Beer and cheese goes extremely well together and is becoming increasingly popular over the years.
If you have read our our previous post (click here to read cheese pairing tips) you will know that we are a big fan of this pairing.
The acidity and effervescence of beer absolutely compliments the fat in cheese. This combination rinses the palate and keeping the taste buds as in tune as possible.
Use color as a guide:
Lighter cheeses go well with lighter beers. Dark cheeses like Goudas and golden-blues match better with dark beer like amber ale or imperial stout.
| Beer | Cheeses |
|---|---|
| White Beer | Jonchée, Rove des Garrigues, Feta, Brocciu, Recuite, Ricotta Romana, Perail, Sabot de Blanchette, Bijou, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, Burrata di Andria |
| Light Blond Beer | Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Mâconnais, Cornebique, Gortnamona, Bonchester Cheese, Brie de Meaux |
| Dry & Fruity Blond Beer | Lavort, Tomme Marotte, Salva Cremasco, Comté, Annen, Pionnier |
| Bitter Blond Beer | Beaufort, L’Etivaz, Heidi, Sainte-Maure de Touraine, Bonne Bouche, Murazzano |
| Amber Ale | Cantal, Gouda, Pecorino, Bleu des Causses, Fourme de Montbrison, Urban Blue, Camembert de Normandie, Buffalo Brie, Woolamai Mist |
| Dark Beer | Roquefort, Etoile Bleue de Saint-Remi, Cabrales, Livarot, Munster |
White Beer
- Acidity
- Bitterness
- Lightness
- Citrusy notes
White Beer Goes Well With:
- Fresh Cheeses: Jonchée, Rove des Garrigues, Feta
- Whey Cheeses: Brocciu, Recuite, Ricotta Romana
- Soft Cheeses with Natural Rinds: Perail, Sabot de Blanchette, Bijou
- Stringy Cheeses: Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, Burrata di Andria
Light Blond Beer
- Delicate aromas of grains
Light Blond Beer Goes Well With:
- Soft Cheeses with Natural Rinds: Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Mâconnais, Cornebique (semiripened cheeses)
- Soft Cheeses with Bloomy Rinds: Gortnamona, Bonchester Cheese, Brie de Meaux (younger cheeses to avoid masking the flavor)
Dry and Fruity Blond Beer
- Bitterness
- Fruity notes
Dry and Fruity Blond Beer Goes Well With:
- Uncooked Presses Cheeses: Lavort, Tomme Marotte, Salva Cremasco (semiripened cheeses)
- Cooked Pressed Cheeses: Comté, Annen, Pionnier (young cheeses)
Bitter Blond Beer
- Assertive bitterness
Bitter Blond Beer Goes Well With:
- Cooked Pressed Cheese: Beaufort, L’Etivaz, Heidi (ripened cheeses)
- Soft Cheeses with Natural Rinds: Sainte-Maure de Touraine, Bonne Bouche, Murazzano (ripened cheeses)
Amber Ale
- Aromatic head
Amber Ale Goes Well With:
- Uncooked Pressed Cheeses: Cantal, Gouda, Pecorino (ripened cheeses)
- Blue-veined Cheeses: Bleu des Causses, Fourme de Montbrison, Urban Blue
- Soft Cheeses with Bloomy Rinds: Camembert de Normandie, Buffalo Brie, Woolamai Mist (ripened cheeses)
Dark Beer
- Rounded Sweetness
Dark Beer Goes Well With:
- Blue-veined Cheeses: Roquefort, Etoile Bleue de Saint-Remi, Cabrales (strong cheeses)
- Soft Cheeses with Bloomy Rinds: Livarot, Munster (ripened cheeses)
Classic Beer and Cheese Pairings You Should Try
| Cheese | Beer |
|---|---|
| Fresh young cheeses (like Brebis and Chèvre) | Light Bright Ales |
| Brie | Saison or Bière de Garde |
| Aged Gouda | Brown or Scotch Ales |
| Aged Cheddar | Fruity Brews |
| Blue Cheeses | Pumpkin Beers, Wintry Spice Ales, Imperial Stout, Belgian tripels |
Recommended Book to Read:
Cheese Beer Wine Cider: A Field Guide to 75 Perfect Pairings
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Jones, Steve (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 03/19/2019 (Publication Date) - Countryman Press (Publisher)
Articles You Might be Interested:
- What’s the Best Way to Store Cheese?
- The Importance of ‘Relaxing’ Your Cheese Before Serving
- 3 Tips to Enhance Your Cheese Tasting Experience
- How to ‘Taste’ Cheese Through the Nose
- Why Do Some Cheeses Have Holes?
Last update on 2023-06-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API