FarmhouseCheeseBooklet PDF
FarmhouseCheeseBooklet PDF
FarmhouseCheeseBooklet PDF
Irish Farmhouse
Cheeses
www.bordbia.ie
Foreword
Irish farmhouse cheese plays a fundamental role in the
growth and development of Irelands artisan dairy sector.
From its beginnings over thirty years ago, the sector has
grown to encompass 47 producers and over 127 individual
cheese types. The sheer breadth of cheese produced
signifies the innovation and ingenuity this group of
entrepreneurs has to offer.
Research conducted by Bord Bia in 2010 identifies
opportunities for farmhouse cheese on the domestic
and export markets. Even in the toughest trading
environments, farmhouse cheese fulfils specific consumer
needs. Throughout our research programme for farmhouse
cheese, we have uncovered drivers of brand choice, market
segmentation, and consumer purchase processes. The
purpose of this guide is to give you information on the
cheeses and cheesemakers our artisan sector has to offer.
Incorporating these products into your product portfolio
will not only enhance your range; it will provide a basis from
which consumers will identify your retail or foodservice
credentials.
Our strategy to assist small businesses is delivered through
our Bord Bia Vantage platform. We encourage you to visit
our relaunched site, www.bordbiavantage.ie, to see whats
on offer and find out more about our other small food
business sectors.
Aidan Cotter
Chief Executive
Bord Bia
Table of Contents
Introduction
Page 5
Cheese Directory
Page 6
Page 97
Index
Page 101
Introduction
Irish farmhouse cheeses are the product of unique
interactions between people, place and pasture. Farmhouse
cheeses are produced across the country yet each cheese
is an expression of its own particular part of Ireland,
encapsulating very different elemental aspects of our native
landscape. Milleens offers a taste of the wild, salty winds of
the Atlantic; Coolea conjures soft rain on mountain slopes;
Cashel Blue is the expression of lush sweet grasses in hills
and valleys; whilst St Tola is redolent of wild herbs in rocky
limestone fields.
Yet Irish farmhouse cheese is not just about flavour, it is
also about people. In Ireland each artisan cheese is unique
to a particular cheesemaker. The transparency of this
connection between producer, cheese and place is the key
characteristic of Irish farmhouse cheese. By contrast, the
importance of regional cheese styles in Continental Europe
- coupled with an affineur system where the cheese seller
has an interest in hiding the identity of the cheese producer
from the ultimate consumer - means that such transparency
is rare in mainland Europe.
Pat Hyland, aka Paddy Jack, has been making cheese on his
farm at Cuffsboro, in County Laois since 1991. Farmer-turnedcheesemaker Pat started making cheese as a means of adding
value to excess milk. Trial and error, coupled with advice from the
Dairy Product Research Centre at Moorepark, eventually resulted
in Pat developing a number of different cheeses. At that time
Cambozola was the only blue brie-style cheese readily available
in Ireland. Pat reasoned that an Irish version would fare well with
consumers and launched Abbey Blue Brie on the market, alongside
a plain brie. His assumption was correct and both cheeses proved
to be a success. Pat subsequently added a smoked brie and a hard
cheese, Paddy Jack, to the range. All milk is now sourced from one
local herd of Fresians leaving Pat more time for cheesemaking and
selling at farmers' markets.
Abbey Smoked Brie has a smokey white rind and a soft pale yellow
paste. The cheese is smoked over ash for five hours. The paste is
smooth and creamy with a light smoky flavour that diminishes as
the cheese ages.
Pairings: Beaujolais
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Ardagh Castle
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Ardagh Castle
continued
Judys own preference is for wheels aged five to six months. The
flavour is mild and creamy, with an increasingly nutty finish as the
cheese ages.
Judy also makes Gjetost and Goats Ricotta from whey produced
as part of the cheesemaking process. Gjetost is an unusual, sweet,
fudge-y yet slightly savoury whey cheese traditionally served for
breakfast in Norway. It is made by prolonged boiling of whey from
hard cheese-making.
