News — cheese

A Quick Guide To Cheddar

• English Cheddar: English or English-style cheddars tend to be more complex with earthy and nutty flavors, versus just sharp. The traditional method of wrapping wheels in cloth and rubbing with lard or "bandaging" then aging in large round wheels is the truest form of cheddar. Neal's Yard Dairy based in London has helped preserve these classic artisan cheeses and helped producers of cheddar and other English territorial cheeses survive and flourish.  We work directly with Neal's Yard to select the very best cheeses seasonally.
• Waxed Cheddars: Many cheddars from areas like Wisconsin, Vermont and Ireland are made in large rectangle blocks and tend to be covered in wax. The wax allows the cheese to be aged for a longer period of time without drying out. Generally, these cheddars are sharper and are either yellow or white in color. They can be aged for as much as 10 years and along with the signature sharpness, they also develop tyrosine crystals for a crunch and a natural sweetness.

•  Quebec Extra Vintage is aged for 7 years! Made in the Canadian province that produces the most cheddars, it it sharp.
• Big Mckinley is an English-Style aged cheddar made in California. It skews more towards the nutty, grassy, crunchy side, almost like a gouda, with a hint of sharp acidity. It is aged for a minimum of 1 year.
• Cabot Clothbound is made in Vermont and is a beige color, typical to the state's style. It is crumbly and nutty, with some tang on the finish.
• Irish Cheddar is of course made from the milk of grazing cows in Ireland. It is the traditional wax block-style, sharp, but not as sharp as the Quebec above. Great for mac and cheese.
• Coming soon to the cheese case - the return of one of our favorites Pitchfork Cheddar and the brand new Cornell Clothbound Cheddar!

Celebrate A Local Charcuterie Maker

By now, you've heard of the Victory Cheese Boxes we are putting together. We have a new one that we are super excited about! This special box focuses on artisan charcuterie by Bill Miner of Il Porcellino Salumi, just up the road in the Berkeley neighborhood.  We've put together a Victory cheese box that includes 3 cheeses from some our favorite American artisan cheese producers, each perfectly paired with an Il Porcellino salami. Boxes are available for pickup at St. Kilian's and Il Porcellino in Denver. They can also be delivered locally or shipped nationwide. The box makes a great gift or it can set the scene for a special date night or celebration at home.

What's in a box? Here's an example: Saucisson Sec Salami - Il Porcellino, Denver CO - Traditional French Style Salami with Garlic, Black Pepper, and Carboy Malbec Wine Finback - Mystic Cheese Company, Groton CT - Savory and complex English style bandaged cheese Orange Pistachio Salami - Il Porcellino, Denver CO - Sicilian Style Salami seasoned with Garlic, Fresh Orange Zest, and Sicilian Pistachios Sofia - Capriole Goat Cheese, Greenville, IN - Loire valley inspired good food award winning ashed rind goat, delicate on the inside and flavorful on the edges Diablo Salami - Il Porcellino, Denver CO - A Calabrese Style Salami seasoned with Fennel Seeds and both Whole & Ground Calabrian Chiles. Cabrillo - Stepladder Ranch & Creamery, Cambia CA Redcamper Mostarda The Victory box is available now and can be ordered for shipping, pickup or delivery. We now a have a new and improved delivery service with scheduled deliveries 7 days a week and a larger area of coverage in Colorado. Our friends and neighbors, Il Porcellino Salumi, is located just north of our shop, in the Berkley neighborhood. They make some of the finest artisan charcuterie in the United States.  No longer a local secret after multiple awards including Good Food Awards and Grand Champion at Charcuterie Masters, their local deli has expanded to full wholesale production in Basalt, CO. We're proud to partner with Il Porcellino and stock the majority of their line in our shop, including retail salami's and a rotating collection on the deli slicer.  If you enjoy these products make sure to check out their deli off of Tennyson for some of the best sandwiches in the Denver area.

Support Cheesemakers with a Victory Cheese Box

Celebrate Mom with Something Sweet or Savory

Mother's Day is coming up! Have you made plans yet? Taking mom out for brunch this year is not going to happen, but you can pick up some delicious gifts or have them delivered to her door for true pampering.

If your lady prefers sweet and floral flavors, choose the gift bag complete with Colorado Bee Squared Rose Honey, a decadent white chocolate bar with roses and strawberries, and slice of the Alp Blossom cheese. This alpine cheese is pressed with edible blossoms for a beautiful appearance and tantalizing taste. More delicious than a bouquet of flowers! Check out the gift here.

For a more spicy and savory mom, choose the gift with two savory cheeses, Il Porcellino's Diablo Salami and Colorado-made pickled dilly beans with smoked paprika from The Good Jar. Place an order for pick-up, shipping or delivery here.

Adopt-An-Alp Cheeses are Here!

If you love alpine cheeses or food with a story behind it, this one is for you. We are excited to have Adopt-An-Alp cheeses in the shop now and more coming in December.

What is an Adpot-An-Alp cheese? The movement of people and animals in accordance with the seasons is a centuries old tradition and one that is great for nature and for making delicious cheeses. But spending summers far away from civilization and caring for animals in all seasons and terrains is hard work and a dwindling trade. Adopt-an-Alp unites Alp farmers in Switzerland, where this practice of transhumance has been going on for centuries, and American cheese mongers. We are so excited to be one of those cheese mongers! Through telling the story of each family, sharing photos and updates, we are able to follow our adopted family and herd in Switzerland and see all of the hard work that goes into making an alpine cheese. We are able to support these hardworking farms and then enjoy their spectacular cheese. It's a win-win.

Be on the lookout for these Adpot-An-Alp cow's, sheep's and goat's milk cheeses in the shop.

Our Favorite Cheese for a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

We are often asked in the shop what is our favorite cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich. While we like to switch it up every now and again,  our go-to cheese is hands down the Scharfe Maxx. It's the ultimate melting cheese.

Made in Switzerland, it's firm, yet super creamy with pop of its signature sharpness. (Scharfe Maxx means extra sharp.)

Grab some in the shop or online HERE.