Beer and Cheese Tastings
Oct 13 2020
St Tola’s Cheese and Beer Tasting Notes
When it comes to pairing food and beer, you can either compliment the flavours or contrast
them. Taste buds are as individual as a fingerprint, so two people taste the same. There is no
right or wrong pairing. They are a few classical pairings but again, everyone is different. Sweet
and salty pairings, effervescent and creamy textures and matching intensity should all be
considered when pairing beers and cheese.
St Tola’s Goat’s Cheese & Western Herd Blue Jumper IPA
This is a pairing that on paper should not work; pairing a delicate cheese with a powerful IPA.
But it is so good. The bitterness of the IPA cuts through the soft creamy texture of the goat’s
cheese without overpowering the elegant cheese. The bitterness of the beer is the perfect
counterbalance for the rich cheese. The carbonation of the beer melts into the creamy goat
cheese to cleanse the palate while the acidity refreshes the palate.
St. Tola’s Hard Cheese & Western Herd Atlantic Red Ale
The sweet honey and malty, breadiness of the beer is so good with the nutty flavours of the
cheese. It’s like chocolate and peanut butter, classic and timeless. The toasty malts combined
with the cheese create an almost praline effect. Beer and cheese work in harmony and it is oh
so good!!!
St. Tola’s Greek Style Irish Goat’s Cheese & Western Herd Back Beat Witbier
The salty, briney cheese is not going to be dominated and works well with lighter dishes. While
the beer is light and full of character, the understated witbier allows the cheese to star. The
sweetness of the orange peel in the Belgian style beer pairs perfectly with the salty feta.