This is a continuation of a blog about the Shore Craft Beer Talk and Tasting held at the Clarion Fountainebleu in early 2016.
Red Dragon cheese? Is that really a thing? Yes, and it is an awesome thing. Just as with the Maytag Cheese this selection was off my radar and, as many other people said, I am better for knowing about it. Red Dragon is a Welsh Cheddar made with mustard seeds and brown ale. Space Otter, the standout Pale Ale from Mispillion River Brewing Company, was a perfect match for several reasons. The primary one is pineapple. Not only did the taste combination result in a subtle pineapple flavor, but there was no untasting it, which was a real coup.
The hope always had been that people would come away from the pairing with a sense of how to better taste the different elements of beer. The Space Otter and Red Dragon pairing allowed people to come away from the tasting able to detect the new flavors as they had been revealed. It showed people how to pull flavors out of the tasting, which was kind of the point.
I feel like this would be best served with salt and savory: pickles and pretzel twists, some spicy rice crackers maybe.
Author: Tony Russo
Tony Russo has worked as a print and digital journalist for the better part of the 21st century, writing for and editing regional weeklies and dailies before joining the team that produces OceanCity.com and ShoreCraftBeer.com among other destination websites. In addition to having documented everything from zoning changes to art movements on the Delmarva Peninsula, Tony has written two books on beer for the History Press. Eastern Shore Beer was published in 2014 and Delaware Beer in 2016. He lives in Delmar, Md. with his wife Kelly and the only of his four daughters who hasn't moved out. Together they keep their two dogs comfortable.
