- Texture: Firm, very crumbly
- Color: Golden yellow with salt deposits on outer surface
- Aged: 15 years
- Hardness: Hard cheese
- Origin: Wisconsin
- Milk Type: Cow
- Wine Pairings: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet/Merlot(Bordeaux), Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Roija, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah(Shiraz), Tempranillo
History of the First Batch of 15 Year Old Hook's Cheddar
Hook's 15 year old cheddar started from a 5,200 pound batch. The batch was aged and most was sold off at the 10 year and 12 year old marks. Because it was aging so well, they saved 1,200 pounds and continued to age it until it was 15 years old. Aging a cheese 15 years takes a special kind of skill and the secret is starting with the perfect sample. If a sample of cheddar is turning bitter within six months to a year, it would only get worse with time.
Hook's Cheese Company from Mineral Point, Wisconsin has the experience and expertise to get it right. Their 15 year old cheddar is smooth, not bitter, and has no off flavor. It doesn't have an acidic bite like a three-year. It's very flavorful and has a lot more cheddar flavor.
About the Milk Used by Hook's Cheese Company
We buy milk from local farms around Mineral Point. They are all small family owned and operated-25 cows to 60 cow herds.A few of the farms have been in their family's for over 100 years. All of our farms are on at least their 3rd generation of farmers and some as many as 7 and 8 generations of dairy farming. We have been dealing with these same farmers for over 34 years and they know what we want for high quality milk and we pay them more than most other dairy farmers get from their milk buyers to try to keep them in business. All of our farmers sign a statement that they will not use bovine growth hormone, or rBst. They all are very conscientious about there land and there animals and the animals graze on pastures late spring, summer, and fall. Naturally they cannot graze in Wisconsin in the winter, but are fed feed that these farmers raise themselves with minimal spraying or chemicals.
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