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From the farmsteads of yore, cheese is re-discovering a natural home on the palates of beer lovers. What’s the connection, you wonder? More than first meets the tongue.

As farmhouse products, beer traditionally complemented the ploughman’s lunch of meat and cheese. Beer is grown from barley grass and milk is a by-product of a cow’s diet of grass, not to mention grain. And something new to me, both beer and cheese were made on the farm by women!

According to Beer Advocate, cheese and beer share common characteristics in aroma and flavor, while the carbonation in beer lightens the palate and brings out the many nuances in the cheese.

So if you are ready to move beyond your run-of-the-mill wine and cheese party, try pairing cheese and beer.

5 Cheese and Beer Pairings to Try

• Sharp Cheddar with Pale Ale
• Feta or Goat’s Cheese with Wheat Beer
• Havarti or Monterey Jack with Pilsner
• Gorgonzola with Barleywine
• Gruyére with Bock Beer

For a beer inspired repast offered up by Jamie Kennedy, Marc Breton and many more, saunter down to the 3^rd annual Brewer’s Plate at Hart House in Toronto on Wednesday May 26^th, 2010.

Ever considered starting your very own cheese factory or investing in a business idea with old roots?  Pay a visit to Invest in Cheese ambassador Andrew Redden, who will be mixing it up at the event under the Live your Dream banner!

I’d love to hear about your favorite local cheese and beer pairings featuring microbrews and artisan cheese from Ontario in particular, but anywhere in general!  Galen