Cheese and beer pairings
Cheese and beer pairings
27 April 2009
Enjoy a slice of British history
Britain produces over 700 named cheeses and there are over 2,000 brands of beer in Britain. With such a variety on offer, there is great scope for winning combinations which is great when having friends or family over.
Nigel White, the Secretary of the British Cheese Board says: ‘Pairing cheese and beer gives you the chance to explore the incredible range of taste and textures in our cheese, and equally the stunning range of British beers'.
For those who prefer a strong cheese, Cheddar is a great start. With its strong flavours and velvety texture, it creates a smooth coating in the mouth which when tried with White Shield (a classic IPA) opens up the palate to flavours of citrus and apples.
If you prefer something with a little more of a kick, a Mature Blue Stilton and Ola Dubh 16 year old (a dark whisky aged beer) will definitely live up to that. The heavy substance of the beer and its malty and marmite notes complements the cheese, resulting in a powerful explosion of flavours.
Melissa Cole, beer journalist and author of popular blog ‘Girls Guide to Beer' helped Nigel to identify the perfect beer and cheese matches. Melissa says ‘Beer is, quite simply, the most natural partner for cheese you could choose, and it's no accident that Britain has a strong history, not to mention bright future, of artisan brewing and cheese making. 'Whether you create the classic combination of a pint of bitter with a Ploughman's or the sophisticated match of a barley wine with Stilton, the opportunity for epicurean delight from the partnership of beer and cheese is endless'.
Independent beer writer & broadcaster Melissa Cole is also a partner in lovebeer@borough - London's only beer tasting business, based in the world-famous Borough Market. For more information please visit www.lovebeeratborough.ning.com or email melissa@love-beer.co.uk
The British Cheese Board aims to increase awareness of cheese in the UK, and British cheese in particular as part of a healthy diet.
• Cheese is one of nature's most complete foods
• It contains essential nutrients - fat, protein, vitamins, calcium and other minerals
• It is a natural food source made from milk with the addition of salt which acts as a preservative
• It is versatile and can be eaten hot or cold any time of the day
There are over 700 named British cheeses available, with a British cheese for every occasion. The British Cheese Board's members account for a large proportion of cheese produced in the UK. The work of the BCB is also supported by associate members who are involved in the cheese supply chain.
THE ULTIMATE BRITISH CHEESE AND BEER PAIRINGS
| Recommended Beer | Recommended Cheese | Taste |
| Dark Star Sunburst | Wensleydale | This fresh & fruity beer. with hints of orange on the nose and a fresh herbal flavour acts as a very pleasant counterpoint to the mild and slightly sweet flavour of the cheese, combining to leave a fresh honey-like aftertaste |
| Fuller's Golden Pride | Extra Mature Cheddar | This is a classic pairing of two great British institutions, barley wine and cheddar cheese. The sweetness of the Golden Pride against the robust saltiness of this extra mature cheddar works so well. For my money this is the start of the perfect Ploughman's lunch, just add some rustic bread and perhaps a hint of homemade chutney and you're there |
| Hall & Woodhouse Stinger | Cornish Yarg | The fresh meadow smell of the beer projects summer time, and the hints of parsley and grass, combines well with the nutty sweetness of the cheese to offset any excess bitterness in the beer |
| Bateman's Victory Ale | Capricorn Goat's Cheese | This Linconlshire beer has masses of flavours in it, and the goat's cheese really stands up well to it. The rich pear and liquorice notes in the beer are complemented by the slightly chalky texture of the cheese, with both parts of the partnership keeping the other in balance to leave a warm aftertaste |
| Sharp's Chalky's Bark | White Stilton with Cranberries | This beer, created in collaboration with chef Rick Stein, is unsurprisingly a natural partner for food. Made with fresh ginger it is a spicy little number, which is softened by the cheese, and the combination ends in a explosion of fruit flavours from both ale and cheese |
| Sharp's Chalky's Bark | Llawnroc | We all know that apple & ginger are the best of friends and the light, appley notes of this subtly-flavoured English Brie are really complemented by the lemony-ginger notes in this beer- a fruity pairing for sure |
| Worthington's White Shield | West Country Farmhouse Cheddar | The beer takes centre stage here as the cheese acts as a foil to bring out the tiniest hints of cloves with scents of banana, it then ends in an unexpected citrus tang that's a real taste explosion |
| Worthington's White Shield | Extra Mature | The strength of the cheese helps draw out strong hints of red apple from the beer, a fruit that is a natural partner to cheese of all types - very much like this beer |
| Okell's McLir | Mild Cheddar | This pure filtered wheat beer, with hints of lemon, grapefruit and all spice, is a very natural, and thoroughly enjoyable, partner to this cheese with its clean, mild slightly citrus taste |
| Young's Special London ale | Blue Stilton (and also Llawnroc) | A strong cheese needs a strong partner and Special London with its rich rye bread & chocolate flavours is a great accompaniment to showcase the earthy nature of the cheese- and interestingly the cheese also brings out some of the underlying mineral flavours from the beer, and a good alternative would be Llawnroc |
| Brakspear Triple | Blue Stilton | Another strong cheese that needs a strong partner but this time with different results. The strength of 'blue' flavour & saltiness in this cheese means it can really balance the candyfloss flavour of the beer to create waves of caramelised orange overlying the rich creamy flavour of the cheese |
| Harviestoun Ola Dubh 16 year old | Blue Stilton | Not one for the fainthearted this is a powerful combination. This deliciously earhy cheese helps the sticky marmite flavours of the beer come out, whilst the beer allows the cheese to become more unctuous and elaborate on the tongue |
| William's Bros. Grozet | Any Brie & Camembert | The fresh gooseberry and bog myrtle flavours in this intensely refreshing beer, combined with its light and bubbly texture, allows the brie to flow across the tongue in a truly refreshing taste combination that seems to scream summer |
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Aspall Perronelle's Blush |
White Stilton & Blueberries | A perfect dessert replacement this is for the sweet tooth. The hint of Creme de Mure in the cider combines perfectly with blueberries in the cheese to make a fruity fiesta in the mouth, whilst the dry appley nature of the cider itself prevents it all from becoming too sickly sweet - recommend you put cheese on a digestive biscuit to get the full experience |
Stockist's details are as follows:
- Dark Star Sunburst (4.8%) - available from www.beerclubofbritain.co.uk Hall & all & Woodhouse River -Cottage
- Fuller's Golden Pride (8.5%) - available from Waitrose
- Hall & Woodhouse Stinger (4.5%) - available from Threshers
- Bateman's Victory Ale (6%) - available from Morrison's
- Sharp's Chalky's Bark (4.5%) - available from Majestic William's Bros
- Worthington White Shield (5.6%) - available from Sainsbury's
- Okell's McLir (4.4%) - available from www.beerparadise.co.uk
- Young's Special London Ale (6.4%) - available from Sainsbury's
- Brakspear Triple (7.2%) - available from Booth's
- Harviestoun Ola Dubh 16 year old (8%) - available from www.royalmilewhiskies.com
- William Bro's. Grozet (5%) - available from www.utobeer.co.uk
- Aspall Perronelle's Blush (5.4%) - available from Tesco