Judys goats ricotta is fresh, light and creamy. She adds no salt to
her ricotta, so it can be used as a sweet or savoury cheese. Both
of these cheeses are generally made-to-order, in season. If you
would like to order some contact Judy on 028 205 47, or e-mail
jwotton@eircom.net.
Judys production is extremely small, and supply is limited. Her
cheese is available at Skibbereen Farmers Market or direct from the
farm.
Ardrahan
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Ardrahan
continued
Ardrahan
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk all from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.4Kg round, 300g minis
Duhallow
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk all from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.4Kg round
Similar Style: Muenster
Rind: Anato coloured rind
Smoked Ardrahan
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk all from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
11
continued
13
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
The Keatings are now nearing their seventies and have stopped
producing their own milk. At its height they had built the herd
up to 27 cattle, with all the milk being used in cheese production.
Nowadays all their milk is supplied by a neighbour, Jim OLeary,
who Anne says produces 100% superb milk for cheesemaking.
Over the past 24 years they have built up a very successful
business for themselves, through sheer determination. As Anne
says, never let anyone tell you that you cant do something.
15
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
address:
telephone:
contact:
web:
Kate makes three organic cheddars. Her Beal Raw Milk Cheddar
is handmade on the farm and matured for a minimum of six
months. This well balanced, creamy and elegant classic farmhouse
cheddar won a silver medal at the World Cheese Awards 2009.
She also makes Beal Organic Cheddar from pasteurised milk.
This is handmade by Kate in an artisan cheesemaking facility and
recently won best new cheese at the Irish Farmhouse Cheese
awards. Kate has recently started to produce a mild, pasteurised
block cheddar from bought-in milk.
17
continued
Rennet: Traditional
Rennet: Traditional
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
19
continued
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 3-4kg
Format: 170g
21
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
23
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Pairings: Cider
Pairings: In omelettes
Carlow Cheese
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
Carlow Cheese
25
Carlow Cheese
continued
Carrigaline
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 4.5kg
Similar Style: Flavoured edams and young flavoured
goudas
Rind: Clear wax
Paste: Smooth yellow paste flecked with the particular
flavouring
Flavour: Flavoured with basil and dried tomatoes, black
pepper, cumin, chilli, garlic and herb, nettle and onion
Age: 3 months plus
Season: Available all year
Pat finished the course with nine different cheese recipes, and
whittled this down to three. He then brought samples of all three
to the local Supervalu for a tasting. The public reacted far more
favourably to one of the cheeses, and this survivor went on to
become the basis for Carrigaline cheese. Over the next year or so
Anne and Pat tweaked the recipe continuously and by the end
of 1986 had a cheese which they were happy to sell. Carrigaline
Plain cheese went to market the following year and they have
never looked back.
In 2000 Pat took the decision to get out of milk production. Time
demands and a lack of profitability in milk production forced his
hand. The OFarrells now buy in their milk from their neighbour,
to whom Pat transferred his quota in 2000. The milk still comes
from pedigree Friesians grazing on limestone and the OFarrells
can take life a little easier.
27
Carrigaline
Carrigbyrne Cheese
continued
Carrigaline
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.8kg rounds, 400g mini, 200g mini, 150g
mini vac packed sections
Similar Style: Havarti
Rind: Yellow wax
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Rennet: Vegetarian
Pairings: Zinfandel
St Killian
29
Carrigbyrne Cheese
Carrowholly
continued
St Brendan
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
Carrowholly Cheese
31
Carrowholly
continued
Rind: n/a
33
Clonmore Cheese
Clonmore Cheese
Clonmore
Shandrum
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
continued
35
Coolattin Cheddar
Coolea Cheese
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Coolattin Cheddar
Milk: Raw cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 15 - 20kg wheels, 2kg sections
Similar Style: Beal, Mount Callan, English Farmhouse
Cheddar
Rind: Red waxed
Nowadays Dicky Jnr has taken over, but Coolea is still made
using that same recipe. Over the years the demands of dairying
and cheesemaking proved too much and Dicky Jnr now buys in
milk from two local herds of Holsteins and Friesians. Dicky only
uses milk from grass-fed cattle as milk from silage can taint the
cheese as it ages. Similarly only traditional rennet is used as it
makes far more age-worthy cheeses.
