I can remember the first time I ever had a root beer float. I wondered  ”what is this creamy, delicious dream, combining my favorite beverage with my favorite dessert?” Well, as it turns out, you can make an adult version of this tasty treat! I called over some (all-too-willing) friends, grabbed some St. Patty’s style beers and plenty of Tillamook Ice Cream and conducted an experiment about what makes the best beer float!

First up: Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Hard Cider
Independently, I love both of these ingrdients…but combined, they were amazing! With equal parts cider and ice cream, this tasted just like apple pie a la mode. The smooth cream brought out the tart, green apple flavor in the cider. It would be great for a summer treat (or a summer-dreaming treat) on a front porch. This one was my favorite of the bunch.

Next on the agenda: Tillamook Mountain Huckleberry Ice Cream with Red Ale
We thought that the hoppy flavor of a Red Ale would complement the sweet fruit in the ice cream, and we were right! Since the base of the ice cream is vanilla, it leveled out the hops to create a combo that tasted surprisingly like maple and nuts, with just a hint of fruit. It was a berry good beer float.

Finally: Tillamook Mudslide Ice Cream with Guinness Beer
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we decided to make a float with Ireland’s token beer: Guinness! We combined this beer with Tillamook Mudslide Ice Cream. Guinness is less carbonated, so the experience was a little smoother. I loved the Mudslide Ice Cream in this, especially because the chocolate bits tasted just a little salty! Unfortunately, most of the chocolate bits sunk to the bottom of the glass. This float was full of really rich flavors.

What kind of beer float would you make!? For more ideas (and some kid-friendly ones!), check out our favorite root beer float recipes.

By Katie

What’s the best part of all these rainy, cold, sometimes even snowy days? Soup, of course! I love making soups with a variety of seasonal ingredients and having leftovers that last for days. Here are a few tasty winter soup suggestions to make your next meal a little soupier.

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
Apple and the 3 B’s (bacon, butter, and butternut squash!) make a hearty soup for dinner.

Flickr/notahipster (Creative Commons)

Beer & Cheese Soup
This recipe uses two of my favorite things: beer and cheese. The combination is seriously mouthwatering. Try it with your favorite local beer (we like to use beer from the Widmer Brothers) and our Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar.

Flickr/Bryan Esler (Creative Commons)

Tomato Soup
Tomato soup: the perfect companion for homemade grilled cheese. Any flavor of Tillamook Cheese will do!

Flickr/adactio (Creative Commons)

Spinach and Yogurt Soup
That’s right. Yogurt. In soup. Give it a try with Tillamook Naturally Plain Yogurt.

Flickr/Ewan M (Creative Commons)

Carrot Soup with Miso and Sesame
Stuck with a million carrots from your January-induced diet? Mash them up into soup!

Flickr/James Cohen (Creative Commons)

By Katie

As a huge Tillamook Cheese fan, and a huge beer fan, what better way to spend an evening than with a Tillamook Cheese and beer pairing night? I picked five Tillamook cheeses and paired them with beers I thought would compliment them the best. The theme of the evening was ‘Oregon Cheese Meets California Craft Beer’. It was fun to create the pairings!

Beer: Boont Amber Ale, Anderson Valley Brewery, Boonville, CA
Cheese: Tillamook Pepper Jack

I stumbled upon Anderson Valley Brewery on a drive from Sonoma to Mendocino. It’s tucked away in the valley overpass where you’d least expect it. Also unexpected was the frisbee golf course on the brewery grounds. Boont Amber Ale is their flagship beer with deep copper color offset by an off-white head. Paired with the spicy Pepper Jack Cheese, you might need a few sips to offset the fire in your mouth.

Beer: Golden Road Hefeweizen, Golden Road Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Cheese: Tillamook Garlic White Cheddar

Golden Road Brewery is a new brewery that just opened up recently in LA. They brew five beers onsite, one of which is the Golden Road Hefeweizen—a wheat beer with a smooth finish. The brewery serves this beer in a cool growler! Paired with the Garlic Cheddar you might experience a savory (garlic) and sweet (hefeweizen) contrast.

Beer: Old No. 38 Stout, North Coast Brewing, Fort Bragg, CA

Cheese: Tillamook Vintage White Medium Cheddar

Old No. 38 stout is a smooth, firm-bodied stout with toasted character and coffee notes of dark malts and roasted barley. Don’t let the dark color intimidate you—this is a terrifically smooth, drinkable beer. Pair with the Vintage White Cheddar for a “yin and yang” or “black and white cookie-like” contrast.

Beer: Arrogant Bastard, Stone Brewery, Escondido, CA

Cheese: Tillamook Smoked Medium Cheddar

This strong ale from northern San Diego is known for its hoppy flavor and bitter finish. It’s the strongest of the five beers in this pairing at 7.2% ABV. Don’t drink too much or you’ll feel it later. Paired with the Smoked Cheddar this pairing is go big or go home.

