Bent River

Bent River is our flagship cheese, made in the style of Camembert. This bloomy, round cheese is the winner of two American Cheese Society honors and a Good Food Award.

Named after the sharp turn of the Minnesota just a few hundred yards from our original production site, it is released at roughly five weeks.  Over the next seven weeks or so, the cheese will ripen to full maturity.  During that time, the texture and flavor profile will change, but at all stages you’ll have a Camembert that will rival the best around.

Initially, there will be a layered “button” of unripened cheese in the center. As the cheese ages, the button will ripen and you’ll have a smooth paste throughout. The ideal time to eat depends on your preference: as the weeks go by, the flavor profile will change with a mushroom-like aroma and taste leading the way. A slight press of your thumb in the top-center of the cheese will tell you a lot: at full ripeness, the indent will not recover.

The cheese is stored in a special paper that allows it to breathe. Please avoid plastic wrap! Store opened cheese in its original paper. Cheese is best consumed within a week of opening.

Most importantly, unwrap the cheese and allow it to come to room temperature; at least a half-hour during warm months, an hour in the colder ones.

Tasting notes (at full ripeness): Butter, Mushrooms, Herbs, Grass, Citrus Peel, Barnyard (funk), and Broth, with a slightly bitter and earthy rind.

Price: $24 per wheel (approximately 13 ounces)

Shipping is calculated based on US location. This rate covers some of our UPS shipping costs, a custom insulated cheese shipper box, packing material, and a reusable ice pack(s). Please keep your ice packs! They can be frozen and reused for packed lunches, coolers, or even shipping again. (If you have specific shipping questions, please fill out our contact form and we will respond within 48 hours.)

In order to ensure that our cheeses arrive in a timely fashion while ensuring quality, orders will be shipped weekly. You will receive an email with your tracking number when your order is shipped.