We ventured out west to one of our favorite local breweries, Adroit Theory. As one of their Black Heart Society club members, it was time to pick up our latest stash of beer so we thought we’d get some cheese pairings done.
For those who haven’t been to Adroit, their line up of beer changes all of the time. They are a nanobrewery, making small batches of excellent brews. But this also means that by the time you read about these pairings, some of the beers discussed won’t be on the menu! But we recommend you have fun with it. Take some of our suggestions, pair it with newer beers, and let us know what you think. Oh, and you should know all of their beer is high ABV. Adroit is not for the faint of heart.
We ordered a complete flight and ended up with 12 little goblets of goodness to drink and pair with our cheese selection. All of the cheeses were purchased at Wegman’s, but you are likely to find similar items at Whole Foods or any other high-end store. We are going to focus on the best pairings we found this time around rather than give a pairing suggestion for all 12 beers.
Our Cheeses
Pont L’Eveque from France, Cabot’s Jasper Hill Cloth Bound Cheddar, Lincet Triple Crème Brie
First Circle Barrel Aged Blend (Ghost 049): We paired this with all three cheeses and the brie was just phenomenal. It drew out the sweetness of the barrel aging without being too sweet. But we were surprised at what happened with the pont l’eveque. The funkiness of the cheese mixed with the beer and then we experienced a cocoa finish and it gave the beer a very boozy punch.
Ortolan Bunting Strong Ale (Ghost 154): Brie, brie, brie. The only cheese you will need with this beer. Really makes the caramel/toffee notes of the malts stand up and be counted. We never got past the brie so can’t tell you what the other cheeses will do.
What Evil Lurks Imperial Pumpkin (Ghost 044), Aged in Rum Barrels: We won’t repeat what was said the minute we put the Jasper Hill cheddar and this beer together. It’s not very ladylike. But we can tell you this: the sweet of the pumpkin is mixed with the sweetness of the rum and an explosion of flavor overwhelms your palate. This was our favorite pairing of the day.
Love of the Damned Brandy Barrel Aged Old Ale (Ghost 040): Once again, the cheddar cheese was our pick to accompany this beer. With the cheese, the beer takes on a port wine flavor, which is not unexpected considering this beer was aged in brandy barrels.
We had a lot of fun trying to pair our cheeses with all of these beers. We will definitely be back when their lineup changes. If you’re interested in seeing what’s coming next at Adroit, check out their webpage www.adroit-theory.com or follow them on Facebook.
The Cheesy Beer Wench 