Cheese And Beer: Perfect Pairing Recommendations

Beer and cheese are a match made in heaven. The carbonation in beer works well with cheese, cutting through the denseness and richness of most cheeses. The bitterness in beer can also neutralise the fattiness of cheese, prepping your palate for another bite. So, which beers go with which cheeses?

Mild cheeses and mild beers

When it comes to mild cheeses, it's best to pair them with mild beers. The beer shouldn't overwhelm the cheese with a high alcohol content, strong flavours, or an abundance of hops. A simple pale lager, for instance, can be a great match for mild cheeses, bringing out their caramel notes and sharpness.

If you're looking for specific mild cheese and beer pairings, consider the following:

• Soft, mild cheeses like brie or other white mould cheeses go well with a pale lager, which will bring out the caramel notes in the cheese.
• For a mildly sharp cheddar, try an American pale ale, which will complement the tangy flavour of the cheese.
• A classic British Cheddar with earthy undertones pairs well with a best bitter, like Fuller's London Pride, or a British IPA like Worthington's White Shield.
• For a mild goat cheese, try a Belgian or German wheat beer. The citrusy flavours of a witbier, like Blanche de Chambly, will complement the similar flavours in the goat cheese, while the carbonation will keep everything tasting fresh.
• A semi-soft, mild cheese like Havarti has a sweet, creamy, acidic, and buttery flavour and a smooth texture that lingers on the palate. To cut through the creaminess, try pairing it with a dry-bodied, acidic, and highly carbonated beer like a German Berliner Weisse, a pilsner, an IPA, or a dry stout.

Remember, the key to pairing mild cheeses and mild beers is to look for complementary flavours and a balance in intensity. So, experiment with different combinations and trust your taste buds to guide you!

Riper, richer cheeses and stronger beers

Riper, richer cheeses can be paired with stronger beers. The general principle for pairing beer and cheese is to look for balance, and the biggest factor is weight or intensity. A full-bodied, matured cheese often goes well with heavier beer types, like pale lager, brown ales, or even stouts. A heavy barley wine can also be a good match for riper, richer cheeses.

Sharp blue cheeses can handle a heavy black stout, which can otherwise easily smother other flavours. Hoppy beers tend to take the edge off blue cheese and bring out their floral notes and acidity. A bold IPA can be a good choice to pair with blue cheese, as the hop bitterness cuts through the creaminess and richness.

Aged gouda, with its sweetness and caramel notes, also makes an interesting complement to a hoppy beer. A hops-rich lager can make gouda taste of spring as well as bringing out the acidity in the otherwise rich cheese.

For a moderately aged gouda, a light to medium-bodied American brown ale or a brown porter could be a good choice. As the cheese ages and develops a more intense character, you could step up the intensity to something like a bock, old ale, or sweet stout.

When it comes to pairing beer with classic British cheddars, a best bitter or a British IPA is recommended. For a "ballsier" new world cheddar, an American IPA is a good match.

Blue cheese and stout

To achieve the perfect harmony, look for a stout with chocolate and roasty notes, rather than coffee flavours. The deep malty flavours of the stout complement the earthy, nutty and creamy notes commonly found in blue cheese. The carbonation in the stout also helps to balance the fattiness of the cheese, refreshing the palate between bites.

When it comes to blue cheese, there are many varieties to explore, each with its own unique characteristics. For earthy blues, dark chocolate is an excellent pairing, as it teases out the rustic, barnyard flavours. Bold blues call for butter, as the extra fat mellows the strong flavours and allows the complexity to shine. Salty blues are perfectly balanced by the sweetness of honey, while creamy blues pair well with beef, such as a steak frites or a roast beef sandwich.

When selecting a stout to pair with blue cheese, consider the intensity of flavours. A big, bold imperial stout will stand up to the strong flavours of blue cheese, creating a decadent and indulgent pairing. However, a lighter oatmeal stout can also work well, especially when paired with a salty blue cheese to create a sweet and salty contrast.

Fruity beers and cheese

Fruity beers are a great choice when it comes to cheese pairings. The fruitiness of the beer can complement the cheese, and the carbonation and bitterness of the beer can cut through the denseness, richness, and fattiness of the cheese.

When pairing fruity beers with cheese, it is important to consider the intensity of both the beer and the cheese. A strong, fruity beer with a high alcohol content can stand up to a full-bodied, mature cheese. On the other hand, a lighter, fruitier beer might be a better match for a milder cheese.

One option for a fruity beer and cheese pairing is a Belgian cherry beer or another beer with prominent fruitiness. These beers can be paired with a variety of cheeses, including blue cheese, cheddar, and goat cheese. The carbonation and bitterness of the beer will cut through the richness of the cheese, while the fruitiness will complement the cheese's flavour.

Another option for a fruity beer and cheese pairing is an American-style IPA, which tends to have strong bitterness and fruity notes. The bitterness of the IPA will cut through the creaminess of a blue cheese, while the fruitiness of the hops will bring out similar flavours in the cheese.

For those who prefer their beers less fruity, an amber ale might be a good choice. Amber ales are known for their caramel and malt flavours, which can be complemented by a caramelly, aged gouda. The hops in an amber ale can also bring out the acidity in a rich gouda.

When pairing fruity beers with cheese, it is important to consider the specific flavours and intensities of both the beer and the cheese. A good rule of thumb is to look for complementary or contrasting flavours. For example, a fruity beer with strong hoppy notes might pair well with a sharp blue cheese, while a lighter, fruitier beer might be a better match for a milder cheese like a chevre.

Hops and cheese

Hops are herbs added to beers to give them bitter and fruity notes. These flavours go particularly well with cheese, as the bitterness and floral notes can enhance the cheese.

Hoppy lagers or IPAs pair well with blue cheese, as the hops bring out the floral notes and acidity of the cheese. A sharp cheddar with a hoppy lager highlights the acidity of the cheese. Hops-rich lagers can also bring out elderflower flavours in a creamy blue cheese.

An aged gouda, with its sweetness and caramel notes, also makes an interesting complement to a hoppy beer. The hops bring out the acidity in the otherwise rich cheese and can make the gouda taste like spring.

For classic British cheddars with earthy undertones, a British best bitter or an IPA are good choices. An American IPA is a good match for a strong cheddar, like Fiscalini Bandaged Wrapped Cheddar.

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