Aug 20 2010
Gouda Cheese for a Bottle of Lager
A gastronomic revolution is taking place that challenges the supremacy of wine as the cheese pairing beverage of choice. The supremacy of wine as the cheese pairing beverage of choice has faded and today, Americans are holding beer mugs instead of wine glasses.
Let’s say you went home one day and decided to join the shift and bought some beer. There are two things that you can do: First, you can choose to be very specific about the process and carefully pair the flavors in a particular type of beer with a specific type of cheese. Or, you can buy the cheese that goes well for any kind of beer. If you are type that does not want to get caught up details, then you should take option number two. And of course… highly recommended to go with any beer is Gouda cheese.
Just like plaid skirts, diets and exercise videos, several cheeses go in and out of fashion. Even Holland’s best-known cheese, Gouda, has felt a decline in its reputation for quite some time. Sneering connoisseurs believe that this particular cheese is ridiculously bland, with a texture that only kids can appreciate, and has no character at all. But before you put your prejudice on this sweet and tasty yellow cheese, Gouda has a lot to offer.
Gouda cheeses are indeed mild in flavor, having a smooth and butter texture. But depending on how long it has been aged, Goudas vary in texture and taste. Actually, softer cheeses are aged briefly compared to harder, firmer cheeses. Purist cheese experts frown upon young Goudas, but they look up to the more mature members of the clan. Just like any other aged cheese, mature Goudas is much harder and firmer compared to young Goudas, almost as hard and as firm and Parmigiano Reggiano. It also has a complex flavor an intense butterscotch caramel, salty but leaning on the sweeter side. Gouda cheese is even described with a caramelized or toffee-like taste.
Its exceptional sweet flavor makes Gouda cheese the best pair for your Lager. Beer is actually the best complement for cheese in a number of cultures in the world. This is expected because cheese and beer practically grew up together in the farm the grain used to make beer is often the same grain that is given to milk-animals that produce cheese. Most importantly, the flavors of beer and cheese are in natural sync, something that wine and cheese do not have.
Gouda cheese has that salty-sweet, nutty, and sharp flavor. What better way to chase this flavorful cheese with a refreshing swill of Ale? Invite your friends for a few bottles and get Gouda cheese today!
What are you waiting for, find Gouda cheese at your favorite cheese shop.
