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. As a partner with cheese, beer rarely lets us down.
Say one day you came home and bought some beer, and decided to hop in the beer and cheese bandwagon. Looking at your beer, you want to find the best cheese that you can pair it with. You have two options for this scenario: first, you can go and specifically choose the right type of cheese for the right kind of beer. Or, you can simply buy a few “safe” cheeses that are generally friendly to all types of beer. If you are type that does not want to get caught up details, then you should take option number two. 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. Critiques find this cheese bland, having a texture intended for babies, and coming with 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. You see, the texture of the cheese depends on how long (or how quick) the cheese was aged. Most uptight cheese experts turn up their noses at young Goudas, but have much respect for the more mature members of the family. Just like any other aged cheese, aged Gouda has a harder and firmer texture than young Gouda, almost the same as Parmigiano Reggiano. Its complex flavor tastes somewhere between an intense butterscotch caramel, salty but learning on the sweeter side. In general, Gouda cheese is described as having a caramelized, toffee-like taste.
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 is known for its salty-sweet, nutty, and sharp taste. What better way to chase its sweet taste with a refreshing bottle of Lager? Enjoy a few bottles with your friends and order Gouda cheese today!
What are you waiting for, buy Gouda cheese at your local cheese store.