Dickys own preference is for wheels of 14-18 months. At this
age the cheeses have developed complex secondary flavours, yet
maintain sufficient moisture to keep them lively and refreshing.
The quality of Coolea is testament to Dickys attention to detail,
and the quality of milk produced in Ireland. The cheese is made
using a standard gouda recipe, yet the result is better than most
dutch gouda. The secret is simple. Dicky ensures that the high
quality of the milk is not lost in production. The result is high
quality cheese.
37
Coolea Cheese
continued
Coolea Cheese
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk
Cooleeney
Farmhouse Cheese
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 9kg
Similar Style: Gouda Style
Rind: Yellow / orange wax
Paste: Firm, closed texture, with smooth paste. The
paste becomes slightly deeper in colour and drier as the
cheese ages. In cheeses matured 18 months plus, some
protein crystals can be seen
Flavour: Young cheeses are mild and buttery. By 12
months, the cheese tastes sweeter, with caramel notes.
By 18 months, wheels have a deep, intense flavour with
toffee notes and some protein crystals present
Age: Young Coolea available from 3 months, mature
Coolea from 12 months, extra mature from 18 months
Pairings: Alsace Pinot Gris (off-dry)
Season: Available all year depending on stock
39
Cooleeney
Farmhouse Cheese
continued
Dunbarra
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.7kg, 180g minis
Similar Style: Camembert
Cooleeney
Farmhouse Cheese
Rind: White mould rind
Paste: Semi-soft, with a mild flavour
Flavour: Creamy, and buttery, also available with black
pepper and garlic
Age: 2 weeks plus, depending on clients specifications
Pairings: Sparkling wines: Beajolais
Season: Available all year
continued
Maighean
Milk: Raw cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Gortnamona
Daru
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.7kg, 350g
Similar Style: Tomme Crayeuse
Rind: Natural rind, grey and dusty appearance
Paste: Semi-hard, yellow paste with small air holes. Discernable
chalkiness towards the centre of the paste. Fully ripened cheeses will
be broken down all the way through
Chulchoill
Flavour: Mild and buttery, with notes of earth and cellar coming
through from the rind
Rennet: Vegetarian
41
Cooleeney
Farmhouse Cheese
Corleggy Cheese
continued
Tipperary Brie
Gleann Oir
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
43
Corleggy Cheese
Cratloe Hills
continued
Creeny
Milk: Raw Ewes Milk
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 2.5kg round, 400g round
Similar Style: Pecorino
Rind: Natural Rind
Paste: Hard rind
Drumlin
Milk: Raw cows milk
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1kg round, 500g round
Rind: Natural rind (Brine washed)
Paste: Hard, with pale yellow colour and smooth paste,
becomes very hard and piquant with extended aging
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
Cratloe Hills
Milk: Pasteurised sheeps milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 2.5kg wheels, large range of rounds and
sections from 125g to 450g, available in mild and
mature
Similar Style: Pecorino Toscano
Rind: Light wax was added to natural rind
Paste: Semi-firm texture, with very pale yellow paste.
Small air holes throughout, more mature cheeses have
a harder, more granular texture
Flavour: Mild, sweet and appley when young,
developing more nuttiness and caramel notes as the
cheese ages
Age: Aged from one month to 14 months, mature is 14
months
Pairings: Sangiovese, Jurancon Sec
Season: Available all year depending on stock
45
Castlegregory, Co Kerry
066 713 90 28
majabinder@hotmail.com
Maja Binder
continued
Dilliskus
Milk: Raw cows milk
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1kg round, 2.5kg - 3kg rounds
Kilcummin
Milk: Raw cows milk
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 800g round, 2.5kg - 3kg wheels
Similar Style: Tomme
Rind: Natural rind, mottled, dark grey and brown
appearance
Paste: Hard paste, with smooth texture
Flavour: Mild and milky when young, developing a
yeasty bite as the cheese ages
Age: 3 to 6 months
Pairings: Beer
Season: Available all year round depending on stock
47
Durrus Cheese
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
Jeffa Gill has been making Durrus Cheese on her hillside farm
in Coomkeen, West Cork since 1979. Like many of the early
artisanal cheesemakers she saw cheese making as a means of
adding value to the milk produced from her herd of eight cows.
