During the month of September, We Dig will take on listing a few of our favorite things at Sip Northwest. First up: cheese. And cheese. And cheese.
Ah, the eternal pairing debate. On some level, most wine, beer, cider and spirit lovers have likely heard or weighed in on which beverages pair best with snack and mealtime favorites. This month, we’re washing down our favorite foods with local sips and we’re kicking off with a dose of dairy, whetting our appetites with Northwest-made cheeses that deliver a direct, boozy kick to the taste buds.
Beer-infused cheese:
Located in the Rogue River Valley of Southern Oregon, Rogue Creamery blends rich dairy creaminess with hoppy, malty goodness from nearby breweries. The Complete Beer Cheddar Gift set offers seven of Rogue’s popular beer-soaked cheddars, four of which feature Rogue Ales favorites (Chocolate Stout Cheddar, Morimoto Soba Ale Cheddar and an exclusive 80th Anniversary Ale Cheddar), and two that feature favorites from local Caldera Brewing Company (Mogli Porter and Old Growth cheeses).
Wine-infused cheese:
Family-owned smokehouse Smoky Davis offers up a variety of smoked meats, fish and jerky, as well as homemade sauces and cheeses at its Boise, Idaho location. Among its selection of cheeses is the English-originated Windsor Red. The port wine and brandy-soaked cheddar stands out for its unique red and white marbling, and offers the creaminess of a white cheddar complimented by a slight fruitiness.
Liqueur-infused cheese:
Handcrafted in Western Oregon, Rivers Edge Chèvre offers a variety of sweet and savory fresh goat cheese tortes for any dairy lover. The Roasted Hazelnut and Frangelico Torte fuses brown sugar and real vanilla with nutty liqueur for a creamy, boozy sweet tooth cure. In 2007, the torte rendition was awarded second place at the American Cheese Society’s Festival of Cheese—yet another reason to dig in to this Northwest-made cheesy confection.
The best part: each cheese’s perfect beverage pairing is built right in to every creamy bite. Pair any of these beer and port infused cheeses with their boozy counterparts for a match made in snack heaven.
