Gouda Cheese: The New Beer Match

A gastronomic revolution is taking place that challenges the supremacy of wine as the cheese pairing beverage of choice. Instead of taking wine as the instinctive cheese pairing beverage of choice, beer is becoming the ideal cheese partner.

Let's say for example one day, you bought some beer and you want to buy some cheese to go with it. 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 simply buy a few "safe" cheeses that are generally friendly to all types of beer. If you are the type of person who does not have the time going through the details, then perhaps the latter option is the one you should take. As you start your beer and cheese pairing endeavor, start with Gouda cheese. Why? With Gouda cheese, you can't go wrong.

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. Cheese experts find Gouda cheese bland, with a texture ideal for teething babies, and has not character whatsoever. But before you look down on this sweet and tasty little cheese, Gouda cheese has more than what meets the tongue.

Gouda cheeses are indeed mild in flavor, having a smooth and butter texture. However, that depends on how long it has been aged. You see, the texture of the cheese depends on how long (or how quick) the cheese was aged. 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. Aged Gouda has a complex flavor an intense, butterscotch caramel, salty yet leaning on the sweet side taste often described generally as caramelized of toffee-like.

And because of its exceptionally sweet taste, Gouda cheese is considered as the best pair for beer. Actually, beer is the de facto complement for cheese in several cultures all around 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. On top of that, the flavors of beer and cheese that earthly, yeasty, musty, fruity, rich and floral taste jives in such a way that wine and cheese cannot.

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!

You ought to get and out and find Gouda cheese at your local cheese store.