Beer and cheese pairing for Punks

With hundreds of hops, numerous yeasts, countless malts, and infinite combinations of these, the possibilities for epic beer & cheese pairings are endless. Beer really is the perfect friend for a plate of cheese. Beer and cheese are like Sid and Nancy.  Kurt and Courtney. Thelma and Louise. Pat and Jess. So! Here are just a few beer and cheese combos to try at home.

Punk & Mild Blues

Try Gorgonzola or a Danish Blue and Punk IPA and let the hoppiness of the IPA add aroma and fruitiness to the cheese. It’ll also work to cleanse the palette and zip through the butteriness of gorgonzola.

Hardcore all the way!

Go hard or go home. Step it up a gear and go all out with a full on, badass stinky blue cheese. If you’re not a blue cheese fan, there’s Taleggio. An Italian mid-soft cheese that packs all the power of a big blue but is often found without the actual blue. Or you could try an ancient, vintage cheddar that falls apart if you just look at it. These cheeses will coat the mouth and will need something aggressive to clear it away between bites. Enter Hardcore. Also, try and go for madder, crazier cheeses. The more artisanal and weird, the better!

5am Saint & Goat’s cheese

You’ve got two options with this red ale, you can either go for an earthy washed rind, or you can opt for goat’s or sheep’s cheese for milkiness. The malty backbone of 5am saint lends itself well to the delicate tartness of goat’s cheese, but alternatively the sweet malt would give heartiness to an earthier hard cheese.

Libertine Black Ale & Cream

Hit the cream. Try blending Roquefort with the decadence of Libertine, and let the dark indulgence meld with the creaminess of the cheese. Other cream cheese would work too, try and find a natural artisanal cream cheese producer. Another good match would be aged alpine cheeses. Choose something like a good Mature Comte or Aged Gouda, both of which would also be epic with Cocoa Psycho, with the nuttiness working nicely with the chocolate. Whatever you go for, be sure to kick back and let hedonism take over your soul for the evening.

Dead Pony Club & sharp cheddar

This Pony is light and refreshing, but still packs a punch. Pick a cheese that does the same so as not to overpower beer nor cheese. A sharp cheddar would work well, giving bite for the Pony to take head on, without being too sickly or creamy. Young goat’s cheese would also fit the bill for this baby Bronco.

Jackhammer & hard cheese

This bitter bastard might seem like is doesn’t want to make friends, but it’s actually the ideal accompaniment to anything super salty. Heard of Umami? Sometimes referred to as “the fifth flavour”, it makes tastes irresistible. It’s commonly found in salty foods, and Jackhammer can help develop that sensation to give cheeses a “meaty” quality.  Most mega salty cheese are hard, like Romano or Parmagiano, but work these into a risotto or a pasta dish and you’re in for a treat!

Swing by one of our bars for some more delectable cheese and beer choices, and ask for a beer flight to match your cheese board for an education in perfect pairs.

What are your top beer and cheese combos? Get commenting!