In an old article my sister dug up (thanks Gail) and sent to me, Janet Fletcher proposes the idea that beer goes better with cheese than wine:
Thursday, February 17, 2005 (SF Chronicle)
BEER & CHEESE/Forget wine and cheese parties — the true soul mate for fromage isn’t made from grape juice.
Janet Fletcher, Chronicle Staff Writer
The crowds munching nachos at America’s ballparks all summer don’t need
convincing that beer and cheese go together. It’s the die-hard wine
enthusiasts, myself included, who resist the notion that beer may in
fact be cheese’s better match.
As a longtime cheese aficionado, The Chronicle’s weekly cheese
columnist and a nightly wine drinker, I’ve reluctantly concluded that many
cheeses give wine, especially dry wine, a rough time.
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT: The SF Chronicle
I am no beer hater; in fact I love beer, but except for the occasional beer and pretzel combo at a good brew pub or draught house, I never really thought of having beer and cheese. Although I know beer can pair well with many sophisticated meals, I still fall back on the classic attitude that wine goes with cheese and beer is better suited for BBQ and traditional snacks.
Because of this article, I am going to start exploring some different beer and cheese pairings.
At this time, however, I am sticking with the opinion that wines pair better with cheeses than do beers. Anyone agree or have a different opinion? If so, let us know and if you have a favorite pairing either with wine or beer let us know so we can give it a try and see what we think.
Just to be the devils advocate, I am going to say that one really great pairing is a sharp white cheddar and a Yuengling lager. Another good pairing with Yuengling is a thick slice of Lebanon bologna and a thick slice of horseradish cheddar! For those who aren’t from the Northeastern US, Yuengling is America’s oldest brewery and makes a pretty darn decent lager. You could try these pairings with your own favorite lager, but stay away from the macro brews. Find a good micro brewed lager as the flavor tends to be richer.
Looking forward to your pairing ideas!
Jason
For me, it’s “horses for courses”. Nothing is going to beat an ice cold beer with a sharp chedder in the shade after hard work on a very hot day.
I don’t know where you’re at, but it gets mighty hot here in TX and a cold beer after a hot afternoon of work and/or play is a great way to end the day!
I recently tried a crisp, white wine too that the owners of our local Winestyles recommended. It is great chilled and it has a subtle flavor that isn’t too overpowering on a hot day. I would put the idea out there that a subtle yet crisp wine is just as good as a cold beer on a hot day.
I’ll have to get the name the next time I go to the store and add it here for any interested in trying it out; although I’m sure your local wine store has plenty of good suggestions too.