Grey Barn Farm Organic Bluebird
‘Pure, pure, pure,’ wrote poet John Borroughs of the bluebird’s call. And that’s an apt description of this cheese. Grey Barn thought so as well, and named its blue cheese after the poem. Made on the a Martha's Vineyard farm with a herd of 37 cows, Bluebird has the essence of its land: it’s creamy and fudgy, with a rustic, barny flavor and a touch of sea breeze. Where many blues foreground their sharpness, this one has a mellower vibe. Another difference: it’s a blue cheese with a natural rind. Oh, and it's in block shape, which makes sense for something that’s in such rare form.
Just the Facts
Lagers and Kolsch
Lager, Dunkel, Schwarz, Pilsner, Kolsch AleLagers run the gamut from crisp, pale Pilsners to dark-malted Dunkels and Märzens. Flavors are typically approachable and mellow, a delicate balance of toasted bread, gentle sweetness, and mild hop bitterness for structure.
Pair with: Almost any firm, mild cheese like Tomme de Savoie or Landaff Creamery Landaff.Riesling
This food-friendly wine ranges from super sweet to quite dry. Acidity, minerality, and aromas of tropical fruit are almost always present.Dry: Characterized by bracing acidity and stark minerality. Tropical fruit on the nose, stunningly balanced flavor overall.
Pair with: This versatile wine works equally well with a fresh chevre (bringing out acidity) as it does a stinker like Willoughby (playing up the sweet/salty contrast).Sweet: The other end of the spectrum offers a cloyingly sweet, syrupy wine. Aromas of ripe peaches and tropical fruit dominate, along with floral, perfumed accents.
Pair with: With something this strong it’s best to contrast the sweetness with something funky or salty: A pungent washed rind like Grayson or a punchy blue like Bleu du Bocage.Rosé
We love them all! Everything from light, crisp Provence style to deep and fruity Spanish Rosados. Don’t be afraid to enjoy rosé year-round, but we like the summer staple best with refreshing, mild cheeses that are great in warm weather.Pair with: Young chevres like Coupole and bloomy rinds like Moses Sleeper for the lighter stuff. A darker, fruitier rosé can stand up to a heavier cheese like nutty Pecorino Oro Antico. Sparkling rosé is a perfect match for Nettle Meadow Kunik.