secret life of cheese

Secret Life of Cheese: Humboldt Fog Aging Process

	Young	Ripe	Mature
Cypress Grove’s  Humboldt Fog Soft-Ripened Goat Cheese
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Flavor	Flavors are creamy, clean with pleasing acidic mouthfeel and a crisp citrus finish.	Flavor is tangier; floral and herbal overtones beginning to appear.	Rind begins to influence flavor adding a tart tone to accompany new, more pronounced herbaceous and earthy notes.
Aroma	Aromas of buttermilk and fresh cream.	Aroma now includes a floral note to accompany a more pronounced buttermilk smell.	Aroma now includes a floral note to accompany a more pronounced buttermilk smell.
Appearance	Slight proteolysis development—less than 1/4 inch.	Proteolysis is thickening to about 1/2 inch and rind is darkening with some yellowing.	Rind can be marbled and grey. Proteolysis is highly developed and up to 1" wide.
Pairings
Wine	Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, un-oaked Chardonnay	Zinfandel, Albarino, Viognier, Vouvray	Demi-sec sparkling wine, Pinot Noir.
Beer	Light Wheat Beer	Pale Ale	India Pale Ale (IPA)
Food	Handcrafted dried meats, fresh pear, dried fig, pistachios, jamon	Serrano or Prosciutto,        Currants, Granny Smith apples, marcona almonds, fresh pear	Dates, fig jam, mango chutney, dry cherries, Kalamata olives.
Put it all together	Baguette, thin cracker	Crostini, slice of D’Anjou pear, Nut/fruit cracker	Slice of Fuji apple, seeded baguette.
Sure to please	Serve with Jamon Serrano on a plain baguette with a light wheat beer.	Serve with salami, marcona almonds on crostini with Zinfandel	Serve as a dessert with fig jam, slices of Braeburn apples, and Schramsberg Cremant.