What could be more fitting for our continuing beer and cheese adventures than to try a special beer from the man who inspired us in the first place?
Brooklyn Local 1 is bottle-conditioned (and a very nice bottle it is, too). The Brooklyn Brewery website describes it as “a dynamic complex of flavors, Belgian flair, Brooklyn fortitude and a dusting of our special yeast” and it lives up to this. It is Duvel-like in its mouthfeel and drinkability, with a sweet orange flavour giving way to a spicy aftertaste. It’s jolly good.
We tried pairing it with a range of cheses. A posh, rather gooey camembert from our local deli made it sweeter and reminded us of Hoegaarden Grand Cru, accentuating the spice. A very nice Wensleydale complemented the spice, but was overpowered by the beer very easily. Our difficult-to-match Oxford Blue was OK, but made the beer taste much less complex.
The overall winner (in fact, the best beer and cheese match we’ve had yet) was the aptly named Stinking Bishop. This rind-washed cult classic made the beer much more intense and full-bodied, while the beer brought out the creaminess in the cheese and helped to downplay its challenging odour. Marvellous. There’s something in this cheese and beer business after all.
8 replies on “Brooklyn Local 1 (beer and cheese #2)”
Another beer and cheese pairing to add to the list of must-trys! I haven’t had the Brooklyn 1 yet (it’s expensive and I spend too much on beer as it is!) but the next time I see it I’ll grab one.
Brooklyn 1 was one of the best beers I had on my recent visit to the US. Subtle and restrained.
There’s some received wisdom in the pairing of strong spicy blondes with firm stinky cheeses, I believe. There’s a special French cheesey beer along these lines.
And now I’m hungry. Thanks…
Did you get it from Utobeer or one of your lesser-known east end offies?
We got it at Beer Exposed, from the hand of the great man himself.
Garrett Oliver’s hand is one that I’d like to hold! The Brewmaster’s Table is a brilliant book.
Stinking Bishop has to be the best name for a cheese ever. It conjures up visions of cheeky craft microcheesemakers. The Wikipedia article doesn’t seem to bear this out, so I will pretend never to have read it.
Theres something in this beer cheese business after all ?!!!
Did you ever doubt!