Quickly she discovered that the washed-rind style of cheese
was particularly suited to the moist saline air of West Cork. The
Durrus, which continues to be made with raw, unpasteurised
milk, has established itself as one of those artisan products which
truly reflect the environment in which they are made.
Durrus Cheese has won over a dozen prestigious awards both at
home and internationally, and is one of the select cheeses that
Slow Food recognises within its Irish Raw Milk Cheese Presidium.
Cheese production outgrew the farms milk production and
in 1989 Jeffa decided to sell the herd and concentrate fully
on the cheese production. The milk for Durrus Cheese is now
sourced from the single local herd of the Buckley family farm
in nearby Colomane. This arrangement ensures that the milk
used is specially selected on the farm and is of the high quality
demanded by raw milk cheese production for both summer and
winter cheese.
Durrus is a semi-soft, rind washed cheese made with raw cows
milk and traditional rennet. It has a mottled pink-orange rind
and a semi - firm creamy paste with an aroma of hay and wet
soil coming from the rind. The flavour is long, round and earthy.
It is a flavour which is uniquely and unmistakably Durrus. Jeffa
describes as a deep complex flavour capturing the elemental
nature of this part of Ireland. When mature, the rind can attract
blue-grey moulds which do not impair the flavour and can be
washed or wiped off the surface.
Your Guide to Irish Farmhouse Cheeses
Durrus Cheese
Milk: Raw cows milk
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 1.4Kg round, 360g minis, 250g gs
Similar Style: Gubbeen, Tomme Fermier
Rind: Washed, rind powdery orange colour, with white,
pink and beige depending on condition
Paste: Semi-soft, with small air holes through the
cream-coloured paste
Flavour: Buttery, floral and mildly lactic when
young, fuller flavour with notes of hay, moss and dry
undergrowth when mature
Age: Large wheels 5-8 weeks plus, mini 3 weeks plus,
Durrus gs 2 weeks plus
continued
Hibernia
St Gall
Rennet: Traditional
Rennet: Traditional
continued
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 3-2.5kg loaf
Rind: Natural rind (smear ripened), orange with white
Paste: Semi-firm paste with small, irregular shaped
holes through the paste
Cais Rua
Milk: Raw cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Traditional
Pairings: Gewuerztraminer
Cais Dubh
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 5 kg wheels
Rind: Black waxed
Paste: Hard cheese with smooth paste
Flavour: Buttery with a mild tang, also available
flavoured with Fenugreek seeds
51
continued
continued
Ballyhooly Blue
Emerald
Corkotta
Rennet: Traditional
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 500g
Flavour: Mild
Age: Fresh
Pairings: Riesling
53
Gleann Gabhra
Glebe Brethan
address:
telephone:
contact:
web:
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Dominic Gryson has been farming in County Meath all his life.
He grew up on a mixed farm and, in his own right, specialised
in cereals and potatoes. However, Dominic felt that he was
very removed from the people who bought his products and
this, coupled with an increased awareness of the health issues
surrounding dairy products, led him to dairy goat farming.
In recent years Dominic has built a specialist goat unit with
adjoining parlour and dairy complex, both built to the highest
specification. He has also developed a mixed herd of Sanaans,
Anglo-Nubians and British Alpines from some of the best bred
goats in the country. He sources his feed from a combination
of a ration designed specifically for the goats and produced by
Mc Auleys Grassmeal Producers, Balrath, who are members
of the Irish Grain Assurance scheme and forage produced on
specifically sown pasture swards. This ensures the goats produce
milk of the highest possible quality.
In 2009 Dominic began producing a luxurious goats milk ice
cream in a variety of flavours. This was followed by pasteurised
goats milk and in April 2010, he began to use the milk to
produce Tara Bn, a mild block cheddar. Tara Bn is made using
pasteurised goats milk from his own herd and vegetarian rennet.
