Cheese & Belgian Beer Pairing
92nd St. Y, 01.24.13
Instructors: Martin Johnson (The Joy of Cheese, Gastronomie 491) and Maggie Fuller (12% Imports)
Round 1
Chaource: A rich creamy cheese from France.
Beer: Hof ten Dormaal – Dormaal Blond (8% Farmhouse Blond Ale)
Round 2
Mastorazio: A firm Italian goat’s milk cheese.
Beer: Hopfenstark – Saison Station 16 (7% Rye Saison)
Round 3
Monte Enebro: A blue rinded, soft goat’s milk cheese from Spain.
Beer: Stillwater – Of Love & Regret (7% Saison brewed with Heather, Chamomile, Lavender, & Dandelion).
Round 4
Camembert Tremblaye: As close to the real thing as you can get here.
Beer: Contreras – Valeir Divers (8.5% Tripel)
Round 5
Tomme D’Aquitaine: A sauternes washed firm goat’s milk cheese from France.
Beer: Tournay Tripel – Brasserie de Cazeau – Belgium (7.2% ABV)
The original brewery dates back to 1753. The modern incarnation still produces Belgian classics like this tripel.
Round 6
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar: An American cheddar made in the traditional English manner with a bit of Gruyere cheese culture. Is this a great country…
Beer: Leon – Omnipollo – Sweden (6.5% ABV)
Belgian pale ale fermented with Champagne yeast that packs a hint of citrus punch.
Round 7
Epoisses: A classic French washed rind cheese.
Beer: The Perfect Crime – Hollow Point (10% Quadruple (Westvleteren 12 Clone))
Round 8
Roquefort Le Munier: A classic from the caves of France’s newest rock star affineur.
Beer: De Dochter – Embrasse (9% Strong Dark Ale)
Shopping
These cheeses are available for retail sale at Gastrnomie 491, 491 Columbus Avenue (83rd-84th). Other great places to shop include The Bedford Cheese Shop, Murray’s on Bleecker St., Whole Foods Bowery, Dean and DeLuca in Soho, Whole Foods Tribeca, Eataly, Saxelby Cheesemongers and Formaggio Essex, Stinky Bklyn, and Artisanal.
About 12% Imports: Many of tonight’s beers are from 12% Imports, a Brooklyn, NY-based importer and distributor of small, artisanal breweries from Europe and North America. They commenced operations in late 2007 by self-distributing a few obscure, yet artfully crafted rareties from Belgium out of the back of their car. Since then, Twelve Percent has helped introduce and grow some of the most unique and exciting small breweries on the scene. The Twelve Percent portfolio can now be found throughout much of the United States. More information available at www.12percentimports.com.
In New York, retail outlets carrying 12% beers include: Whole Foods Bowery Beer Room, Breukelen Bier Merchants, Spuyten Duyvil Grocery, Bierkraft, Eastern District.
Bars and restaurants include: Spuyten Duyvil, Beer Table, Rattle N Hum, Blind Tiger, Cafe d’Alsace, Ginger Man, DBGB, Resto, ACBC: Alphabet City Beer Company.
For more on upcoming Joy of Cheese events visit thejoyofcheese.wordpress.com or e-mail Martin at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com
Next 92nd St. Y classes: February 7: Cheese and Sparkling Wine.
February 21: Cheese and Dark Beers
March 7: Cheese and Whiskey
