Stumblebum Beer Co. Gets Creative With Beer and Cheese Pairings
When you think of pairing drinks and cheese, wine obviously comes to mind. However, there’s a new brewery in Troy that’s hoping to show how craft beer pairs well with a variety of cheeses.
Opened in early June, Stumblebum Beer Co. offers house-brewed craft beers and a small menu of mostly cheese-based dishes, some of which are gluten-free. Founder and brewer Eli Green was inspired to start a cheese-focused company after attending a beer and cheese conference in New York City hosted by Brooklyn Brewery’s Garret Oliver.
“By chance and coincidence, I was lucky enough to get a ticket to a talk at the Brooklyn Museum of Food and Drink,” said Green, who said the event changed his life, even though he didn’t know it at the time. “There’s nothing wrong with wine and cheese, but beer and cheese are really something special.”
A few years later, this summer, Eli opened Stumblebum in an easily accessible strip mall at Maple and Crooks in Troy. Green worked with Birmingham-based DesignTeam Plus to create a spacious, family-friendly bar that seats about 100 people and recruited Chris Coburn, a talented Detroit-area brewer, as Stumblebum’s brewmaster. Coburn was the brewmaster at Batch Brewing Company in Corktown and has also worked with Woodward Avenue Brewers in Ferndale in the past.
Guests can sit at low or high tables or on a bar stool and sip classic beers like the German Pilsner or more experimental brews like the Mango Berliner Weiss in pints or half-pints. If you really can’t decide which beer to have, flights are available. Get hoppy with the NZ XPA or take it easy with the Bum Light, a clean, easy-drinking beer that’s just 4.2% ABV.
There is a selection of cheeses at a very competitive price. Recently, a selection of three cheeses, two meats, crackers and fig jam was $13. Check the whiteboard behind the bar or ask your server which beers pair well with the cheeses on offer that day.
“With beer and cheese, there’s an interaction between the chemistry of the two,” Green said, reiterating that he has nothing against wine. “The acidity of the hops and the protein content of the beer pair with the dairy and the protein in the cheese in a way that wine doesn’t. When you take a sip of beer, bite into a piece of cheese, really taste that piece of cheese, and then wash it down with beer, you’re allowing those flavors and those chemicals to interact with each other in the way that they do so well.”
The rest of the menu is rounded out by a selection of deli paninis with a gluten-free bread option and a vegetarian version named after Sir Paul McCartney with artichoke salad, mixed greens, cheese (of course) and mustard. Those who just need a snack can grab twisted Bavarian pretzels with house-made beer cheese or their gluten-free fries, which offer a variety of interesting seasoning and dipping options.
While there are quality craft beers and thoughtful wine pairings, Green doesn’t want people to think they’re too upscale. It’s still a casual spot where families are welcome.
“Our concept may seem like we want to elevate things, but our vibe is very comfortable and laid-back,” said Green, who was born and raised in Troy.
The cheese pairing is one of the reasons Stumblebum stands out from other independent craft breweries, but like many others, they offer a pint club. For $100, join the club for a year and get a pint glass, $1 off every beer, 15% off merchandise, a free entrée on your birthday, and $20 off your membership renewal. Get a lifetime membership for $420, buddy.
Stumblebum Beer Co. is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at 1965 W. Maple in Troy. Call (248) 307-7204 or visit stumblebumbeer.com.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Instagram: @melodymalosh
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