Tara Bn is smooth with a firm, brilliant white texture. The flavour
is mild, milky and clean, with a lovely fruitiness and no goat taint
in the finish. It is an extremely versatile cheddar which grates,
slices or can be used in cooking and is equally at home on the
cheeseboard or in a sandwich. Tara Bn won gold medal in the
British Cheese Awards in Cardiff 2010.
Tara Ban
Milk: Goats milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 15kg blocks or part there of
Similar Style: Goats cheddar
Rind: Vac-aged no rind
Paste: Brilliant white paste
Flavour: Mild, milky and slightly fruity. A more dry and
pronounced flavour with age. Clean finish
Age: 3 months for regular. 6-7 months for more mature
Pairings: Sauvignon Blanc
Season: Available all year. Stock depending
Glebe Brethan
Milk: Raw cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 40 - 45kg wheels
Similar Style: Beaufort, Comt, Gruyre
Rind: Natural, honey coloured to greyish beige
Paste: Hard, ivory paste, very occasional fissures and
air holes, but generally smooth, pale yellow in colour,
crystallisation in older cheeses, earthy aroma from rind
Flavour: Mellow, fruity and creamy when young, fuller
more nutty flavours develop as the cheese ages
Age: Sold at 12 months minimum, extra mature wheels
18 months plus
Pairings: Oaked Chardonnay, Vin Jaune de Jura
Season: Availability all year
55
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Mansfieldstown, Castlebellingham,
Co. Louth.
042 9372343 / 087 2778538
glydefarm@eircom.net
Peter Thomas
Bellingham Blue
Gubbeen
Milk: Pasteurised Cows Milk from own herd
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 1.5kg rounds, 400g minis
Similar Style: Durrus, Tomme Fermier, Reblochon
Rind: Washed rind, faded orange/ pinkish/ beige rind,
with powdery white bloom
Paste: Semi-soft, with small air holes through the
paste body
Flavour: Butter, hazelnut, meadow flowers when
young, notes of earth, mushroom and hay develop as
the cheese matures
Age: Large wheels 4-10 weeks plus, minis from 3
weeks plus
Pairings: Aromatic whites: beer
Season: Available all year
57
continued
Hegartys Cheddar
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
Whitechurch Foods,
Church Road, White Church, Co. Cork
021 488 42 38
whitechurchfoods@eircom.net
Dan and John Hegarty
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 1.5kg rounds, 400g minis, 4kg extra mature
Similar Style: Smoked Knockanore, Smoked Edam
Rind: Waxed black
Paste: Semi-hard with yellow body
Flavour: Mild and buttery with a light smoky note, (oak
and beech wood used). 5-12 months for extra mature
Age: 5 weeks to 5 months, small 5 weeks-12 weeks
extra mature 5 months to 1 year+
Pairing: Cider; Syrah
Season: Available all year
Dan and John Hegarty first hit upon the idea of making cheese
on the family farm near Whitechurch, North Cork in 2000.
Both brothers wanted to stay on and farm the land but the
farm income wasnt enough to support two families. They
decided to add value to their milk by producing traditional
farmhouse cheddar. There had once been a cheese factory near
Whitechurch, and the brothers were quick to take advantage of
the cheesemaking knowledge which remained in the area. After
much experimentation, and a degree of trial and error, the first
wheels of Hegartys cheddar came on the market in 2002. Initially
Dan and John also experimented with yoghurts and smoothies,
but in recent years have concentrated exclusively on their cheddar.
The Hegartys have a herd of 250 cattle, of which 90 are milk
cows. From this they produce around 8 tonnes of cheese a year.
All their cheddar is matured a minimum of 12 months, with some
mature wheels being held for 15 months plus before release. The
brothers use traditional cloth binding on their cheddars, which
they remove before the cheese is sent out. Dan and John have
tweaked and experimented a lot with their cheddar over the
years but have recently settled on a recipe which yields more
consistent results. The extended aging period for cheddar means
that it takes a long time to gauge the exact effect of any variation
in cheesemaking or affinage on the cheese, but Hegartys is now
a cheese going from strength to strength.
