Saxon Creamery

On my last visit to Wisconsin, I went out to see the Saxon Creamery. The creamery is located in Cleveland, Wisconsin. It was started by the Klessig and Heimerl families, who brought in Neville McNaughton, Pat Knowles and Dan Strongin as consultants.

Not only do I love cheese, but I grew up in Cleveland and went to grade school with the Klessigs, so I was very interested and excited to try their cheese.

After 15 years of planning, the first milk was delivered and a vat of cheese was made on August 24, 2007. I had some of the cheese during the winter holiday -- and they are now ramping up for national distribution. Look for their cheese at Whole Foods in the DC area in July -- and they will be rolling out nationally in the coming 6 months.

They have 3 core cheeses -- Green Fields, Big Eds and Saxony. I have only tasted the prototypes, they were all delicious and are worth seeking out. You can contact the creamery at their website to get additional information about where to purchase their cheese.

Green Fields
A semi-soft cheese that is carefully tended then wrapped in a special breathable paper to protect Green Field's sophisticated flavor during the journey from our creamery to you. Made from whole raw cow's milk, and unpressed cooked curds, with a washed rind ripened a minimum of 60 days -- at its peak at four months with a shelf life of six months.

Big Eds
Young, mild, but full of flavor, with a buttery body. Enthusiastic, like Ed Klessig, whom it was named after, it hugs you back, never offends, and is great both for first time tasters and afficionados.

A "clean rind" cheese made from raw cow's milk formed into cooked, pressed curds and ripened 120 days, with a shelf life of six months -- clean rind cheeses are meticulously wiped to keep them clean, cultivating a nearly perfect rind.

Saxony
A sophisticated cheese with a nutty flavor and a supple-body, as comfortable in the kitchen as it is on the table. Cooked pressed curds from whole raw cow's milk with a light, dry, washed rind ripened a minimum of 90 days, peaking at 150, with a shelf life of 9 months.