Aged Cheddar (Kerrygold)
- Country
- Ireland
- Region
- Various
- Size
- 7 in diameter x 4 in height
- Weight
- 5 lbs
- Website
- kerrygoldusa.com
- Milk
- Cow
- Treatment
- Pasteurised
- Classification
- Firm
- Rennet
- Microbial
- Rind
- None
Waxed - Style
- Cheddar-like
Rich and savory with notes of butterscotch, this aged Irish beauty is inspired by the cheddars made 13 centuries ago by Trappist monks. Made with pasteurized milk, it's covered in black wax to maintain softness during at least one year of aging.
Most of us associate the Kerrygold brand with the gold and silver foil-wrapped bars of butter that line U.S. supermarket shelves, but the company churns out plenty of aged cheeses, too. Its roots go back to 1961 when the Irish Dairy Board was established, grouping together some of the small dairy farmers of Ireland in order to promote and export their milk and milk products on the international market. A year later, in 1962, the Kerrygold brand of dairy products was launched in the UK, promoting mostly Irish butter. Over the years, Kerrygold expanded the export and range of its products, including traditional Irish cheeses.
Today, Kerrygold dairy products are sold around the world. While the market size is large for Kerrygold products, the farms that produce the milk are remarkably small, with a tiny average herd size. Most are also multi-generational family farms where the cows are pasture fed for 312 days out of the year, including the months of milk production.
Tasting Notes
This cheese has a rich, smooth texture and unlike many types of cheddar, Kerrygold Aged has no sharpness to it. Instead it has a rich, savory flavor with hints of salted butter and butterscotch sweetness.
Pairings
This cheddar is ideal for use in cooking; melt it into an omelet or place a wedge over a piece of apple pie. For drink pairings, try a dark Irish red ale or an Irish whiskey.