Hegartys Cheddar
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 20 kg wheels, 1/2, 1/4 wheels and sections also
available
Similar Style: Beal, Coolattin, Mount Callan, English
Farmhouse Cheddars
Rind: Mottled brown, tree-bark appearance, Cloth rind
removed before dispatch
Paste: Firm with closed texture, pale yellow paste.
Flavour: Smooth and creamy with a cheddary tang in
the finish
Age: 12 months minimum to 15 months plus
Pairings: Cider
Season: Available all year
59
J&L Grubb
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
J&L Grubb
continued
Crozier Blue
Milk: Pasteurised sheeps milk
Rennet: Vegetarian rennet, small amount of traditional
rennet occasionally available
Cashel Blue
61
JOD Foods
JOD Foods
address:
telephone:
contact:
email:
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
continued
The Old Irish Creamery cheese range has won many awards
for excellence of quality at World Cheese Award Shows and at
European, United Kingdom (Nantwich) and Irish Cheese Awards,
thus endorsing the outstanding cheese products emanating
from the County Limerick manufacturing facility.
63
JOD Foods
JOD Foods
continued
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 250g, 1.25kg, 2.5kg, wheels
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
65
continued
Format: 4.5kg
67
Killorglin Cheese
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
Killorglin Cheese
continued
Rennet: Traditional
Rennet: Traditional
69
Knockalara
Farmhouse Cheese
address:
telephone:
contact:
Knockalara
Farmhouse Cheese
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.5kg
71
Knockalara
Farmhouse Cheese
Knockanore
Farmhouse Cheese
continued
Dromana Flavoured
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.5kg
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Knockanore Plain
Milk: Raw cows milk form own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 2.5/3kg wheels, 1/2 wheels, 150g sections
Similar Style: Cheddar style cheese
Rind: No rind, aged under vacuum
Paste: Semi-firm pale yellow or orange paste, closed texture
Flavour: Mild and creamy with a subtle cheddar acidity in
finish
Age: 6 months minimum to 2 years
Pairings: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cider, Port
Season: Available all year
73
Knockanore
Farmhouse Cheese
Knockatee Cheese
continued
Knockanore Flavoured
Knockanore Smoked
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
Knockatee Cheddar
Milk: Raw cows milk
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 10kg truckles. Smaller sections available
Similar Style: Beal Raw Milk Cheddar; Baylough;
Coolattin; Mount Callan
Rind: Natural, cloth bound rind
Paste: Slightly open texture, pale butter colour
Flavour: Complex, nutty and smooth with a cheddary bite in
the finish
Age: Aged 10 months plus
Pairings: Red Bordeaux blends, Cider
Season: Very small production, limited stock available
75
Knockatee Cheese
Knockatee Cheese
continued
Knockatee Gouda
Kerry Blue
Beara Blue
Rennet: Traditional
Rennet: Traditional
Rennet: Traditional
Rind: Natural
continued
77
Knockdrinna
Farmhouse Cheese
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Knockdrinna
Farmhouse Cheese
continued
Lavistown
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 3.5kg
Rennet: Vegetarian
Pairings: Cider
Format: 1kg
Knockdrinna Snow
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 180g
79
Knockdrinna
Farmhouse Cheese
Milleens
continued
Knockdrinna Gold
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 3.5kg
Similar Style: Tomme dAydius, Goat Gouda
Rind: Natural rind, light beige
Paste: Semi firm, white in colour, paste is freckled with
small air holes
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Milleens
81
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Millhouse
Milk: Raw sheeps milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 2.5kg
Mary and Gerry Kelly took the decision to convert their family
farm to organics in 2000. The Kellys also use biodynamic methods
on the farm. This is a system of agriculture which uses points
of the lunar calendar to determine which different jobs on the
farm should be performed. Their dairy herd consists of Friesians,
Ayreshires, and Friesian-Ayreshire crosses. They also keep some
rare breed cattle, the rarest of all being an Irish Moiled cow and
calf, respectively called Moon Shine Solas and Rua Bawn.