Beer: Organic Acai Berry Wheat, Eel River Brewery, Humboldt, CA

Cheese: Tillamook Medium Cheddar

Acai beer?!? Yeah, pretty crazy. Eel River is America’s first certified organic brewery and the Acai Berry Wheat is a light-bodied wheat ale brewed with organic acai berries, which boasts high antioxident properties, so it’s good for you! Paired with the classic Medium Cheddar it’s like fruit and cheese in your mouth.

What are your favorite beer and cheese pairings?

~ Scott of the Tillamook Team

By Scott

Is St. Louis losing these games so they can get in a few more home games? Definitely some surprising results so far in this 2011 series.

A pleasant surprise was last game’s Tacoritos with Tillamook Cheddar recipe. YUM!

For tonight’s game, let’s dive into some Tillamook Beer and Cheese Spread (serves 6 to 8)

INGREDIENTS

4 cups Tillamook Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
½ cup gorgonzola or blue cheese, crumbled
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish (I put in some extra for a little more kick!)
½ cup white onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon English dry mustard
1 bunch fresh chives, finely chopped
1 teaspoon red chili flakes
3 dashes hot pepper sauce (pick your favorite!)
1 teaspoon salt
several turns of freshly cracked black pepper
½ cup blonde ale
crusty bread (such as sourdough), cut into bite-sized pieces, or assorted crackers

PREPARATION

Place all of the cheeses, horseradish, onion, dry mustard, chopped chives, chili flakes, hot sauce, and salt and pepper into a food processor. Pulse until the mixture becomes fairly smooth. Slowly pour in the beer until incorporated.

Pour the mixture into a suitable serving dish. Cover and refrigerate until needed. Serve with crusty bread and assorted crackers.

Pair this appetizer with some ballpark brats and you’ve got the perfect way to celebrate Game 6!

Fun baseball fact: Nolan Ryan holds the record for longest career in baseball history (1966 to 1993) and he now owns the Texas Rangers!  Our head cheesemaker, Dale Baumgartner, has him beat though – he’s been making Tillamook Cheese for over 40 years! In fact, we even use the same Tillamook Cheddar recipe that’s over 100 years old.

Next and final game: Taco Soup!

By Jala

After last Thursday, looks like the Rangers are going to make this series interesting! Now that you’ve had a few days to recover from the 2nd game and 2nd helping of Shepherd’s Pie topped with Tillamook Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, are you ready for the next dish, er, I mean game?

Tillamook Cheddar Beer Soup (serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons Tillamook Butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 tablespoon minced garlic
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon crushed red chiles, finely chopped
2 cups shredded Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese
¾ cup dark beer

PREPARATION
Heat the butter in a sauté pan. Slowly add the flour, stirring constantly, and cook on low heat. Stir the roux mixture until it starts to bubble, but do not allow it to brown. Remove from the heat and reserve.

Heat the milk in a saucepan until it’s just ready to boil. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and crushed chiles. Continue to stir the mixture until just before it starts boiling. Add half the flour/butter mixture and stir with a wire whisk until it reaches a low simmer. Additional roux may be added to thicken, if needed. Stir constantly to avoid burning. Turn down the heat and add the cheese and beer. Continue to stir while the cheese melts. The texture should be smooth to the touch. (This may easily be reheated on low temperature, but do not boil).

Top with some chopped green onions, bacon crumbles, or toasted baguette for a little texture and enjoy!

Fun baseball fact: The average baseball only lasts about a week and each baseball can only be used one time in a MLB game. I think many a Tillamook fan would say their average Baby Loaf only lasts about a week, too!

Next game: Savory Southwest Bread Pudding. Mmmmmmm.

By Gillian

St. Patrick's Day - the only day to drink green beer without looking totally weird.

Green Beer… 5 reasons why you should drink it today:
1. It’s Saint Patrick’s Day!
2. It beats drinking sour beer
3. It’s easy to make and looks festive and fun
4. It might turn your tongue green
5. It’s the same color as the University of Oregon Ducks!

Green Beer… 5 reasons why you should pair it with Tillamook Cheddar Cheese today:
1. Cheddar cheese is popular in Ireland – today everyone’s Irish
2. Green (beer), white (Tillamook Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar), and orange (Tillamook Medium Cheddar) are colors in the Irish flag
3. The distinct kick of Tillamook Cheddar is the perfect contrast to the hop in the beer
4. Beer without cheese is like wheels without tires… what’s the point?
5. It’s just simply delicious!

If you really want to make some friends this St. Patrick’s Day, dress like a leprechaun, fill a cauldron with Tillamook Cheddar Cheese (some say it’s better than gold!), and offer your tasty treasure to everyone you meet. Have a fun and safe St. Patty’s Day, everyone!

Photo from the651.com

By Matt