This week’s pick is a cheesy collaboration between two famed Ontario producers in Prince Edward County. Premium Goat Milk Cheddar is the perfect marriage of fresh 100% pure County goat milk courtesy of Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co., and the over 100 years of cheddar making know how contributed by Black River Cheese Company, the region’s longest surviving factory. An interesting contrast to cow milk cheddar, it has won multiple awards since the first batch in early 2009, for the mild, one year, and flavored varieties at the American Cheese Society Competition and Royal Winter Fair, among others.
When young, enjoy fresh milk and a hint of fruit, characteristic of traditional cheddar. The surprise comes with age—an unexpected burst of tangy zing, milky, sharp, complex, concentrated fruit sweetness, and a hint of caramel, coupled with the tiny crunch of tyrosine crystals (an indication of quality and age in cheese). Consider yourself lucky to find the smoked variety (a breakfast cheese fave as I love the bacon-like flavor that occurs from the local applewood chips used in smoking).
FACTBOX:
Cheese: Premium Goat Milk Cheddar
Producer: Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co., Black River Cheese Company
Interesting Fact: It takes approximately 10 pounds of milk to produce 1 pound of cheddar cheese.