Cowgirl Creamery has always been an SFoodie favorite, and since the ladies have started adding new cheeses this year, we felt a more inclusive survey of the line was warranted. Here's a look at the new, and the old, aged cheeses. (We'll get to the fresh cheeses in another post.)
Wagon Wheel
The newest cheese from Cowgirl is distinct from the rest in being made in 25 pound wheels rather than the smaller, self-contained ones that the Mt Tam variants come in. Cowgirl markets this as their "everyday" cheese. Mid-yellow color, with a darkened, slightly waxy rind, this is dense and firm, with a modestly rubbery body, like a lightly aged mozzarella. It's pleasant and mild with a slight note of the rennet bringing a tiny tang toward the finish — like gruyère without the noticeable nuttiness.
Inverness
Inverness is a Bay Area treat, distributed just to Cowgirl's stores and a few select local outlets. These are sold in individual cylinders, or "buttons," crafted like the mini goat cheese disks, mounds, and pyramids you see on cheese carts. Expect a nice, wrinkled skin rind with a powdered, bloomy finish. It's a cow milk cheese, but it's about as goaty as cow can get. When you slice it, you see the meaningful darkening near the rind (a clear note of aging) and the bright pale center that mirrors the egg-and-yolk-like presentation of many small goat cheeses.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: SF Weekly