Late September Beer and Cheese

This time around we have a Spanish cheese, a Belgian wheat ale, and an English ale.

Cheese--

• Rosey Goat (Spain)

Rosey goat is a semi-soft goat cheese coated with rosemary. The flesh is bright white, and the rosemary dominates the aroma. It gets a little more interesting as it warms to room temperature and the rosemary is joined by the musk of goat’s milk.

The taste has a pleasant tang balanced by buttery overtones. The floral aroma of the rosemary and the goat compete to keep it interesting. This is not a subtle cheese, but it’s pleasant--sort of an iron fist in a velvet glove.

It seems to be a variation on the treatment that produces other flavored cheeses from Spain like murcia al vino (aka drunken goat) and pimiento (paprika treated).

Rating: 6.0 out of 10 Good Stuff

Beer--

• Brasserie des Rocs—"Blanche Double" wheat ale (750ml, 6% ABV).
  
  

This is a light and lively summer drink. It’s unfiltered, and in the glass it’s a cloudy amber with a thick, bright, lacy head.

The aroma had pronounced dark honey and mint character. On the palate, then natural carbonation is lively. Even when poured high, a pleasant hint of tingling carbonation persists. The body is medium—lush but not heavy—and the hops come across light and spice-like, not resinous like an IPA. The taste has a subtle tang, and the finish is very smooth.

Very very drinkable.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Very Good Stuff

• Wells Bombardier English Premium Ale (5.2%ABV)

Bombardier pours brown, with head that subsides to nice lace on surface. It has a strong roasted-malt nose like a stout or porter, but none of the burned notes of chocolate malt.

The flavor starts with a light tang but is faintly sweet. The sweetness, with the roasted malt tones, produces a nice toffee effect. The body is medium-light but the mouthfeel is pleasantly round.

It’s pleasant, approachable and dangerously drinkable and it goes down like comfort food. (serve at 55-60 degrees F)

Rating: 9 out of 10 Damn Good Stuff