Welcome to this week’s Beer & Cheese Pairings. For this edition, I’ve chosen three delicious cheeses to pair with Yolo Brewing’s sweet and fruity Valentale Ale. Let’s jump right in!
BEER:
Valentale Ale is a delicous Valentine’s Day special from Yolo Brewing Company. It’s a Belgian tripel with raspberry puree added for secondary fermentation. This fruity favorite should be fun to pair with these tasty cheeses.
CHEESES:
Brebirousse D’Argental is a delicious French cheese imported by Murray’s Cheese. It is silky and full-flavored, with a delicate sweetness that balances the buttery intensity with aplomb. This sheep’s cheese is savory, creamy, nutty and complex. This cheese was absolutely delicious on its own and paired nicely with the beer. It served as a nice partner with the raspberry tones in the ale.
Agour with Espelette is a delicious French cheese imported by Tony’s Fine Foods. Its burnt orange coloring and unique flavor comes from A.O.C. Espelette Chili Pepper that is mixed throughout the paste. It features a warm bite of heat and is full-flavored. This sheep’s milk cheese is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, it didn’t balance quite right with the ale.
Humboldt Fog from Cypress Grove Chevre has a subtle, tangy flavor and a distinctive layer of edible vegetable ash. As this cheese ages, the layer of proteolysis under the rind develops a more intense flavor. This cheese paired very well with the ale. The fruity flavors really enhanced the tanginess of the cheese.
