Dirt Lover
- Producer
- Green Dirt Farm
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Missouri
- Size
- 2 in diameter x 2.5 in height
- Weight
- 5-6 oz
- Website
- www.greendirtfarm.com
- Milk
- Sheep
- Treatment
- Pasteurised
- Classification
- Semi Soft
- Rennet
- Animal
- Rind
- Mold Ripened
Ash coated - Style
- Soft-Ripened (Brie-like)
On the bluffs of the Missouri River Valley about 40 miles northwest of Kansas City, MO, Green Dirt Farm stands on steep rolling hills overlooking the countryside. The farm was founded in 2002 by Sarah Hoffmann with the goal to create sheep's milk cheeses in a sustainable, humane and economically-just way.
In recent years, Green Dirt Farm cheesemaking has grown to include milk from nearby small family sheep and cow dairy farms that promise to uphold rigorous standards of environmental responsibility and humane animal welfare. Green Dirt Farm and their partner dairies are proud to be certified as Animal Welfare Approved and environmentally responsible by the organization A Greener World.
Dirt Lover is a 100% sheep’s milk cheese inspired by the ash-coated cheeses of France. After it's coated with a layer of vegetable ash, Dirt Lover spends two weeks aging to develop a lovely bloomy rind. The cheese continues its lactic ripening in the wrapper during its entire shelf life of about 10 weeks. When Dirt Lover is young the paste is firm with a texture like Feta, and the flavors are fresh and citrusy. As ripening continues in the wrapper a flavorful, creamy ring of lactic ripening develops just under the rind and expands towards the center, slowly, over the shelf life of the cheese.
Tasting Notes
Flavors are earthy, buttery, and meaty, with a hint of a citrusy tang.
Pairings
Pair Dirt Lover with beer! Try IPAs, pale ales, and lambic styles. For wines, pair it with Sancerre, Sauternes, Prosecco or other sparkling wines, or Canadian ice wines.
