The newest addition to Brooklyn Brewery's Brewmaster Reserve series was inspired by a dinner party, so it makes sense that it goes so well with food. At the aforementioned party, Brooklyn head brewer Garrett Oliver met La Boîte á Epice spice blender Lior Lev Sercarz for the first time. Soon after, Cuvée La Boîte was born.

This beer has the soft, warm mouthfeel you'd expect from a beverage inspired by the grand crus of Belgium, but here the sweet notes are highlighted by the crispness of kaffir lime leaves and the spice of Espelette peppers from the French Pyrenees. Adding even more to the taste is Sercarz's very own spice mix. Called MishMish #33 Blend, it combines lemon, Spanish saffron and crystallized honey. Subtlety is the keynote of these spices — think Monet's brushstrokes rather than Rothko's punch of red.

All that quiet complexity and malt make for a great beer to pair with goat cheese (go for an un-aged version or a milder aged one) as well as subtler cold cuts or charcuterie — the parsley-packed country pâté sandwiches The Meat Hook served at Brooklyn Brewery's kickoff event for Cuvée La Boîte were a spot-on complement.

The just-released beer is currently is available at a who's who of New York beer bars, including Gramercy Tavern, Blind Tiger, The Pony Bar, The Ginger Man and Barcade. Seek it out for a great beer experience during these waning days of summer.