Wine and cheese make for an obvious pair. But what about beer and cheese? Or, kombucha and cheese, for that matter? In many cases, the potent and funky properties of beer or kombucha can bring out the curious dimensions of an artisanal farmstead cheese.
Bull Mansion prides itself on its rotating roster of farmstead cheeses, including offerings from one of the oldest dairy farms in the region, Cricket Creek. It is in the mission of Cricket Creek, located in Williamstown, to “exemplify a sustainable model for small-farm viability.” Throughout the year, Bull Mansion’s cheese board includes the likes of Maggie’s Reserve, Tobasi, and Berkshire Bloom, which all hail from the dynamic farm team at Cricket Creek.
Pair the Maggie’s Reserve with Flying Dreams’ “Double Bock,” both of which boast a strong spirit of sustenance, even in the depths of winter. Maggie’s Reserve radiates the essence of nutmeg and caramel, properties mimicked in this strong dark lager. Flying Dreams is brewed just up the road on Park Avenue in Worcester.
Should you be lucky enough to catch Tobasi before it flies off the menu, take my advice and order the KrafTea Kombucha. Toted as an “ancient elixir,” this all-organic fermented tea makes for a tart counterpart to a custard-like smear of Tobasi. A raw milk cheese, Tobasi, erupts – melty, mushroomy, and emboldened by its washed rind. KrafTea Kombucha is brewed at 3Cross Brewing Company on Cambridge Street in Worcester.
And, if you simply cannot resist the allure of wine and cheese, we suggest the Berkshire Bloom with a bottle of Canard-Duchêne Champagne Brut Authentic. This bloomy rind cheese with its firm, pungent center suits champagne’s aromas of apple and pastry for a cheeky pairing on the palate.
It should go without saying that Bull Mansion’s most fine tuned pairings all involve a dose of live music. We saw for ourselves when the “In x-Pensive Wineos” took the stage on Friday, November 24th, because wine and cheesy dance moves are also a surefire pair.