SACRAMENTO, CA
Welcome to this week’s edition of Beer & Cheese Pairings. For this installment, I chose three delicious French cheeses imported by Tony’s Fine Foods to pair with Berryessa Brewing’s House IPA. Let’s jump right in!
BEER:
House IPA from Berryessa Brewing is a delicious Northern California beer. It has a ripe stone fruit aroma with a rich malt base, balanced hop flavor and bitterness making it a true West Coast IPA. I chose cheeses that are equally flavorful and diverse to pair with this IPA to find the best match.
CHEESES:
Chaource is a soft cheese with a natural rind imported from the Chaource region of France. It is made from full cream cow’s milk and has a slightly salty and yeastful favor. It smells faintly of mushrooms and cream. This delicious cheese paired nicely with the beer, but was slightly overpowered.
Casinca is a goat’s milk imported from the eastern coast of Casinca, France. It has a soft springy texture and a tender orange rind that comes from the brine and ferment washing. Its flavor is definitively goaty, with a sharp nutty taste. This was the best pairing of the day. The IPA balanced wonderfully with the Casinca and enhanced the richness of the flavor.
Livarot is a monastic French cheese that is easily distinguished by its washed rind and pungent aroma. Originating in the commune of Livarot, it is one of the oldest and greatest Normandy cheeses. Its taste is nutty, and it melts in your mouth to release the flavors of a salty lemon and spiciness. Its texture is creamy and smooth. This was my personal favorite cheese of the day, but when paired with the IPA, the overall hop qualities clashed with the rich flavors of the cheese.
Make sure to check back next Thursday for the latest installment of Beer & Cheese Pairings!
