Marion Street Cheese Market's Leap of "Faith"

By Chuck Sudo in Food on May 1, 2009 6:40PM

Andy Jenkins used to write about cheese for this site for about as long as it takes me to whip up a cappuccino in the morning. Jenkins has gone on to do wonderful things as the beer buyer at Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. Jenkins’s love of beer is slightly less than his amour de fromage, and he understands that the two make for an amazing array of pairings, depending on the styles of each.

New Belgium Brewing Company has a “Lips of Faith” program, focusing on unique fermentations and beer styles that fall out of the range of the company’s core brands. “'Lips of Faith' beers are made available in limited batches and then it’s up to our people in the market to decide where a beer might play well,” New Belgium Marketing Director Bryan Simpson wrote via e-mail. “The ‘Lips’ line tends to push the envelope and defy category. These are wood beers, spiced beers, beers made with Brettanomyces… it’s definitely for the curious drinker, so wherever those people hang out.”

As part of the program, New Belgium offers bomber bottles and limited kegs to select retail outlets. “I've been bugging New Belgium's Chicago rep since last summer. I just really, really wanted to get La Folie in on tap... it's a good beer for cheese,” Jenkins said. Jenkins’s persistence paid off. Marion Street Cheese Market has been selected as a participant in the “Lips of Faith” program and is celebrating Wednesday with a tapping of a barrel of New Belgium’s Biere de Mars. Jenkins and the Marion Street staff will offer $3 pours of the ale. "Hopefully, it gives our place a little more beer 'street credit,' for lack of a better term," Jenkins said.