We have all had, and frankly, most of us probably enjoy, the timeless culinary pairing that is cheese and wine. Whether on a charcuterie board, as an appetizer before a nice dinner, or simply just that block of cheese in your fridge and the bottle of wine you already had, it is a quintessential snack we all enjoy. Ashtyn Greene, owner of The Virginia Cheese Company, and the folks at The Veil Brewing Company’s Norfolk location are setting out to introduce us all to a much-needed fresh take: the pairing of fine cheese and hand-crafted beer.
Both of these fantastic culinary institutions were established right when the COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping the nation. Still, through community support and great business models, they have grown to be staples for Norfolk locals. After many years, a delayed opening, a remodel inside the Virginia Cheese Co., and the community behind them, the two finally joined forces. The Va Cheese Co. and The Veil are hosting the first, but hopefully not the last, beer and cheese night at The Veil’s Colonial Avenue location.
The Richmond-based head brewer for all the Veil Brewing’s locations put together a unique–but not so wild that you wouldn’t want to try it–beer menu consisting of a double Indian pale ale (DIPA), a farmhouse ale, a cider, and a stout. After trying all four and deep diving into the flavor profile provided by a fungus in the farmhouse ale (don’t worry, much like the mold that gives blue cheese its unique flavor, the fungus is completely safe to consume), the event moves to the cheese. Virginia Cheese Co. owner Ashtyn Greene has curated an equally impressive list of cheeses, including soft, hard, and semi-firm cheeses originating from both goat’s milk and traditional cow’s milk, with a possible sheep’s milk cheese sneaking its way in as well.
Ashtyn of The Virginia Cheese Co. thinks this hand-curated pairing will be a huge hit and help bring in even more clients to the already bustling Norfolk location of The Veil Brewing, as well as, the cozy and charming Freemason Street location of The Virginia Cheese Co.
The collaborative beer and cheese tasting will occur on Thursday, March 16, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at The Veil Brewing Co., located at 2314 Colonial Ave. Tickets will be available for 40 dollars and will get you full access to The Veil’s three-story Railroad District location and all four hand-picked beers and cheeses. This well-thought-out event (with more detail going into it than most similar-style wine and cheese tastings) is one you will not want to pass up. Plus, who doesn’t love a reason to go out and have a couple of good beers alongside luxury cheeses the night before St Patrick’s Day?
Nic Bailey
Berkley, NFK
I moved to the Berkeley neighborhood in 2019 after finishing my nuclear engineering training for the navy in Charleston, SC. I’ve been cooking and taking photos for as long as I can remember, and have a passion for both food and highlighting important topics through multimedia journalism and photography. I’m currently writing my first cookbook, and in my free time, my girlfriend Kelsey and I sail our 31-foot antique sailboat around the Chesapeake bay. I’m also an avid Muay Thai kickboxer and recreational skydiver.
