When it Comes to Cheese, Beer is the New Wine

According to the Brewer's Association, the growth of the craft brewing industry was up 5% in the first half of 2009 by volume and up 9% by dollars. Overall US beer sales are down 1.3% with imported beer sales down by 9.5% but still, craft brewers sold 4 million more barrels of beer in the first half of 2009 than they did in 2008.

With craft beers on the rise and consumer budgets growing tighter amid a nation-wide financial crisis it only seems natural to think about buying a less expensive high quality craft beer over the much more expensive wine option...right?

Here's the good news...beyond the fact that buying beer might save you a couple bucks over buying wine you can also be the first of your friends to introduce something fresh and new! Wine and cheese pairings are so expected but beer and cheese pairings will surely be a pleasant surprise.

You can even offer a beer and a wine option to match each cheese you serve ...what an idea! Suddenly your dinner party appeals to a large part of the male population who would rather drink a beer than sip on honeysuckled Viognier.

Here are the basic rules:

1. Young, fresh cheeses (Chevre, Mozzarella) go best with lighter beers

2. Sharp cheeses (Cheddar, Colby) go best with highly hopped, bitter beers

3. Aged, nutty cheeses (Asiago, Gruyere) demand malty beers

4. Blue cheeses (Roquefort, Stilton), which go well with sweet wines, also require sweet beers

The following pairings are compliments of The Nibble :


CHEESE (alphabetical) - BEER - WINE

Asiago - Malty Brown Ale - Barbera, Chianti, Rioja

Brie, Camembert - Stout - Sweet Wines (Sauternes, Ports)

Brie, Camembert (very ripe) - Stout - Hard Cider, Red Bordeaux

Brie, Camembert (for dessert) - Stout - Champagne, Chardonnay

Cheddar (mellow) - Pilsner Style Lagers - Bordeaux, Cab Sauv, Merlot

Cheddar, English Farmstead Cheeses - Pale Ale - Ruby Port

Chevre - Belgian Lambics - Sauvignon Blanc

Chevre (aged) - Belgian Style Saison - Chardonnay, White Burgundy

Colby, Gloucester - Brown Ale

Feta - Wheat Beers - Pinot Grigio

Fresh Cheeses (Burrata) - Fruit Beer, Wheat Beer - Champagne, Sweet Wine

Gouda - Amber Ales, Nut-Brown Ales, Porters - Zinfandel, Shiraz

Gruyere - Malty Beers - Grenache, Pinot Noir, Syrah

Havarti, Monterey Jack - Hoppy Pilsners - Beaujolais, Pinot Noir

Mascarpone - Fruit Beer, Porter, Stout - Marsala

Mimolette - Barleywine Ale - Late Harvest Pinot Gris

Pecorino - Amber Ale - Chianti

Parmigiano-Reggiano - Amber Ale, I.P.A - Barbera, Barolo

Provolone - Pale Ale - Cabernet Sauvignon

Sheep's Milk (mild-med aged) - Amber Ale - Full Reds, Sweet Hard Cider

Sheep's Milk (aged, salty, nutty) - Brown Ale - Full Reds, Sweet Hard Cider

Stilton, Roquefort - Barleywine Style Ale, Stout - Port

Triple Cremes - Belgian Style Saison or Tripels - Barolo, Brunello, Champagne

Washed Rind Cheeses (mild) - Darkers Ales - Pinot Gris, Riesling

Washed Rind Cheeses (strong) - Trappist Beers, Stout - Pinot Gris, Riesling