Discover Our Cheeses
Dunbarton Blue Cheese
Our original recipe flagship cheese, Dunbarton Blue Cheese! A hand crafted, cellar cured cheese with the earthy character of a fine English-style cheddar, coupled with the subtle hint of blue flavor. Open air curing creates a natural, edible rind. Made with pasteurized cow’s milk and aged at least 90 days.
APPEARANCE: Blue cheese has a pale, off-white to yellowish interior with characteristic blue-green veins or streaks running throughout. These veins are formed by the growth of edible mold
TASTE/FLAVOR: Blue cheese generally has a strong, pungent, and tangy flavor, which can be described as sharp, earthy, and sometimes even spicy.
History
Blue cheese, with its distinctive blue-green veins and pungent flavor, has a history stretching back centuries, likely originating from accidental discoveries in caves where mold naturally developed. While the exact origin is debated, a popular legend involves a shepherd forgetting his lunch of bread and ewe’s milk cheese in a cave, only to find it transformed by mold months later, creating the first Roquefort. This mold, Penicillium roqueforti, is now refined and used in the production of various blue cheeses worldwide.
Pairing & Recipes
Blue Cheese goes well with red or sparkling wine. It also pairs well with dried fruits such as apricots or raisins, fresh figs and pears or with almonds. If you’re looking to pair it with meat, it goes best with beef, preferably steak.
There are many recipes for dishes prepared with Blue Cheese, but it is most popular crumbled on to salad or as a dip such as buffalo chicken dip. Many other recipes include steak & blue cheese pizza, chunky blue Cheese dip, buffalo wing poppers, blue cheese-mushroom stuffed tenderloin, grilled apple tossed salad, buffalo chicken wrap.
Red Rock Cheese
Our original recipe, American style, naturally bloomy rinded cheddar cheese with a slight blue vein. Richly colored with annatto and cave aged to maturity. Mild flavored with a creamy texture. Made with pasteurized cow’s milk and aged at least 60 days. Hand cut and wrapped in plastic and recommended to enjoy within 3 weeks.
APPEARANCE: Red Rack Cheese has a orange to darker yellowish interior with characteristic blue-green veins or streaks running throughout. These veins are formed by the growth of edible mold
TASTE/FLAVOR: Red Rock generally has a strong and tangy flavor, which can be described as sharp and earthy tone.
History
Red Rock Cheese is an original blend from Chris Roelli developed using American style cheese with distinctive blue-green veins and pungent flavor.
Pairing & Recipes
Red Rock Cheese goes well with almost any wine, but red or sparkling wine is a general favorite AS with Dunbarton Blue Cheese it also pairs well with dried fruits such as apricots or raisins, fresh figs and pears or served with whole grain crackers and almonds.
Haus Select Cheddar Cheese
Our very best batches of cellar aged cheddar cheese, hand selected when it’s at its best by Master Cheesemaker Chris Roelli. Cheese is ripened a minimum of 90 days but may be as long as 3 years. Made with pasteurized cow’s milk.
APPEARANCE: Roelli Select Cheddar Cheese is richly colored with annatto and includes a coated edible rind.
TASTE/FLAVOR: Roelli Select Cheddar Cheese is a smooth with a robust flavor and meaty texture.
History
Cheddar cheese originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, likely during the 12th century. Its long shelf life and portability made it popular for travel and military provisions, leading to its spread throughout England and beyond. The aging process, crucial for developing its characteristic flavor and texture, involves controlled conditions that allow bacteria to develop on the cheese, concentrating flavors as moisture evaporates over time.
Pairing & Recipes
Cheddar cheese, especially aged cheddar, pairs well with a variety of flavors. Sweet options like fig or apple jam, honey, and dried fruits like apricots and dates enhance its tangy notes. Savory pairings include charcuterie like prosciutto and salami, nuts like roasted almonds and spiced pecans, and pickled vegetables. Crunchy carriers like crackers, breadsticks, and toasted baguette slices also complement cheddar.
What can’t you add Cheddar Cheese to and what recipe is complete without it? From adding it to your potatoes (mashed, baked or fries), to baking it over your favorite cassorole or melting it as a topping on that pasta dish! Of course, who can forget about making dips for that party you are hosting or attending?
