NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Each fall marks the debut of hundreds of special beers in celebration of Oktoberfest and the fall season. To celebrate the season, Cheeses of Europe has added beer and cheese pairings on its app to make the experience that much more enjoyable for any impromptu celebration.
"While cheese is synonymous with wine, it is important to note that cheese is complemented by different beers and styles. With microbrewing and regional beers getting more and more popular, this is an opportunity to put a local spin on a beer and cheese tasting," says Charles Duque, Director, The French Dairy Board for the Americas.
According to beer shipment data and US Census statistics, in 2018 US consumers, 21 years and older, consumed 26.5 gallons of beer and cider per person.
This fall, thousands of beer aficionados will be cracking open their favorite seasonal beer and hoping to find a perfect pairing that will maximize the flavor notes in each sip and tantalize their taste buds – cheese will do just that.
"Beer, like cheese, holds a huge diversity of flavor, color, and experience. Beer can be light or dark, sweet or dry, rich or bright, sour, spicy and everything in between. Beers can also be nutty, bready, floral, and full of other aromatics sure to complement the rich flavors and aromas of cheese," said Chris Shields, Advanced Cicerone® and Director of Education at Rhinegeist Brewery.
To ensure the best tasting combinations, it is recommended that cheeses be brought to room temperature before serving while beers should be served cold. Below are some ideal pairings for any fall beer choice.
IPA and Cheddar: The key to pairing a cheese with an IPA is to match the hoppiness of the IPA to the cheese. Cheddar is a perfect example because the bitterness of the hops helps cut through the fat of the cheese. Spicy cheese would also work well with an IPA.
Doppelbock and Mimolette: Originating in Northern France, Mimolette's salty umami flavor pairs magnificently with the strong smoky notes of a Doppelbock. Available in varieties aged 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, Mimolette has bright, sweet, and salty flavors create a well-balanced pair with Doppelbock.
Weizenbock and Fourme d'Ambert: Known for its cylindrical shape and dreamy pockets of blue, Fourme d'Ambert is a cow's milk cheese, with salty pronounced flavors of blue cheese, mustiness, mushrooms and barnyard.
This cheese has a strong, persistent bouquet. Its texture is breakable, crumbly and brittle, but it is buttery and melts in the mouth. This legendary blue cheese is sure to create a massive kick-in-the-taste buds when paired with the Weizenbock's sweeter caramel notes.
Cider and Camembert: Produced in Normandy and aged for four weeks, Camembert's mushroomy, earthy flavors are an ideal pair to a hard cider. The light, dry fruity-ness of a cider helps elevate the earthy Camembert flavors and aromas.
Saison and Emmental: Emmental's flavors tend to be tangy and lightly salty. It has a mild taste and a firm yet springy, soft texture. Its aroma is slightly sharp and fruity. When combined with the briny and citrus flavors of a Saison, this offers a wildly refreshing pairing.
"Whether you pair a delicate, buttery brie with a spicy hefeweizen or a funky bleu with a rich barleywine, the right beer will live in harmony with good cheese. There's no better snack (or meal) than some fine cheeses, one of your favorite beers, and maybe some crusty bread," said Shields.
To ensure the best cheese and beer combinations or to learn more about European cheeses, download the Cheeses of Europe app available in the Apple App Store. Quick pairing ideas can also be found at https://cheesesofeurope.com/beer-and-cheese-pairings.
SOURCE Cheeses of Europe
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