SACRAMENTO, CA
For this week’s Beer & Cheese Pairing, I have three great cheeses to pair with Drake’s Brewing Company’s Drake’s 1500. Let’s jump right in.
BEER:
This dry hopped American Pale Ale from Drake’s Brewing has a huge aroma of pine and citrus from Simcoe and Amarillo hops. The aroma balances the bitterness of the beer and gives it a flavorful hoppy punch that should compliment the cheeses.
CHEESES:
Picolo from Andante Dairy is a soft-ripened triple-cream cheese. It has been designed to bring a bright feeling by combining rich Jersey milk and crème fraîche, which gives it a nutty taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture. This cheese paired with the Ale formed a good flavor, but was still a bit hop heavy.
Garrotxa from Murray’s Cheese is a moist and cakey Catalonian import from Spain. This goat's milk cheese spends several weeks in Murray’s caves to ensure the delicate texture won’t harden. The flavor of the cheese was really enhanced by the hoppiness of the beer.
Mixtress from Bleating Heart Cheese is a 50/50 sheep-cow blend. A nutty flavor blends with a buttery goodness from the milk. This seasonal cheese was my favorite of the day but didn’t make the best pair with the beer. The nuttiness in the flavor didn’t mesh well with the hops. I’m excited to try this cheese again with a new beer.
Be sure to check back for more delicious beer and cheese pairings.
