Beer and Cheese Recap: Stoudts

Thank you to everyone who braved the forecast and came to the Italian Market for Happy Hour last night. For everyone who missed it, here were the pairings:

Karnival Kolsch with Trugole: This was the unofficial release of the Stoudt's Kolsch, which will be hitting retail establishments and local bars next week. A smooth, dry and crisp beer with balanced fruit and hops, it contrasted nicely with the springy texture and grass, peppery flavors of the Trugole. Trugole is relatively new to us, and it is not on our website yet, but it is similar to Crucolo, for those of you following along at home.

Pils with Serena: Easily one of the more unique pairings we have stumbled upon. The beer is delicatly nuanced but has a lot of body and character. The Serena, which is an American gem from Three Sisters Dairy in Lindsay, California, is modeled after Asiago Allevo. Slightly sharp and fruity at the same time, it created this vibrant sensation on the palate when matched with the Pils. It was almost effervescent, and proved to be a fine palate-cleanser before the final pairing.

Pale Ale with Gubbeen: A fine example of cascade hops, this Pale Ale is pleasantly bitter with citric notes. The acidity cut through the dense texture of Gubbeen, a slightly pungent washed rind tomme from County Cork, Ireland. Together, they created an intoxicating blend that was picked by nearly every customer as the best of the evening.