History
Cheddar cheese originated in the English village of Cheddar, Somerset, with early records dating to the 12th century, where caves provided ideal conditions for aging the cheese. The name “cheddar” was associated with the region, which became a center for cheese production, particularly as a way to preserve surplus milk.
Pairing & Recipes
Cheddar cheese pairs well with both sweet and savory accompaniments, including apples, figs, and dark chocolate, alongside savory items like pickles, cured meats, and crackers. For drinks, it complements robust options like Bordeaux wines, amber ales, and stouts, while also working with lighter choices such as Pinot Noir, dry apple cider, and Champagne.
Roelli Cheddar Cheeses
Hand crafted in small batches by Master Cheddar Cheesemaker Chris Roelli, block style cheddar cheese cellar aged.
- Mild Cheddar is aged over 30 days
- Medium Cheddar is aged over 6 months
- Sharp Cheddar is aged over 12 months
- Extra Sharp is aged over 24 months
Appearance: Solid, firm cheese that ranges in color from off-white to bright orange, depending on added colorants like annatto. Its texture is firm and can be smooth and creamy, especially when young, but becomes crumbly and may develop hard, crunchy calcium lactate crystals with longer aging. Aged cheddars also develop a sharper, more complex, and sometimes earthy flavor.
Taste/Flavor: Mild and buttery to sharp, tangy, and nutty, depending on its aging period. Younger cheddars are smooth and creamy with a sweet, mild taste, while aged cheddars develop a more crumbly texture and complex, robust flavor with grassy and earthy undertones and calcium lactate crystals that add a slight crunch.
Gravity Hill Cheese
Our interpretation of an English farmstead-style acid crumbly cheese. Sharp and tangy flavor with a smooth, clean finish. Made with raw cow’s milk and aged approximately 1 year.
Appearance: Natural in color.
Taste/Flavor: Sharp and tangy flavor with a smooth, clean finish.
Little Mountain Cheese
A traditional washed rind Alpine cheese made in the Appenzeller style. Made with raw cow’s milk and aged at least 6 months. This one will make you want to yodel!
APPEARANCE: Ivory to cream-yellow and firm, becoming more crumbly or crystalline as it ages, featuring holes (“eyes”) that can vary in size similar to swiss cheese.
TASTE/FLAVOR: Smooth and nutty flavor.
Pairing & Recipes
Pairs well with fruit-forward wines like Riesling or Beaujolais, sweet or nutty beers such as brown ale or bock, and sweet spirits like port or whiskey. On a cheese board, these rich, nutty cheeses complement crusty bread, pickled vegetables, smoked meats, and roasted nuts. In the kitchen, they excel as melting cheeses for fondue, gratins, and soups.
Roelli Cheese Curds
Fresh and squeaky young cheddar cheese curds, handmade weekly in the Roelli Cheese factory. (1/2 lb or 1 lb bags)
Since Roelli Cheese hand makes cheddars, some batches may or may not contain annatto seed coloring. Annatto is a flavorless concentrated natural color pressed from the annatto seed that gives cheese its orange hue.
APPEARANCE: Cheese curds are small, irregularly shaped, bite-sized pieces of fresh cheese that are typically white, yellow, or orange in color. Cheese curds are essentially unaged cheddar cheese that has not gone through the molding and aging process, and their flavor is mild and milky with a salty taste.
TASTE/FLAVOR: They have a distinctive springy and slightly rubbery texture and are known for the “squeaky” sensation they produce when you bite into them fresh.
Pairing & Recipes
Cheese curds pair well with dipping sauces like ranch, pepper jelly, and honey mustard, and can be incorporated into dishes such as poutine, burgers, salads, and tacos. For drinks, try Champagne or Prosecco for a bubbly contrast, or a crisp pilsner, pale ale, or cider for a classic beer pairing.
Farmhouse Colby
Traditional style farmhouse Colby with a rich full flavor like the great Colby of years ago. Made with pasteurized cow’s milk.
APPEARANCE: Red Rack Cheese has a orange to darker yellowish interior with characteristic blue-green veins or streaks running throughout. These veins are formed by the growth of edible mold
TASTE/FLAVOR: Red Rock generally has a strong and tangy flavor, which can be described as sharp and earthy tone.
