(NC) — Are you looking for a fun, surprising way to get together with friends this weekend? Invite them over for a 'beer-and-cheese' tasting party, a refreshing change from the old wine-and-cheese. As the host, here are a few tips to keep in mind for this new and tantalizing event: • Strive to match the flavour intensities; • Cheese intensity is usually measured by firmness while beer intensity is generally measured by colour (darker beers = more flavour intensity); • Look for opportunities to contrast (salty and sweet); complement (lighter beers with lighter flavoured cheeses); or cut (the carbonation and bitterness in beer are natural palate cleansers). Discover a new world of flavours by mixing and matching on your own. To help you get started, here are some pairing suggestions: • Asiago & Rickard's Dark • Ricotta & Corona Extra • Provolone & Coors Light