Best of both worlds
5 Brothers is a hard cheese made by Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese in Oxford Country, Ontario. Locals have long considered Oxford County to be the dairy capital of Canada. Hence, the Ysselstein family chose this area to establish their dairy farm.
Shep Ysselstein is a third generation dairy farmer. After spending his childhood on the farm, he moved away for university and travelled the world. His travels presented him with opportunities to study cheesemaking in the USA and Switzerland.
Even though each experience was invaluable, it was in the Swiss Alps that he truly fell in love with cheesemaking.
Inspired by Swiss recipes
When he returned home, he decided to add an artisanal cheesemaking facility to the farm. Unsurprisingly, he chose to make cheeses that are inspired by Swiss recipes.
Moreover, the recipe for 5 Brothers is part Appenzeller and part Gouda. Without doubt, it captures the best of both worlds. They mature wheels of formed cheese on cedar planks for a minimum of 8 months. During this maturation period, the cheesemaker regularly turns and washes the wheels.
At 8 months, they develop a buttery texture with tiny eyes and the occasional crunchy tyrosine crystal. Furthermore, the rind has a sweet grassy aroma and a subtle earthiness. On the palate, one will detect playfully sweet and nutty notes.
How to pair 5 Brothers
This Swiss-Dutch hybrid will pair beautifully with a Chardonnay or a Pilsner.
