Without a doubt, cheese and beer is one of the most underrated food and beverage pairings. And what better time to bring the two together than St Pat’s Day. Read on to find out what our top 7 Irish cheese & beer pairings are for Saint Patrick’s Day. Or any day actually.
SEE ALSO: The Cheese Scientist’s ultimate guide to pairing whisky with cheese →
What is Saint Patrick’s Day?
Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday that is celebrated annually on March 17th. It honours the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. The holiday has been celebrated for over 1,000 years and has become a symbol of Irish heritage and culture around the world.
Traditionally, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated with religious ceremonies and church services, but it has also become a secular celebration of Irish culture. The holiday is associated with green colour, which is believed to symbolize Ireland and is also the colour of spring. Many people wear green clothing or accessories, such as shamrocks or green hats, to show their support for the holiday.
Saint Patrick’s Day is also associated with parades, which are held in many cities and towns around the world. In addition to parades, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated with traditional Irish food and drinks, such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, and green beer. And since we’re all about cheese, March 17th is the perfect day to enjoy Ireland’s finest cheese paired with Irish beer.
The rationale for cheese and beverage pairings
The pairing of cheese with alcoholic beverages is a practice that has a long history and is based on the idea that certain flavours and textures in food can be enhanced or balanced by the right type of drink. Let’s have a look at some of the basics.
Complementary flavours
Firstly, certain beverages and cheese complement each other by enhancing each other’s flavours. For example, the bitterness of a dry gin can augment a pressed cheese that has been washed in a gin solution during ageing.
Contrasting flavours
On the other hand, pairing food and drinks with contrasting flavours can create a harmonious balance. For example, a dark chocolatey beer can help to balance the spiciness of a blue cheese.
Mouthfeel
Moreover, the texture and mouthfeel of food and drink can play a role in how well they pair. For example, a sparkling wine can help break up the richness of a triple cream soft cheese.
Aroma
Finally, the aroma of cheese and drink can also play a role in pairing. Aromatic beverages, such as a sweet white wine, can enhance the aroma of certain cheeses and bring out subtle flavours that may not have been noticeable before.
Ultimately, the preferences when pairing cheese with alcoholic beverages can be deeply personal. But if you follow the above guidelines (even loosely), you will give yourself a great framework to experiment with.
Best Irish cheese & beer pairings
Now that we’ve got this out of the way, let’s have a look at our top 7 Irish cheese and beer pairings.
Wicklow Bán X Irish Wheat Beer
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese is a family artisan cheesemaker based in County Wicklow. And their soft white mould double Brie, Wicklow Bán is one of the most popular soft cheeses in Ireland. Aged for a minimum of five weeks, this soft cheese is creamy and buttery with a touch of mushroom.
The creamy aroma and flavour of Wicklow Bán will pair playfully with the crisp citrusy and banana notes of an Irish wheat beer, such as Guiness Irish Wheat.
Saint Tola X Irish IPA
Saint Tola is a well-known brand of goat cheese from Ireland. The cheese is made from the milk of pasture-fed Irish goats and is known for its creamy, tangy, and slightly salty flavour. Moreover, Saint Tola comes in a variety of styles, including plain, ash-coated, and herb-encrusted.
Undoubtedly, the tangy and slightly grassy flavour of St. Tola goat cheese pairs well with a crisp and clean Irish IPA, such as Galway Bay Brewery’s Full Sail IPA.
Gubbeen X Irish Double IPA
Gubbeen is a washed rind cow’s milk cheese made by the Ferguson family in County Cork. It has a slightly earthy and nutty flavour combined with a creamy texture. On their farm, Gubbeen Cheese Dairy only make one cheese. And they use the milk of their own herd of Friesian cows.
The earthy aroma and flavour of Gubbeen pairs well with the pine and citrus notes in the Irish Double India Pale Ale from Galway Bay Brewery: Of Foam and Fury.
Ardrahan Cheese X Native Irish Saison
Ardrahan is a soft washed rind cheese made in County Cork, Ireland. Since the early 1980’s, the Burns family have been making this iconic Irish cheese using the pasteurised milk of Friesian cows. During maturation, they wash each wheel in a brine solution which creates the sticky orange rind. And a yeasty aroma and meaty flavour in the cheese.
Due to its rich aroma and flavour, you will want a complementary pairing with an equally robust beer. Our pick of the lot here is Black Donkey Brewing’s Savage Underworld. Indeed, its aromas of candied citrus and yeast and flavours of wild spice will knock your socks off! And this highly carbonated Saison will perfectly cut through the richness of the cheese.
Cashel Blue X Irish Brown Ale
Cashel Blue is a cow’s milk blue cheese made by Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers in County Tipperary, Ireland. Made with pasteurised cow’s milk and thistle rennet, the wheels of cheese are then matured for up to six months. Undoubtedly, Cashel Blue truly comes into its own at three months when its texture breaks down and its flavour is richer and fuller with a touch of spice.
A nutty and malty Brown Ale, with its roasted coffee and toffee flavours, will contrast beautifully with this Irish blue. Any Irish Brown Ale would work wonders but our top pick if Dec’s Brown Ale from McGargles.
Vintage Dubliner X Irish Dry Stout
Hailing from Country Cork, Dubliner might just be the quintessential Irish cheese. Aged for over 12 months, wheels of Dubliner develop a granular texture and a sweet and nutty flavour. Around Ireland, this cheese is marketed under the Kerrygold label. And you will find it in any grocery store.
What better pair for Ireland’s most famous cheese than Ireland’s most famous beer. Indeed, we can’t look past a Guinness Stout here. The Stout’s roasted coffee and chocolate notes will bounce off the richness of the cheese and send you to heaven!
Cahill’s Porter Cheese X Irish Porter
We couldn’t do a cheese and bear pairing list without including at least one cheese that is made with beer! I’m talking to you Cahill’s Porter Cheese. Cahill’s Porter Cheese is an Irish cheese made from cow’s milk that is infused with a dark and malty Porter Beer. The cheese is known for its marbled paste and distinct flavour which is a combination of the tanginess of the cheese and the richness of the beer.
Now, it goes without saying that you will want to pair this with an Irish Porter. And the one we recommend is Guinness’s West Indies Porter. The smooth sweet chocolate flavours from cheese and beer simply make the perfect pair.
Conclusion: Celebrate Ireland on St Pat’s Day
Thank you for reading our post on pairing Irish cheeses with beer. Ultimately, the preferences when pairing cheese with alcoholic beverages can be deeply personal. But if you follow the above guidelines (even loosely), you will give yourself a great framework to experiment with.
Now tell me, did I leave out your favourite Irish cheese? Drop me a comment below to share how you like to pair it.
Jonah is a a hipster, eco-warrior and slow food afficionado. Coming from a scientific background, Jonah has a particular interest in cheese science. And yes, he loves a good cheese pun!
