Beemster X.O. Aged Gouda

A superb aged gouda. The Beemster co-operative has been making and aging cheese for over a century in the Beemster municipality of the Netherlands. The Beemster polder is 20 feet below sea-level, with an incredibly nutrient-rich earth and grasses that sustain the cows for most of the year.

The co-op also works with Caring Dairy, a program that provides resources for farmers to maintain sustainability via appropriate energy use, healthy animals and a good economic return. Aged for a minimum of 26 months, Beemster X.O. is a hard, dense cheese with intense flavors of butterscotch, smoky caramel and toasted almonds. The texture is firm but maintains a butteriness that’s irresistible, as well as the signature crunch that’s found in a well-aged cheese. For a new twist on a classic dessert, try shaving Beemster X.O. over a bowl of vanilla ice cream or a slice of apple pie. Planning a hike or picnic? Forget the trail mix and pack some aged gouda, fresh apples and a bar of dark chocolate.