Lompoc is hosting a Beer & Cheese Pairing with cheeses from Steve Jones of The Cheese Bar next Wednesday, September 12 from 4 to 10 pm at Sidebar (3901 N Williams Ave). Brewer Bryan Keilty and cheesemonger Jones will be on hand to chat and answer questions from 7 to 9 pm. There will be a taster tray of all four beer/cheese pairings available for $12. The following pairings will be available:
Cherry Christmas with Samish Bay Fresh Ladysmith (Organic Cow, WA). Cherry Christmas is a blend of four different beers: Golden Ale fermented in stainless steel with sour cherries, Golden Ale fermented in Port barrels with sour cherries, Brown Ale inoculated with a Lambic blend yeast aged in Merlot barrels for four years, and a two-year-old Gueze. 5% ABV
Cherry Bomb with Uniekaas Vintage Grand Ewe (Sheep, Holland). Cherry Bomb is Lompoc’s Proletariat Red fermented in Maryhill Winery Port barrels with 40 pounds of sour cherries. It has a big cherry aroma with a fruit forward flavor and finishing dry with a touch of oak. 6.2% ABV
Red Raisin with Baley Hazen Jasper Hill (Cow, VT). Red Raisin is Lompoc’s Proletariat Red aged for three years in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels with 35 pounds of sour cherries. It has an aroma of oak with flavors of cherry and raisins finishing tart with a hint of vanilla. 6.2% ABV
Cherry Porter with Ferns Edge Mt. Zion (Raw Goat, OR). Cherry Porter was brewed in July 2009 and aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels with 35 pounds of sour cherries for almost three years. It is pitch black in color with an aroma of tobacco and leather. It has flavors of chocolate, oak, and cherry finishing with a slight sourness. 7.5% ABV
Also on tap that night:
Oktoberfest, a lager that is pale orange in color with a clean malt flavor balanced by a touch of Perle hops. A portion of the grain used was roasted in the oven at Lompoc’s Fifth Quadrant, giving a slight biscuit flavor. 5% ABV
Stargell Stars IPA, named in honor of Pittsburgh Pirate great Willie Stargell. It has a golden–orange hue with slight back of the throat bitterness. It was dry hopped in the fermenter with Saaz hops giving of a spicy, coriander flavor and aroma. 5.5% ABV
Hope to see you there – cheers!