SACRAMENTO, CA
Welcome to Beer & Cheese Pairings. For this installment, I chose three diverse and delicious cheeses to pair with Track 7 Brewing Co.’s Belgian Dubbel. Let’s jump right in!
BEER:
Belgian Dubbel from Track 7 Brewing is a deep reddish Belgian ale that is moderately strong and malty. With the complex flavor profile of this beer, I chose three very diverse cheeses to pair with it to find the best match.
CHEESES:
Saint-André is a triple crème cow's milk cheese produced in Coutances, in the Normandy region of northwestern France. It is imported to the U.S. by Tony’s Fine Foods. This dense and buttery rich cheese is covered in a powdery bloomy mold. It tastes a bit like an intense version of Brie. The buttery taste of this cheese complimented the malty flavor of the Dubbel and made for a nice pairing.
Mrs. Quicke’s Cheddar is a traditional English cheddar imported by Murray’s Cheese. This Devonshire cow's milk cheddar is aged for 10 – 14 months and has one of the most complex flavors that I’ve come across. There is a sharpness that counters an intense citrusy flavor. The Dubbel surprisingly balanced the strong flavors of the cheese and made for my favorite pairing out of the three.
Smokey Blue is a delicious blue cheese from Rogue Creamery. A long, cold smoking over the shells of Oregon hazelnuts infuses this cheese with an added layer of rich flavor. The earthy tones join together with cream flavors and caramel notes for a cakey and smooth blue cheese. All three of these cheeses were delicious, but this was my personal favorite of the day. Unfortunately, some of its great flavor was lost when paired with the beer.
Make sure to check back for the next installment of Beer & Cheese Pairings!
