Cheese of the week: Alpine-Style Cheese

Name: Alpine-Style Cheese

Brand: Saxon Homestead Creamery 

Place of Purchase: Wheatsfield Organic Co-op in Ames, Iowa

Country/Region of Origin: Wisconsin

Price in Iowa: $12.59/pound

Milk: cow

Processing: cooked, pressed curd, washed rind, aged 90 to 150 days

Texture: semi-firm

Color: straw yellow

Rind: Washed

Aroma: clean dairy

Taste: meaty, nutty, umami, tangy afternotes

Mouth feel: firm, chewy, eventually yielding paste
 
Notes: This harder cheese is very flavorful.  The flavor profile, while complex, focuses on the higher protein content in this cheese.  I think that the low-fat content and the drier nature of this cheese would make it great for a picnic or a long trip.  I'd suggest pairing it with melon and spiced meats.