The Kellys have been making fresh cheese and yoghurt at Moon
Shine Farm at Lough Ennell, near Mullingar in Co Westmeath
since 2006. They soon realised that they needed a hard cheese
to compliment their range. Mindful of the amount of time and
effort required to develop a cheese from scratch, they contacted
dutch-trained cheese maker Marion Roeleveld. Marion was
delighted to work with them and soon developed an emmentalstyle cheese. All the milk used in production comes from the
Kellys own dairy herd and is certified organic.
Moonshine Farmhouse Cheese is a semi-firm emmentalstyle cheese made from pasteurised organic cows milk and
vegetarian rennet. The natural rind is a pale beige colour, and the
non-rubbery paste is punctuated by irregular holes. The nose is
dominated by propionic notes typical of emmental-style cheeses.
The palate offers a good balance of sweet, fruity flavours and
bassy emmental notes.
The Kellys also produce yogurt drinks, yogurt and pasteurised
unhomogenised milk with cream on top. Their product range
has received many acclaimed awards including the Overall
83
Mossfield
continued
Mossfield Flavoured
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 5kg
Similar Style: Gouda
Mossfield
85
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
87
continued
89
continued
Rennet: Vegetarian
Rennet: Vegetarian
St Tola
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
The history of Inagh Goats farm dates back to 1978 when Meg
and Derrick Gordan began keeping goats and making cheese
to earn a living from their 25 acre holding at Inagh in North
West Clare. Meg was familiar with cheese making from her time
in Normandy, and former tea plantation owner Derrick was no
stranger to hard work.
St Tola Log
St Tola is a fresh goats cheese made using raw organic milk and
animal rennet. It is available in fresh and more mature versions,
in both log and crottin formats. Young cheeses are brilliant white
throughout, with a mild, lactic, creamy flavour. More mature
St Tola has a yellowish beige rind, depending on age, and an
intriguing citrus/ herbal element.
91
St Tola
Triskel Cheese
continued
St Tola Divine
Milk: Organic raw goats milk from own herd and one
other source
Rennet: Animal
Rennet: Animal
Rind: No rind
address:
tel:
email:
contact:
Triskel Gwenned
Milk: Raw cows milk
Rennet: Traditional
Format: 200g, 1.2kg
Similar Style: Washed-rind cows milk dried (larger
wheel contains a line of ash, similar to Morbier cheese)
Rind: Brownish rind with smooth yellow paste
Paste: Semi-firm, smooth paste
Flavour: Mild, sweet flavour taking on a farmyard tinge
with age
Age: 1 month for the younger cheese
6 to 10 weeks for the larger wheels
Season: Available seasonally
93
Triskel Cheese
continued
Triskel Pyramid
Rennet: Animal
Rennet: Animal
Format: 100g
Format: 120g
Age: up to 3 weeks
address:
telephone:
email:
contact:
web:
Wicklow Blue
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 1.2kg, 150g
Similar Style: Bleu de Bresse; Cambozola
Rind: White mould rind
Paste: Soft, pale yellow paste interspersed with blue
mould
Flavour: Creamy, buttery and mild, with little aggressive
blue flavour, the mould rind adds a very mildly white
mushroom note
Age: Available from 3 weeks, to 8 weeks
Pairings: Ctes du Rhne
Season: Available all year
95
continued
(Brick)
Wicklow Gold
Milk: Pasteurised cows milk from own herd
Rennet: Vegetarian
Format: 3kg, 200g
Similar Style: Knockanore; Beal Organic
97
99
Index
is merely a matter of finding the right form of vegtetarian
rennet for the cheese.
Rennin: The main digestive enzyme involved in the
coagulation of the milk.
Rind: The exterior of the cheese. The rind of shortaging externally-ripened cheeses are generally edible,
albeit that they are the strongest part of the cheese. The
interaction between the flavour of the paste and the rind
in such cheeses is often key to a proper understanding
the cheeses flavour. In longer-aging cheeses the rind
serves to protect the paste of the cheese over a prolonged
period and is best not eaten.
