Beer and cheese pairings draw the best from both worlds

When the right styles are tasted in tandem, it can seem as if beer and cheese were made for one another.

After all, these two age-old favorites share so many of the same qualities. They’re natural products crafted with knowledge, skill and passion. Although they’re made with a small number of ingredients, each offers a wide diversity of flavors, intensities, colors and mouthfeels.

April 7 is National Beer Day, so raise a glass and celebrate your favorite beverages in a new way. Pour a few different styles and pair them with cheese.

Make no mistake, beer and cheese are wonderful on their own -- though pairing opens the door to a variety of new and exciting flavor experiences. The right pairings create a certain harmony as the counterparts bring forth the other’s best characteristics.  

If you’re new to pairings, prepare to line up your flights. Here are some winning combinations to get you started:

IPA and sharp cheddar - India Pale Ale, or IPA, has experienced a significant growth in popularity over the last few years, while cheddar has long been one of America’s favorite cheeses. It’s a pairing that works for reasons well beyond their respective reputations. There’s balance. The hoppy bitterness of an IPA stands up well to the high flavor intensity of a quality, aged cheddar.

Wheat beer and feta - The secret to a good pairing comes in aligning common points. A German-style wheat beer or a Belgian Wit is light and refreshing, yet full of character. The same holds true for feta. Light and crumbly, it’s a distinctive cheese with a bright, briny, tangy flavor.

Pilsner and mozzarella – Lighter beers pair well with lighter cheeses as neither will overpower the subtleties of the other.  Pilsner, a pale lager, is lightly hopped and refreshing. Mozzarella similarly has a lighter taste, and its creaminess matches nicely to a pilsner’s crisp flavor.

Porter and gouda - Porter has a mild flavor that belies its dark hue, offering an undertone of coffee and a hint of sweetness. Its chorus of flavors blend well with gouda, which carries a buttery, nutty taste and perhaps a hint of butterscotch.

Pale ale and provolone – When pairing beer and cheese, texture can also have a role in achieving the right fit. Golden in color, pale ales have a medium body and hoppy character that complements provolone’s piquant flavor and firm bite.

Plan for your National Beer Day pairings and get everything you need at your local grocery store for a flavorful night at home. As another option, seek out restaurants or brewpubs that add their expertise to the pairing experience.

If it’s a great cheese, it might just be from Agropur. We’re the cheese of choice for restaurants and prominent brands around the world. Producing more than 1 billion pounds of high-quality cheese annually, our cheeses continually earn top honors at the world’s most prestigious contests. Click here to learn more about Agropur cheese.