SPRING BROOK FARM Ashbrook Cheese 1/2 LB

ASHBROOK—ORIGINALLY CALLED ASHLYN BUT RENAMED TO AVOID CONFUSION WITH A CANADIAN GOAT’S MILK CHEESE—IS AN INSTANT STAR. RECIPE DEVELOPMENT BEGAN IN EARLY 2014, WITH WHEELS HITTING THE MARKET LATER THAT YEAR. THE WASHED-RIND WHEEL IS BASED LOOSELY ON FRENCH MORBIER WITH A NEW ENGLAND TERROIR TWIST. SISTER TO WILDLY POPULAR READING AND TARENTAISE CHEESES, ASHBROOK IS MADE WITH HIGH-QUALITY MILK AND AGED FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. 

TASTING NOTES: AROMATIC OF DAMP, DARK CELLAR WITH MILD FUNK, ITS ORANGE RIND ENCLOSES MILKY, SWEET PASTE WITH A WISPY LAYER OF VEGETABLE ASH RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE (HENCE ITS NAME).

PAIRINGS: CONSIDER TEXTURE AND ACIDITY—GREEN PEPPERS AND OTHER CRUNCHY VEGGIES AND FRUITS WITH BRIGHT FLAVORS ARE FRESH FOILS FOR THIS PUNGENT CHEESE. ASHBROOK DEMANDS BUBBLES TO CUT THROUGH ITS RICH JERSEY BUTTERFAT—CRÉMANT D’ALSACE OR FARMHOUSE ALE, IN PARTICULAR.