Beaufort Cheese - Alpine Summer - 2.5 pounds

Beaufort Cheese - Alpine Summer

1/32 of a wheel - Smaller wheel this time - 1.6-1.9 pounds

Beaufort, France

Expected to ship in early December

This is a special wheel - Alpine (d'Alpage) Beaufort is rarely available and must usually be reserved at least a year in advance. And they are rarely this age. So, order this Alpine Beaufort cheese soon.

Made in mountain chalets (aka huts) in the French Alps, Beaufort d'Alpage is from the milk of Tarantaise cattle, who graze at the French Alps while grazing freely, choosing to eat what they want of the grasses and flowers of the high pasture.

These Tarentaise cattle (a domesticated cow that adapted to high altitude hiking in steep and treacherous terrain and have not co-mingled with other cows) are from the Haute-Savoie and are known to produce some of the best milk on the planet for making cheese.

Beaufort d'Alpage is made in wheels that first remind you of Parmigiano-Reggiano and can often weigh over 100 pounds.

This Beaufort d'Alpage is made by Brand Cooparative Laitire de Haute Tarentaise, a cooperative located in Bourg St Maurice in close proximity to the famous French Alps Ski Resorts.

It is these ski slopes in the winter that turn into the alpine meadows full of roughage in the spring, summer, and early fall.

This semi-hard, cows milk cheese goes through a creation process of curdling, scaling, brewing, molding, pressing, and handwork of salt rubbing in the morning and massaging in the afternoon. This process lasts up to two months.

Then the Alpine Beaufort cheese is smear-ripened to create its distinctive flavor and pale yellow rind. Aged over 14 months, which brings a more mature flavor of nuttiness, floral, beef broth notes, with herbal and a hint of hay.

This AOC Beaufort d'Alpage is the best of the best, as summer alpine is the most cherished of all the Beaufort. It melts easily and is known for making the best fondue or a grilled cheese sandwich. Or you can cube it up, poke it with a toothpick, and enjoy it with some fruity wine!

SPECIAL ORDERING DETAILS and STORAGE INFO

If ordering other items, please place a separate order or your entire order may be delayed

Sizing and Additional Pricing Information:

Each piece of AOC cheese weighs approximately 2.5 lbs, but sizes may vary. We may adjust your price based on the actual size of your piece.

Order Cancellation Policy:

This is a fresh item that we have to special-order in advance. Therefore, we will charge a 22% restocking fee on any order canceled.

Shipping Details:

Shipping is included in the price. If you order other items at the same time, we may ship those separately via your preferred shipping method at our regular shipping charge. (Note: Local customers who choose to pick their AOC cheese up in the store will only be charged for the cheese. Please let us know that is what you are planning to do.)

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS:

Alpine Beaufort cheese will last for 3-4 weeks when properly stored.

Keep cheese tightly wrapped in a zip-close plastic bag with all the air squeezed out.

Only grate or slice the cheese as you use it. Re-wrap remaining cheese tightly with wax paper, and return it to the zip-close bag. Then store the cheese in the warmest part of the refrigerator.

Like all cheeses, as soon as it is cut, Alpine Beaufort cheese begins to lose some of its flavor and dry out.

We cut this AOC cheese the day before it is shipped to you!