I drove a few miles out of my way to stop at Jewett’s Cheese House in Earlville, NY, just to see what I could find. Never having been there before, I had no idea what to expect except that I knew it was in a rural area surrounded by farms in the heartland of upstate New York.

Inside I found an array of natural food snacks; everything from sweet and hot Buffalo peanuts to dried vegetable chips. There was also lots of cheese, highlighted by aged New York cheddar. You can buy it aged anywhere from 1 year to 14 years each named after family names like Grandad, Granny, Old Mac, Ginny, Old Geezer, etc.

Terri Jewett-Larkin was extremely friendly and helpful, offering to cut any cheese to any size. Still, I grabbed a small block out of the cooler that was aged 3 years called Great Grandad. But then I noticed a sampler of cheeses laid out that said “age makes a difference, try and see”. So, I did, and then went back to the cooler to exchange my choice for something older. I knew age made a difference, but I was surprised by how just a few years could change the taste so dramatically.

With a handful of goodies and my cheese I went to check out but then noticed a sign that read “Beer Cheese”… I was all over that. Beer Cheese is actually an import from the UK, a cheddar made with an Extra Strong Ale plus some spices and herbs like parsley. Terri provided me with a sample and it seemed like the perfect pairing for that Ommegang Hennepin Farmhouse saison I was looking for. Al recently blogged about pairing beer and cheese plus readers Keith, Chris and Max all commented with a suggestion of cheese to pair with that Belgium saison. Add some smoked meat and it was the perfect lunch.

I’m not unfamiliar with pairing cheese with beer, but this occasion was made extra special by the great New York made ale, and the pleasant experience from Jewett’s Cheese House. Jewett’s Cheese House can be found on the Internet, and orders can be placed via phone @ 1-800-638-3836. I highly recommend them.

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