My Saint Arnold and Houston Dairymaids Birthday Picnic

I recently turned thirty and had the most fabulous beer and cheese party! Planned and paid for by my genius best friend Laura, it was the best birthday party I have ever had.

BFFs Nico & Laura

We had a Saint Arnold's beer pairing featuring cheese from the Houston Dairymaids.  I'm a big fan of craft beer and Saint Arnold's, out of my hometown of Houston, is one of my favorite brewers.  I ashamedly wasn't familiar with the Houston Dairymaids. They have a warehouse for tastings and visit farmer's markets several times a week.  They feature artisan Texas cheesemakers and have an incredible selection of cheese. Honestly, I would really like to work for them one day.  I've been daydreaming about it since I've learned of them.

Saint Arnold's +

Houston Dairymaids =

True Pairing Love

Josh, Laura, Cassie, Toben, & Niki

We held my party on a Saturday at the Saint Arnold Brewery. They hold tours Monday-Friday at 3:30PM and Saturdays at 12, 1, and 2PM.

They have open taps and wooden tables set up in a large, open room. It was perfect for my party!  I dressed up as "cheese" in a yellow dress and adorable Betsey Johnson cheese earrings I received the night before from my friend Angie.



Our cheeses:

Paragon - from The Veldhuizen Family Farm in Dublin, TX. It is a semi-firm raw milk yellow cheese. It was mild with a sharp finish. It left a taste in one's mouth like sheep's milk cheese - but it's made from happy, not-fluffy cows. A favorite of my friend Cassie and my mom. It was paired with Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower, a German-style Kolsh.

We stuck a polka-dotted candle in the
 Paragon and I made a birthday wish!

Hoja Santa - from Mozzarella Co. in Dallas, TX. I had this cheese in 2004 when my roommate was working at Atlanta Foods International and would bring home speciality cheeses on Friday. Fell head over heels. It's a goat cheese wrapped in a hoja santa leaf which tastes like sassafras and mint hybrid. At the picnic, it didn't taste exactly how I remembered it - but since the picnic the leaf has gotten softer and the taste has permeated throughout cheese and it's even better. I ate a whole round by myself watching tv the other night! It was paired with Saint Arnold Texas Wheat.

Green's Creek Gruyere - from The Veldhuizen Family Farm. It wasn't as dry as the gruyere I had in the Alps, but it was a solid, yellow gruyere with a mild, nutty taste.  It was paired with Saint Arnold Brown Ale - I adored this pairing!

Queso Blanco with Chilies and Epazote from Mozzarella Co. Shockingly, the Queso Queen is not a fan of anything spicy. However, I tried it just the same. It was crumbly and flavorful. Everyone LOVED this cheese. It was paired with Saint Arnold Amber Ale.

Hopelessly Bleu from Pure Luck Dairy in Dripping Springs, TX. A blue goat cheese? I was in heaven. One of the best cheeses I have had in ages. A delicate, creamy goat cheese with the tang of blue veins. I.love.this.cheese. It was paired with one of my favorite Saint Arnold beers, Elissa India Pale Ale!  I just had some on a brisket sandwich and I must say it pairs well with this merlot I'm drinking. Doesn't everyone drink and blog?
N.B. - Pure Luck Dairy has WEEKEND WORKSHOPS. That is going to be a 2011 must-do.

Redneck Cheddar from Veldhuizen Farm. This is a cheddar mixed with Saint Arnold's! As anyone who has had beer fondue can attest to, this mixture is a winner. A favorite of my friend Niki, who flew in from Atlanta for the festivities. It was paired with Saint Arnold Elissa India Pale Ale.

For Thanksgiving, I made mac n' cheese with these cheeses (moins the Hoja Santa and Queso Blanco) and called it Hopelessly Bleu Redneck Mac n' Cheese. DELICIOUS.

Cassie also made me the best birthday cake ever - a baked brie with sausage and sage and it was foodgasmic.

A Saint Arnold/Houston Dairymaids tasting was a wonderful idea for a party!  I highly recommend it.

Very Happy Queso Queen

Some pictures by Cassie Delaney and Niki Kangiser. Thank you to all my friends who came - I had such a lovely time! <3