History
Colby Jack cheese is a combination of Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses, both with their own distinct histories. Colby cheese originated in Colby, Wisconsin, around 1885, created by Joseph Steinwand, and is a milder, softer version of cheddar.
Monterey Jack cheese, on the other hand, has roots in 18th-century California, likely developed by Franciscan friars in Monterey.
The blend of these two cheeses, resulting in the marbled Colby Jack, is a relatively recent development, with Wisconsin cheesemakers often credited with the combination.
Pairing & Recipes
Colby Jack cheese, with its mild and creamy flavor, is a versatile cheese that pairs well with a variety of foods and drinks. For a simple snack, try it with fruits like apples and pears, or nuts like almonds and walnuts. It also shines in sandwiches, grilled cheese, burgers, and quesadillas.
In terms of beverages, Colby Jack pairs well with Chardonnay, light-bodied red wines, lagers, and even tequila.
Lowlander Goudse Kaas
Lowlander Goudse Kaas is a Dutch-style Gouda with a sweet and nutty flavor profile. Aged a minimum of 90 days and includes a coated edible rind. Made with pasteurized cow’s milk.
APPEARANCE: Lowlander Goudse Kaas is yellow cow’s milk cheese.
TASTE/FLAVOR: Our version of a Dutch style Gouda and has a sweet and nutty flavor profile.
History
Goudse Kaas cheese (Gouda) is a Dutch cheese with origins in the town of Gouda, dating back to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest cheeses still produced using its original recipe. The town has a rich history of cheese markets dating back to the 14th century. While the name “Gouda” is not protected, meaning it’s produced in many countries, the authentic Dutch Gouda is known for its quality.
Pairing & Recipes
Gouda cheese, known for its smooth, buttery, and slightly sweet flavor, pairs well with a variety of foods and beverages. It’s a versatile cheese, suitable for both savory and sweet applications, and can be enjoyed on its own, in recipes, or on a cheese board.
Beverages:
- Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay pair well with Gouda.
- Beer: Riesling and Bock Ale complement the cheese.
- Spiced Rum: A good pairing for a richer, aged Gouda.
Pairings:
- Fruits: Apples, pears, peaches, and dried fruits like apricots and cherries are excellent choices.
- Nuts: Candied pecans, honey-roasted almonds, and cashews complement Gouda’s flavor.
- Meats: Prosciutto, salami, and smoked pork chops pair well with Gouda.
- Vegetables: Raw carrots, broccoli, and even jalapenos can add a nice contrast.
- Breads and Crackers: Gouda is great on bread, crackers, and pita chips.
- Condiments: Mango chutney, mustards, and fig jam offer interesting flavor combinations.
- Spices: Cilantro, basil, and even balsamic vinegar can add a fresh touch to Gouda dishes.
Recipes Featuring Gouda:
- Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese: A classic comfort food dish with a smoky twist.
- Gouda Grilled Cheese: A simple sandwich elevated by the addition of Gouda.
- Gouda Potato Mash: Gouda adds a creamy richness to mashed potatoes.
- Gouda Cheese Dip: Smoked Gouda is often used in dips for pretzels or vegetables.
- Gouda and Apple Hand Pies: A sweet and savory combination.
- Gouda Omelets: Smoked Gouda can be incorporated into omelets.
Monterey Jack Cheese
Smooth creamy jack style cheese, sweet buttery notes.
APPEARANCE: Monterey Jack cheese is a semi-hard cheese with a pale yellow to golden color.
TASTE/FLAVOR: Monterey Jack cheese has a mild, buttery, and slightly tart flavor, with a semi-soft, smooth texture. It’s often described as a mellow, approachable cheese, making it versatile for various dishes and pairings.
History
Monterey Jack cheese typically appears as a semi-hard cheese with a pale yellow to golden color. It has a mild, buttery flavor and a smooth, compact texture.
Pairing & Recipes
Monterey Jack cheese is a versatile cheese that pairs well with many foods due to its mild, buttery flavor and excellent melting properties. It’s a great choice for Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, but also shines in grilled cheese, burgers, and on cheese boards.
For wines, lighter reds like Pinot Noir and Merlot, or dry whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, are excellent choices. In the realm of beers, Cream Ale, Golden Ale, and Vienna Lager complement the cheese’s subtle profile.