Starter Culture: A bacterial culture added to the milk at
the beginning of the cheesemaking process. The starter
culture serves two functions. Firstly the starter ferments
lactose to lactic acid, producing a low pH environment
conducive to the operation of rennet. Secondly starters
are important to the long term development of the
cheese as it ages, acting as ripening agents in harder
cheeses. The choice of starter culture makes an important
contribution to the flavour of the final cheese.
Sweetness: often indicative of curd washing (see above)
as milk sugars have been maintained, and/ or the use of a
starter culture based on lactobacillus helviticus.
Surface-ripened Cheeses: see externally ripened
cheeses.
6
6
7
8
9
9
9
10, 11
12
13
13
13
24
52
24
15
15
16
16
14
18
17
18
77
56
19
19
20
20
20
21
23
22
23
23
51
51
25
26
27, 28
28
28
29
31
32
60
41
33
34, 35
36
37, 38
39, 40
53
43
44
45
44
61
41
47
46
72
44
11
101
Dunbarra
Durrus Cheese
Emerald
Emerald Irish Brie
Fermoy Natural Cheese
Gleann Gabhra
Gleann Oir
Glebe Brethan
Glyde Farm Produce
Gortnamona
Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese
Hegartys Cheddar
Hibernia
J&L Grubb
JOD Foods
Kerry Blue
Kilcummin
Killeen Cows Cheese
Killeen Farmhouse Cheese
Killeen Goats Cheese
Killorglin Cheese
Knockatee Cheese
Knockalara Farmhouse Cheese
Knockalara Semi-Hard Sheeps Cheese
Knockalara Sheeps Cheese
Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese
Knockanore Flavoured
Knockanore Plain
Knockanore Smoked
Knockatee Cheddar
Knockatee Gouda
Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese
Knockdrinna Fresh Goats Log
Knockdrinna Goats Brined Cheese
40
48
53
30
49
54
42
55
56
40
57
59
50
60
62
76
46
67
66
66
68
75
70
72
71
73
74
73
74
75
76
78
80
79
Knockdrinna Gold
Knockdrinna Meadow Sheeps Cheese
Knockdrinna Snow
Lavistown
Maighean
Milleens
Millhouse Sheeps Cheese
Moonshine Farm Cheese
Moonshine Organic Cheese
Mossfield
Mossfield Flavoured
Mossfield Organic Farm
Mount Callan Cheddar
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Blueberries
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Chilli
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Chives
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Cranberries
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Herb & Garlic
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Irish Porter
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Red Wine
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Walnuts
Old Irish Creamery Cheddar with Whiskey
Old Irish Creamery Extra Mature White Cheddar
Old Irish Creamery Smoked Cheddar
Old MacDonnells Farm Cheese
Old MacDonnells Fresh Cows Cheese
Old MacDonnells Fresh Goats Cheese
Orchard Cottage Dairy
Orchard Cottage Fresh Goats Cheese
Orchard Cottage Goats Cheese in Oil
Paddy Jack Cheese
Shandrum
Smoked Ardrahan
Smoked Gubbeen
80
80
79
79
41
81
82
83
83
84
85
84
86
63
63
64
63
64
65
63
65
64
62
64
87
87
88
89
90
90
7
35
11
58
St Brendan
St Brendan Brie Mini
St Brigid
St Brigid Beag
St Gall
St Kevin Brie
St Killian
St Tola
St Tola Divine
St Tola Hard Goats
St Tola Log
Tara Ban
Tipperary Brie
Triskel Cheese
Triskel Dew Drop
Triskel Gwenned
Triskel Pyramid
Waterford Greek Cheese
Wicklow Baun
Wicklow Blue
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese
Wicklow Gold
Wilmas Killorglin Cheese
Wilmas Killorglin Flavoured Cheese
30
30
51
52
50
96
29
91
92
92
91
54
42
93
94
93
94
71
96
95
95
96
69
69
103
Bord Bia
Clanwilliam Court
Lower Mount Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 6685155
Email: info@bordbia.ie
Web: www.bordbia.ie