What Cheese Goes Best With Your Fancy Beer? Problem Solved

By John Dodge

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Should you serve a nice sharp Wisconsin cheddar with your IPA or does that go better with a simple pale ale instead?

With the popularity of craft beer showing no signs of slowing, Red Envelope has published a wine and beer pairing guide on the website Visual.ly.

It is good to be beer lover in Chicago.

The area has seen an explosive growth in microbreweries in the past six years. As of 2012, there were 423 breweries in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

That includes 83 in Illinois, which is more than double the number from eight years ago.

We are the beer belly of America!

According to the Brewers Association there are more small, craft breweries now than ever in the United States.

For many of us, a mere beer and cheese party just might not be enough.

Here at CBS Chicago, we also have some beer pairings for your BBQ this summer, including a beer that goes great with burgers and another with potato salad.