Hidden Falls Cheese | culture: the word on cheese
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Hidden Falls

Producer
Shepherd's Way Farms
Country
United States
Region
Minnesota
Size
8 ins diameter, 2 ins high
Weight
2.5-3 lbs
Website
www.shepherdswayfarms.com
Milk
Sheep
Cow
Classification
Soft
Rennet
Vegetable
Rind
Mold Ripened
Hidden Falls Cheese

Located in south eastern Minnesota, Shepherd's Way Farms is owned by Steven Read & Judi Ohlsen. Together with their four sons, Steven and Judy have worked tirelessly to develop the farm as a sheep dairy and cheesemaking operation, producing their first cheese, Friesago, in 1998.

Other cheeses have also followed: Queso Fresco de Oveja, and Big Woods Blue, together with Hidden Falls, Harmand, and a traditional Ricotta that are available on a limited basis.

The sheep at Shepherd's Way are almost entirely Friesian crosses and are rotationally grazed on home pasture.

Against this backdrop, in January of 2005 the Read family suffered a devastating tragedy when a large-scale fire destroyed two barns containing two thirds of their 550 milking ewe flock, and their entire crop of 200 new lambs.

Rather than giving up, the Reads decided to try and rebuild their lives and their business, which they are now doing with the help of friends and supporters. They are utterly committed to the project and are now in a position where they are able to produce their cheeses once more.

In 2007, Jodi was able to re-commence cheesemaking and they are starting to sell more cheese as it becomes available.

Made with a blend of sheep's & organic cow's milk, Hidden Falls is produced in the style of a brie with a white, bloomy rind.

The texture is soft-semi soft with an interior paste of a straw yellow color.

Flavors are of butter, cream and mushrooms with an earthy, clean finish.

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