Alpen Cheddar: When Devonshire and German Cheesemakers Collide

What do you get when you put Devonshire and German cheesemakers together? Sounds like the beginning of a terrible joke, right? Actually, the answer is Alpen Cheddar, currently the most sought-after cheese in the UK. Stocks are running low and even when they do return, we expect them to be snapped up quickly.

Funny story. You know a cheese is good when you're sent a little taster batch and you immediately have to express how phenomenal the cheddar is to the chaps who made it (the good folks at Quicke’s). That expression of enjoyment was in the form of a voice note from me, cursing a fair bit about how unexpectedly superb the cheese was. It's fair to say that the voice note has done the rounds, as cheesemakers and sellers use it as a tool to profess how great it is in ways they don’t know how.

Needless to say, this is a true rarity in the industry. As a seasoned cheesemonger, it's not often that you get taken aback by a cheese. One that stops you in your tracks and gets you quite excited. A profile of cheese you haven’t tried before. Alpen Cheddar is most definitely that - it’s sweet, nutty, roast meaty, fresh berry fruity and herby and any other ‘y’s’ you might be able to think of!

Why is Alpen Cheddar so pioneering? This cheddar is made using a rare and highly experimental technique combining Quicke’s Mature Cheddar with Hofkäserei Kraus’ flagship cheese, Alp Blossom. The Mature Cheddar is added to the curds during the traditional Alpine cheesemaking process. The wheels are pressed into moulds and matured for 3 months in the home village of its cheesemaker, Albert Kraus: Allgäu.

Result? In a word, phenomenal.

Try Alpen Cheddar for yourself at Rennet and Rind today. It’s part of our hand-picked collection of artisan cheese that all comes from local British farms that have spent decades perfecting their craft. We’re an award-winning cheesemonger and affineur, and our online store is a treasure trove of the UK’s best cheddar cheeses, including Montgomery Cheddar, Pitchfork Cheddar and Old Winchester. Taste the pleasures of Rennet & Rind’s acclaimed artisan cheddar cheeses today.