1. Pilsner and Kerrygold reserve aged cheddar - Cheese is moderately sharp at first but mellows out. Reminiscent of Parmesan. Bitterness of cheese matched in pilsner. Graininess of beer is highlighted. skunkiness of beer sits well next to aged (2 years) stank of cheese. A delicate fruitiness is the final result, something I don't really get out of either alone. It is apple, this would be good with apples as well. As I have already noted, pilsner goes with apples and brie like chardonnay. It would work with a more aggressive aged cheese such as this as well. A good complementary pairing, flavor of one sticks around inside the other. You can really taste the cheese after having your palate cleansed by the pilsner, but I guess that is its obvious role, big carb to lift oils, hops to refresh. 8/10
2. Paulaner Salvator double bock with reserve aged cheddar - bigger, maltier beer gives a contrasting sweetness to the semi-tart cheese. Malts go nicely with creamy aged flavor. Not as well balanced as the Pilsner was, the beer washes the cheese taste away. You get that good sweet malt and cream combo, kinda like a milkshake. decent, but not great 6/10