Shiner Commemerator and Gorgonzola Sauce

The Dallas Morning News recently ran a food pairing story featuring Shiner Commemerator. Chef Brian Olenjack created Smoked Beef Tenderloin With Gorgonzola Cream Sauce inspired by Shiner's 100th anniversary beer.

"The sweetness in the blue cheese helps that beer," says Olenjack. "Gorgonzola is not as heavy as a typical blue cheese. I wanted something that was pungent without being overpowering." His sauce recipe proves that just a little gorgonzola goes a long way. But it doesn't take long to prepare; the gorgonzola cream sauce cooks in mere minutes.

If you're on a budget, do a burger riff on Olenjack's beef and blue cheese theme. Pair the beer with bacon burgers topped with blue cheese-spiked mayonnaise and caramelized onions. Chances are you'll enjoy the Shiner Commemorator with any number of beef and blue cheese combos.

Inspired by this story, I will start investigating beer and food pairings and sharing them with you.