3 Cheeseketeers IV: Round Sampling

A short film documenting the drama.

The Mikkeller was a present (and the best).

3Cheese Stated Purpose:
To taste different beers and cheese. Specifically tonight, to taste groupings of similar beers (i.e. 3 hoppy reds in a row), with cheeses that go well with the general category. This was accomplished by buying singles out of 6 packs, which runs contrary to our typical approach of buying a few expensive big bottles.

The plan sketched out on an envelope.

Highlights/Recommendations:
Cabot Cloth-bound Cheddar with Lagunitas Lil' Sumpin' Ale
Port Salut with Mikkeller Not Your Average Wit
Comparing different IPAs, also comparing different stouts.

All of the beers.

Mistakes/Cautions:
Mikkeller's I Beat youU - not well balanced enough to temper the powerful hoppy alcoholic bite, the first fail from these guys.
Too many beers! We came to a consensus that doing three rounds of tasting is probably ideal. Our taste buds were basically fried by the time we hit the hoppy reds and the stouts. It may be no coincidence that our two favorites came from the first three beers we tried.

Snacks: sweet potato fries with Blueberry Birdseye Chutney

Notes:
Lil Sumpin won a deserved Good Food Award a couple months ago, which encouraged me to take another shot at it (paid off!). Coincidentally, the Grand Teton American Pale Ale that we drink it with did not stand a chance, though it also won a Good Food Award the year before.

Recipe: Blueberry Birdseye Chutney

Heat in a sauce pan:
1 cup vinegar (apple or white)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water

When boiling add:
pint of blueberries
3 meyer lemons seeded and sliced
3-8 birdseye chilis (or any chili) - how hot do you want it?

And:
half inch of ginger finely sliced
tablespoon curry powder
black pepper
salt to taste

Reduce to simmer and allow to thicken and reduce for 1.5-2 hours

Can or put in the fridge in a jar. Or eat hot!