“I need more cheese!” Mariah Christensen politely exclaimed during our of Harmons Grocery cheese-and-beer-pairing photoshoot. Christensen, Cheese Buyer for Harmon’s and an American Cheese Society “Certified Cheese Professional,” presented five pairings of Utah beers with cheeses from both the U.S. and Europe. As beer continues to blossom in Utah, we are being presented with more diversity and broader options to quench our thirst—and Harmons’ 18 stores each have their own meticulously curated cheese set that features award-winning cheeses from around the world. From a traditional clothbound English Cheddar to a cheese made using a blend of cow/goat/sheep milk from the rolling hills of the Piedmont Region of Italy, to our own hometown heroes, Beehive Cheese, Utah turophiles (cheese-lovers!) are sure to find their old—or soon-to-be new—favorite cheese at any Harmons location.
Mariah Christensen, Harmons’ Cheese Buyer, asks for more cheese—because more cheese is always OK.
A pairing of contrast, locally produced by Beehive Cheese, espresso/lavender–rubbed Barely Buzzed is partnered with the Viennese Amber Lager from Bohemian Brewery. This pairing shows the classic pairing of malts with a sweeter cheese.
An English import, Keen’s clothbound cheddar, is paired with the sour IPA from Epic Brewing. Matching acidity with acidity, this pairing uses similar flavor characteristics, and the floral notes of the cheese heighten the citrusy brightness of the beer.
Cheese and charcuterie board built around both domestic and imported cheeses, cured meats and locally brewed craft beers.
Imported Dutch 18-month-aged Beemster, paired with Uinta Golden Spike Hefeweizen. The pairing capitalizes on the grain of the beer and caramel note in the cheese, creating a caramel-and-toast combination.
The standout pairing: combining La Tur—a three-milk cheese from northwestern Italy—with Red Rock Brewery’s Amber Ale. This pairing combines the rich decadence of the cheese with the caramel note in the beer, which actually brings out a pleasant chocolate note in the pairing.
The pasteurized version of the famous French cheese, Selles sur Cher is married with the crispness of Red Rock’s German-style pilsner. The beer brings out the sweet cream and fresh fruit notes of the cheese, while its effervescence creates a clean finish.
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