Who is worthy of the potato chip cookie?

Potato Chip Cookie and NECC Ciders or Kinsmen Breliner Weisse

This cookie is magnificent.

Before our regular gaming night, some of us got together with our kids and family to have some dinner. We had some wonderful homemade hummus, pumpkin chili, salad, all finished with a fun cookie pairing challenge. Bob picked up a few ciders from New England Cider company, and John had a crowler of Earthbound Misfit, a cherry-lime berliner weisse. It was fun to get everyone involved in talking about the beer and how surprising the cookies were. An experience like this makes me continue to see the value in enjoying your food and exploring fun ways to experience it. A good time was most definitely had by all.

The Beer: We chose two beers to try with this superior cookie. The first was a hard cider from the New England cider company. The ‘fresh blend’ it is a mildly sweet cider with a familiar aroma of apples and a well-balanced flavor profile. It really tastes like adult apple juice. I was thinking that the sweetness of the cider would complement the mild saltiness of the cookie.

The other beer we chose to experiment with was from Kinsmen brewery, a cherry-lime berliner weisse. The beer comes in at a very light 2.8% abv, featherweight body with light citrus notes, tart smell and taste with a clean finish predominated by cereal. A classic berliner, it does not carry much sweetness but the lime and cherry give it a juicy aroma.

The cookie: The potato chip cookie is like a jack in the box that pops a second earlier than the song would lead you to expect it. You think you know what's going to happen, but it ends up surprising you anyway. The chips bring a mild salty finish, but is balanced with the sugar you sprinkle over the finished cookie. It is buttery and soft, but also crisp from the chips and the bake on the edges. I love this cookie.

The pairing: The potato chip cookie presents a significant pairing challenge. It is a favorite amongst those who try it and, on paper, it should go with just about any beer. The simple nature of the cookie, with mild sweetness, nutty notes and hint of salt makes it a natural companion to any brew. Unfortunately I don’t think either of these beers are exactly right for the potato chip cookie. The cider is timeless and did better of the two, but some sort of ‘punch’ was lacking. The berliner weisse have a nice tart kick, but it tended to overwhelm the subtle flavor of the cookie. Both brews were very satisfying and we had no trouble with the plate of cookies, but absent was that synergy, the sum greater than its parts.