The deep malty flavours of the stout complement the saltiness of the blue cheese, creating a salty-sweet combination. This pairing is perfect for dessert, reminiscent of chocolate-covered pretzels or salted caramel.

Some specific blue cheeses that pair well with stout include Stichelton, Bayley Hazen Blue, and Rogue River Blue. For a non-alcoholic option, a cup of black coffee can also be a delicious pairing with blue cheese.

When creating your own blue cheese and stout pairing, consider the flavours you enjoy and have fun experimenting. The worst that can happen is that you end up with a delicious beer and a tasty cheese that may go better with different combinations.

Brie and pilsner

When it comes to pairing brie with beer, a German or Bohemian-style pilsner is a great choice. The crispness of the pilsner cuts through the richness of the cheese, while also bringing out its soft, buttery qualities. The cheese, in turn, enhances the floral notes of the beer.

Pilsners are known for their hoppy, bitter, and spicy floral notes. They are light and crisp, with a high level of carbonation, which helps to reset the palate after each bite of cheese. This style of beer is also often characterised by a malty sweetness, which can be brought out by pairing it with brie.

Brie is a soft, creamy, buttery cheese with a neutral flavour that makes it a good match for a range of beers. Its high fat content means it pairs well with beers that have a good level of carbonation, as the bubbles help to cleanse the palate.

When pairing brie with a pilsner, look for one with a good level of carbonation to cut through the cheese's richness. Duration's Doses is one example of a pilsner that works well.

Cheddar and IPA

The Science Behind the Flavours

When pairing beer and cheese, it's all about finding a balance of flavours and intensities. The sharpness of aged cheddar, for instance, can be a great match for the bold, hoppy flavours of an IPA. The carbonation in the beer also helps to cleanse the palate, ensuring you can fully appreciate each bite of cheese.

Cheddar: The King of Cheeses

Cheddar is a versatile cheese that can range from mild to sharp or extra sharp. Aged cheddars, in particular, develop earthy undertones that pair beautifully with a best bitter or a British IPA. A good-quality cheddar, such as Montgomery's Cheddar or Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, can stand up to the strong flavours of an IPA, creating a delightful contrast.

IPA: A Bold Brew

IPAs, or India Pale Ales, are known for their strong, hoppy flavours and high bitterness. When pairing an IPA with cheddar, look for one with bold, West Coast flavours like Santilli IPA from Night Shift Brewing. The rich, sharp taste of aged cheddar can perfectly complement the hop-forward profile of an IPA.

Experimenting with Different Varieties

While a classic British cheddar and IPA combination is a safe bet, you can also experiment with different varieties of each. For a bolder experience, try a "ballsier" new world cheddar like Fiscalini Bandaged Wrapped Cheddar with an American IPA such as Dogfish Head 60 Minute. For a softer, more subtle approach, opt for a British IPA like Worthington's White Shield.

Funky and creamy cheeses

When it comes to funky and creamy cheeses, it's all about embracing the funk and matching it with bold, strong beers. These types of cheeses include Epoisses, Vacherin Mont d'Or, and Cowgirl Creamery's Red Hawk. For these, a Double or Imperial IPA is recommended, such as Three Floyds Dreadnaught, which has tropical and citrus fruit flavours. If IPAs aren't your thing, then farmhouse ales are another great option. The barnyard, earthy, and yeasty notes in these beers complement the common flavours found in funky and creamy cheeses.

When pairing funky and creamy cheeses, it's important to remember that the beer should be able to stand up to the intensity of the cheese. A mild beer will likely be overpowered, so go for something with bold flavours and a strong profile. The carbonation and bitterness of the beer are also important factors, as they help to cut through the richness and balance out the creaminess of the cheese.

Blue cheese is a great example of a funky and creamy cheese that pairs exceptionally well with beer. The sharpness of a blue cheese is an excellent match for the boldness of an IPA or the sweetness of a stout. The saltiness of the cheese also pairs beautifully with the sweet balsamic notes of a Flanders Red Ale.

When in doubt, remember that balance is key when pairing beer and cheese. Look for beers that complement or contrast with the funky and creamy cheese, creating a harmonious combination that enhances the flavours of both. So, get creative, experiment with different combinations, and most importantly, enjoy the process of discovering your favourite pairings!

Beer and cheese tasting

Getting Started

Before you dive in, it's worth noting that cheese flavours vary within a style as much as beer, so it's worth seeking out a cheese expert to help you navigate the wonderfully diverse world of cheese.

When you begin, start by tasting 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. How do the tastes combine? Do they harmonise or challenge each other? Do you taste anything new that wasn't there when you tasted the cheese or beer on their own?

Some Classic Combinations

• A hoppy lager or India Pale Ale (IPA) pairs well with blue cheese. The hops bring out the floral notes in the cheese.
• A classic pale lager goes well with soft cheeses, like brie or other white mould cheeses, as it brings out the caramel notes.
• An aged gouda, with its sweetness and caramel notes, also makes an interesting complement to a hoppy beer.
• A British bitter and a British cheddar is a great example of a local pairing.
• Mozzarella and a zesty Italian pilsner is another tasty local pairing.
• Farmhouse ales go well with aged alpine-style cheeses, which have complex, lasting flavours that can range from nutty to floral to grassy.
• Belgian ales and washed rinds are a good match. The yeasty, banana bread flavours in these robust ales calm the stank in washed rind cheeses.
• Amber ales and aged sheep's milk cheese is another winning combination. The sweet, malty notes in amber ales create a praline pecan effect when combined with salty, nutty sheep's milk cheeses.
• A stout and blue cheese is a very classic combination. Bold blues have enough robust character to stand up to big, chocolatey stouts. It's a salty-sweet combination that's perfect for dessert.
• Fruit beers and goat's cheese is a classic pairing.
• Wheat beer and aged goat cheese is another good combination. The effervescence of wheat ales slices through this dense, cakey cheese, and their bright notes of citrus co-mingle with the goat cheese's lemony tang.
• Sour ales and fatty cheese is a good match. The funky acidity of sour beers is balanced out by the fat in indulgent, voluptuous cheeses.
• American lager and cheese spread is a simple and satisfying pairing.
• American pale ale and American cheddar is an easy-drinking, low-maintenance duo. The slight sweetness from the malts in the beer goes nicely with the tangy flavour of the cheddar.
• IPA and clothbound cheddar is a delicious combination. The barny flavours in earthy clothbound cheddar mellow the bitter hops in the IPA and tease out the fruity bits.
• Belgian ales and cheddar is another good pairing. The creamy texture of cheddar dances with the subtle citrus notes and higher ABV of a Belgian beer.

Frequently asked questions