We all love the romance of enjoying a little wine with our cheese, but what if I told you that beer can actually make a better pairing partner? It’s true. the tannins in wine can dull your palate, preventing you from tasting all the crazy complex flavors in the cheese. Beer doesn’t have that problem, and it also has a massive upper hand in mouthfeel: its natural effervescence slices right through the mouth-coating fats, prepping your palate for another bite.

 

I’ve found that beer and cheese are really easy to pair, too. It’s really all about balancing the flavor intensity. To start, choose one cheese or beer that you’re already in love with. Then, look for complimentary pairings, like a tangy chèvre with a lemony saison, or contrasts, like a salty blue with a sweet barleywine.

 

Here are 9 of my favorite beer and cheese pairings. Mess around with these guys, then get kinky with some experimental matchmaking. Remember: taste the cheese first, then the beer, then try them together.