The idea here is to discuss the intersection of artisan cheese and craft beer. In the United States in particular, there is a growing awareness that great cheese and great beer can make beautiful music together. From my perspective, the parallels between the growth of craft beer and the emergence of American artisan cheese are especially intriguing.

With the Cheese and Cheers blog I’m going to keep tabs on what’s happening in both the cheese and beer worlds, I’ll discuss anything related to enjoying beer and cheese together, and together we will explore the process of pairing the two. I’ve been involved in both arenas on several levels for some time, and I enjoy bringing great beer and cheese together. Only recently, I began doing this professionally. So, yes, the site also supports the Cheese and Cheers consulting ventures, and other for-profit enterprises, but I really hope the blog will provide an open forum for celebrating great beer and great cheese.

I’ll do regular one-on-one pairings at least once a week, most likely posting the reports on Mondays or Tuesdays. Occasionally I’ll get together with some friends to taste a bunch of related beers and cheeses that we think might pair nicely. We’ll sit down as a panel and see what we find, and then tell you about it.

I’ve backlogged a number of posts that I wrote as the site was constructed. Go back to late February and you will find a pairing of Cornish Yarg with Liefmans Goudendand. From March 3, there is a panel tasting of washed-rind cheeses with several styles of beers.

I’ll write the majority of the posts at Cheese and Cheers, but I am currently in negotiations with some of the most talented experts in the field (i.e. friends and associates who are beer- and cheese-savvy) to have them pen the occasional guest posts.

I’ll veer off into the related fringe on occasion, covering topics like other beverages and foods, homebrewing and homecheeseing. But I’ll fight the urge to include pictures of my kids, discussions of Chicago sports, or anything more than the occasional allusion to punk rock or jazz. I will also sometimes report on the Chicago beer community, and maybe invite some guests to do the same. Having been part of the scene here for more than 10 years, I can tell you that it’s a damned good one, and I think you’ll enjoy pulling up a stool.

So that’s what the Cheese and Cheers blog is all about. Thanks for visiting. Keep coming back, tell all your friends, leave comments, and please patronize our sponsors. Cheers!

Coming Tomorrow: Hook’s 15-year Cheddar with Ska Brewing Co.’s Modus Hoperondi and Three Floyds’ Alpha King.