I love cheese. Did you know that? I love cheese so much, I try to incorporate it into my everyday cooking. Whether it’s sprinkling parmesan on my pasta or nibbling on blue cheese with a glass of wine, I’m always looking for ways to feed my craving.
So, one can only imagine how excited I was when the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board paid us a visit here at Taste of Home.
Megan and Heather – fellow cheese experts and lovers – shared some delicious Wisconsin cheeses and insightful information into the making of cheese. We sampled everything from a 10-year Aged Cheddar to Marieke’s Aged Gouda – which was a crowd favorite. I was on cloud nine.
Heather and Megan also shared with us how versatile cheese can be, especially when it comes to food and drink pairings. We chatted about traditional food parings such as certain fruits and dishes, but one of the most interesting pairings we discussed was beer.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, why in the world would you pair cheese with beer? Well, why wouldn’t you? Like wine, the right beer can be a fun and delicious partner to a good Wisconsin cheese.
I’ve decided in honor of my love for everything cheese, that I would put together some tasty cheese and beer pairings. Featuring delicious Wisconsin cheese and some of Wisconsin’s tasty local brews.
Stout – A very dark beer that features a heavily roasted flavor
Pairs well with: Blue, Brick, Cheddar, Edam, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Gruyere, Havarti, and Provolone
Central Waters Brewing Company: Bourbon Barrel Stout – Aged in oak bourbon barrels, this beer contains traces of bourbon and vanilla with a rich, roasted overtone.
Gray Brewing Company: Gray’s Oatmeal Stout – With a rich color and intense roasted flavor, this beer features a creamy texture and coffee-like flavor.
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Brown Ale – Dark amber in color, this beer can range from sweet to bitter.
Paris well with: Edam, Gouda, Gruyere, and Monterey Jack
Minocqua Brewing Company: Nut Brown – A robust beer with slightly nutty flavor and definable malt characteristics.
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Lager – America’s favorite beer and can range from light to dark
Pairs well with: Brick, Butterkase, Edam, Gouda, Gruyere, Limburger, Monterey Jack, Provolone, and Swiss
Sand Creek Brewing Company: Pioneer Black River Red – An Oktoberfest lager, this beer is red in color with a delicious malt flavor.
Lakefront Brewery: Riverwest Stein Lager – This beer has a balanced maltiness with a hint of sweet and a crisp hop bite in the finish.
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Pale Ale – With an excellent balance of malt and hops, this beer can have a sometimes spicy flavor
Pairs well with: Brie, Cheddar, Gouda, Provolone, and Swiss
Lakefront Brewery: Lakefront IPA – This beer has bite but is still well balanced with a full body and malty flavor.
Sprecher Brewery: Pub Ale – An English-style ale, this beer has a complex flavor and a deep brown color.
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Fruit Beers – Fun-loving, fruit beers can come in a variety of flavors
Pairs well with: Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Romano
Tyranena Brewing Company: Painted Ladies Pumpkin Spice – brewed with pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices, this beer truly celebrates fall.
Lakefront Brewery: Lakefront Cherry – This ruby red beer has a spritzy cherry flavor that is balanced with a slightly malty undertone.
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For More Cheese Fun:
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Interesting that Gouda goes with nearly all of them except the fruit beer, which I would have thought it would pair quite well with. Thanks for sharing.
Now I want cheddar beer soup with garlic croutons.
This was a super article! I learned so much about pairing beer and cheese – I guess part of me also feels like, “If it tastes good together, that OK too.”
Love the spice beer with Brie – want some now….
Nice blog – how do I follow you? Only through TOH?
that sounds so good right know for my dad
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