This week we’re featuring a pair of Midwestern delicacies: Curmudgeon Old Ale from Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, MI, and Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Uplands Cheese in Dodgeville, WI.
Curmudgeon is a strong, aged, malty beer with sweet molasses flavors balanced by a touch of roasty brown bitterness. Pleasant Ridge is a raw cow’s milk cheese with the flavors of cooked milk and nuts.
The rich sweetness of both items ties the flavors together, and the salty, tangy flavors of the cheese emerge in contrast to the brown ale. The combination is a satisfying snack, suitable for a dinner party or for afternoon football.