SACRAMENTO, CA
Welcome to this installment of Beer and Cheese Pairings. This week, I’ve got three diverse cheeses to go head to head with Knee Deep Brewing’s hoppy and malt-forward Breaking Bud IPA. Let’s jump right in!
BEER:
Breaking Bud IPA from Knee Deep Brewing features the restrained bitterness and alcohol of a classic IPA and newer tropical fruit hop flavors and aromas of Mosaic. It should pair very nicely with these unique cheeses.
CHEESES:
Western Sage Cheddar is a premium white cheddar from Bravo Farms. It is flavored with rich sage and is fantastic slicing and melting. It had a deep flavor that was great on its own or on a hard crostini. It paired very nicely with the IPA, creating a complex flavor profile that was not overpowering.
San Joaquin Gold is a cow’s milk cheese from Fiscalini Farmstead. This unique cheese is mildly sweet and mellow when young and develops a darker hue and nuttier flavor over time. It balances acidity, saltiness and sweetness very nicely on its own. When paired with the beer, all of those flavors were enhanced, making for my favorite pair of the day.
Toma from Point Reyes is a highly versatile cheese. It is gluten-free and made with vegetarian rennet. It has a creamy, buttery flavor with a grassy tang finish. It was delicious on its own and with the beer, however, the pairing was not as balanced as with the San Joaquin.
Be sure to check back for more delicious beer and cheese pairings.
