Editor's Note: Our friend Joe Burgers a.k.a. @bakerandthebeerd brings us his take on this month's curdbox and his beer-ish thoughts each month. If you're a fan of beer and cheese, this is the blog for you! And if you want to join our merry band of cheese lovers, head on over to our subscription page to sign up for your monthly box!
November's Curdbox theme is Joyful Harvest, and this board presents a bountiful variety of savory treats. I'm wrapping up Baker and the Beerd's "No Adjunct November" (a month-long celebration of traditionally-crafted beers) by pairing this box with two delicious Belgian wild ales. Gueuze Girardin 1882 is an unfiltered blend of 12, 18 and 24-month old lambics for a complex but refreshing flavor with moderate acidity and mild bitterness. Duchesse Petite is a Flemish Red Ale from Brouwerij Verhaeghe, with a lower 4.5% abv, but a similarly rich flavor to the iconic Duchesse De Bourgogne. Sweet and sour notes of red wine vinegar and fruity yeast are matured in oak casks for an unmistakable experience.
Morbier cheese takes center stage on the board, with its signature ash stripe running down the middle of a plump wedge. A creamy, satisfying texture and versatile flavor made this the one cheese that pairs exceptionally well with both beers and every snack on the board. There were no misses with this one, even holding up to the bold flavors of the tarragon dijon mustard.
Leonora is a Spanish soft-ripened goat cheese, and is easily one of my favorite cheeses I've received in a Curdbox. Its decadently fudgey body and ultra creamy flavor have just the right balance of the classic goat cheese twang, making for a perfect bite on the Craize corn cracker, paired with Duchesse Petite (maintaining the balance of sweet and sour).
Tintern is a Welsh-style cheddar with shallots and green chives, an herbaceous savory cheese best paired with the Stony Brook butternut pepitas (these things just taste like autumn). I paired this cheese with Gueuze Girardin for its effervescence and citrus notes that refresh the palate after each bite.
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