An Ode to Cheese Bar
Van Havig
I thought I was excited to have Cheese Bar open 11 blocks from my house. I went there this afternoon, for the second day in a row, only to find my excitement was surpassed by that of Van Havig, brewmaster for Rock Bottom Portland. He had composed an Ode to Cheese Bar, which he sang, with great excitement and enthusiasm.
To the tune of the Beatles “Yesterday” here is Havig’s “Ode to Cheese Bar”
Yesterday, Steve opened up not far away
A little cheese and beer chalet
Oh I’ll eat cheese, most everyday
Suddenly my neighborhood’s better than it used to be
Because Steve opened up eleven blocks from me
Oh how great it is to be me
Cave-aged Gruyere, Stilton, Bayhawk and Mahon
Garroxta, Maytag Blue, all of them you can own, own, own, own
It’s not just cheese, but with beer that makes two ways to please.
There’s Pilsner, stout, and ESBs
You can have it all when you come to Steve’s
Thank you Steve for thinking of us Eastside plebes
And fixie-riding hipster dweebs
We hope you make a lot of “cheese”
If that song isn’t enough to make you want to visit, they have a record player and when we were there this evening were playing the Modern World by the Jam. The cheese and meat selections are fantastic. The current cheese plate is UK based. (Jones worked for British cheesemongers Neal’s Yard, and is intimately familiar with English cheeses).On the plate are generous helpings of Wensleydale, Lincolnshire Poacher, and Colston Basset Stilton, which is quite possibly the best, richest Stilton I’ve ever tasted. Just like European beers, cheeses from over the water don’t always arrive in the finest condition, and when you get fresh versions, they are a real treat.
In keeping with Steve’s emphasis on low alcohol beers, I ordered a Hazed and Infused Pale Ale 4.85% abv from Colorado’s Boulder Brewing. I then had a Watershed IPA 7.1% abv from Eugene’s Oakshire Brewing and tried pairing the two beers with the three cheeses. The Hazed and Infused has a grassy hop character, which pairs well with the mild Wensleydale, the creamy rich Stilton kicks its ass though, and Watershed is a better match for that cheese. Watershed is a little too much for the Wensleydale, but works well with the cheddarlike notes of the Lincolnshire Poacher. Verdict: though the Hazed and Infused worked alright, sometimes a big massive hoppy NW IPA is the right match for your food. And thankfully I live 11 blocks away.