Cheese of the Week: Beemster XO Aged Gouda

Aged Gouda lovers, you're not gonna wanna miss this one!

Photo by Beemster via Facebook. Beemster Logo by Beemster via their website.

Nothing like a toasty, crunchy Dutch Gouda to comfort you during the cold autumn and winter months. Beemster XO is just that, an exceptional, nuanced Gouda from Holland that is aged for 26 months. It is made from pasteurized cow's milk.

Image by Beemster Cheese via their website (https://beemstercheese.us/products/x-o#).

Beemster XO (Extra Old)'s crumbly, brittle interior has a golden ochre color and crunchy, mouthwatering crystals with a surprisingly creamy, fudgy mouthfeel. You'll taste long-lasting flavors of butterscotch, whiskey, pecan and caramel. Beemster XO is aged for just over two years on wooden planks in historic stone warehouses located in northern Holland. Sweet and nutty, crumbly yet creamy, Beemster XO has everything that aged Gouda lovers crave!

Beemster is a farmer-owned cooperative that was founded in 1901. The nutrient-dense pasture on which Beemster's herd feeds was created from a coastal lagoon in the 17th century. Because of the land's slate-blue clay soil, the grass that grows is more fertile and rich in minerals and nutrients than other grass. The consumption of this grass allows the herd to produce some of the highest quality milk in the world and therefore the richest, tastiest cheese. This creamy, sweet milk along with traditional techniques come together to make Beemster's award-winning Dutch cheeses.

Fun fact: The brine that Beemster uses to salt their cheeses today can be traced all the way back to the mother brine that was created when they opened in 1901! Beemster cheesemakers always stir the curds by hand and adhere to traditional Dutch cheese-making technique.

Rich, robust Beemster XO is best with stout beers, sweeter whites, or full-bodied reds. Stick to this cheese's Dutch roots by enjoying it with dark breads like pumpernickel or rye. Honey and honey-roasted nuts are natural pairings for the sweet, caramel and butterscotch notes of Beemster XO. These Beemster XO Fudgy Coffee Brownies are sure to warm you up this winter... or simply cube XO up as a snack all on its own 😉