Amber Ale & Ossau-Iraty AOP: the bold pairing that surprises and delights

12/29/2025 | News

When the malt’s caramelised notes meet the gentle creaminess of an ewe’s milk cheese… that’s when the magic happens. We often think of wine as the natural match for cheese. And yet, there’s an even more unexpected, and irresistibly indulgent, duo worth discovering: amber ale and Ossau-Iraty AOP.

Ossau-Iraty is one of the great symbols of Basque and Béarnais heritage. At Maison Agour Etxea, this AOP cheese has earned rare recognition: Ossau-Iraty Agour was crowned “Best Cheese in the World” twice at the World Cheese Awards, in 2006 and 2011.

Maison Agour Etxea also highlights a more recent distinction: its Ossau-Iraty AOP was awarded “Best Dairy Cheese of the Basque Country” at Lurrama 2025.

In other words, we’re not simply talking about a cheese with character, but about a product consistently celebrated for its quality.

WHICH BASQUE BEERS SHOULD YOU CHOOSE FOR THIS PAIRING?

To stay true to the spirit of terroir and pure enjoyment, here are a few examples of Basque amber beers that pair beautifully with Ossau-Iraty:

🍺 Eguzki Amber – Brasserie du Pays Basque
A copper-coloured amber ale with a well-balanced profile and malty notes often described as lightly roasted or biscuity. It offers a pleasant bitterness without heaviness — ideal alongside an ewe’s milk tomme.

🍺 Eguzki Gorrasta (Amber Lager) – Brasserie du Pays Basque
This amber beer puts the malt front and centre: caramel, toasted grains, roundness, and a gentle bitterness — perfect for bringing out Ossau-Iraty’s softness and subtle dried-fruit notes.

🍺 Akerbeltz (Basque craft brewery – Ascain)
If you’re looking for other local references, Akerbeltz is one of the emblematic names on the Basque craft scene, with a production deeply rooted in the region.

Depending on availability, a Basque craft amber beer in this style will always be an excellent base for this pairing.

THE SECRETS OF A PERFECT PAIRING

Amber ales win people over with their generous texture, hints of golden caramel, toasted grains, and a well-balanced bitterness that leaves room for pure pleasure.

That is precisely what makes them such an elegant match for an ewe’s milk cheese like Ossau-Iraty: the beer’s malty sweetness mirrors the cheese’s smooth, melt-in-the-mouth character, while a touch of hops brings a breath of freshness, almost like a pause, that balances its richness.

In the Basque Country, some amber ales also reveal warmer, lightly roasted nuances, with notes of biscuit and toasted bread, often born from carefully selected and expertly worked malts.

They enhance Ossau-Iraty’s character without ever overpowering its finesse, extending its aromas while preserving its natural balance.

OSSAU-IRATY AOP: AN EXCEPTIONAL CHEESE, RECOGNISED WORLDWIDE

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For the pairing to feel perfectly balanced, there’s no need to overdo it — simplicity is often the best ally.

Serve the amber beer slightly chilled, so it keeps its roundness without muting its aromas. As for Ossau-Iraty, let it come to room temperature for twenty to thirty minutes before tasting: that’s when it truly reveals its melt-in-the-mouth texture and delicate notes.

When it comes to accompaniments, choose the obvious favourites: a rustic country loaf, a handful of walnuts, and — if you like — a small sweet touch such as fig jam, which beautifully highlights the gentle richness of ewe’s milk cheese.

And above all, take the time to explore the pairing: a sip of beer, then a bite of cheese, then the other way around. Depending on the order, flavours shift, echo one another, and the harmony reveals itself differently.

A BOLD PAIRING — YET AN OBVIOUS ONE

Amber beer and Ossau-Iraty AOP feel as though they were made to meet.

The beer brings roundness, freshness, and malty depth; the cheese responds with its creamy texture and distinctive character. And when Ossau-Iraty has, on top of that, been crowned Best Cheese in the World twice (World Cheese Awards 2006 & 2011), the experience becomes all the more memorable.

Ossau-Iraty is an AOP ewe’s milk cheese, made from uncooked pressed curd, produced in the Basque Country and Béarn.

With its malty roundness, subtle hop aromas, and lightly biscuity notes, amber beer elevates an ewe’s milk tomme like Ossau-Iraty beautifully. A simple, approachable pairing — perfect for a festive aperitif or to round off a meal with a cheese board.

Discover our exceptional Ossau-Iraty cheeses at this link.