Book Review – Cheese Beer Wine Cider: A Field Guide to 75 Perfect Pairings

Today, Tuesday, March 19th, Steve Jones and Adam Lindsley release their new book, Cheese Beer Wine Cider: A Field Guide to 75 Perfect Pairings published by Countryman Press. This 224-page book dives into 75 intriguing cheese pairings that includes 25 with beer, 25 with cider and 25 with wine.

Cheese Beer Wine Cider is that latest book that offers some intriguing cheese pairings but one of the few, if not first that includes all three – beer, wine and cider. Many of the local Portland readers know Jones as he’s the owner of Cheese Bar and Chizu in Portland. His co-author, Lindsley is also a Portland resident that has written another book and articles for various publications. The duo spent the better part of the past three years researching cheese and the best pairings with beer, wine and cider. It must have been very “hard” work!

Set with an artfully produced book layout that includes some outstanding photography from David L. Reamer and book cover design from Nick Caruso Design, Cheese Beer Wine Cider is a must read for fans of cheese! The book takes the reader on a ride through pairing 75 various cheeses, 25 with beer, 25 with cider and 25 with wine. In addition to the pairings, there are tidbits of knowledge about the cheese making process and what to look for in cheese.

Though both authors call the Pacific Northwest home, Cheese Beer Wine Cider is written to allow for cheese pairings no matter where you live in the United States. Each of the beer, wine and cider pairings offer the suggested beverages along with three other choices that allows for easier pairings based on distribution concerns in your locale.

Cheese Beer Wine Cider is written in a way that’s easy to understand and when Jones and Lindsley use a less commonly known term it’s described for better understanding. Strategically placed in the book are “Quick Bites” sidebar that offers additional insights or pro tips on the specific pairings and topics being discussed.

The book also offers basic tips on storing and serving cheese along with the beverages the cheese is being paired with. No matter what your level of knowledge is, these helpful tips are an excellent reminder for any skill level.

At Cheese Bar and Chizu here in Portland, I find myself offering advice on which beverages to pair with cheese six days a week. I’ve been commissioned year after year to provide cheese pairings for beer and cider events, and it’s both challenging and rewarding. I’ve developed a knack for it, I’m not too humble to say, but there’s always something new to learn and a new combination to explore. It’s the sense of experimentation that runs through the heart of this book, and the quality I most want you, the reader to take from it. – Steve Jones

Every time I picked up the book, I so wanted one of the cheese and beer pairings being suggested. A trip to Cheese Bar or Chizu will soon be on my itinerary.

This evening the official book release will take place at Cheese Bar in Southeast Portland from 5:00-7:00pm. Additional book release events will take over the coming weeks. Here’s a list of many of these events.

• Tuesday, March 19th at Cheese Bar – 5:00-7:00pm
• Tuesday, April 2nd at Belmont Station – 5:00-7:00pm
• Sunday, April 7th at Powell’s Books on Burnside – 2:00-3:00pm
• Tuesday, April 9th at Southeast Wine Collective – 5:00-7:00pm
• Tuesday, April 16th at Cider Riot! – 5:00-7:00pm

Cheese Beer Wine Cider is available on Amazon.com, just follow this LINK to order a copy of your book now!