This is the 10th month of the world wind Cheesepalooza challenge and there is only 1 more month to go after. I have to say I have learned so much since I began this cheese adventure. I have learned to try and be as precise as possible (I am bad at it), I have learned patience, I learned to not throw in the towel after failures, and I learned to make cheese at home.

ale washed 028

This month our challenge was a washed rind cheese. This means once the cheese is made and aging, you wash the rind with a brine like solution on a regular basis so it forms a flavor packed rind.

ale washed 037

I chose an Ale Washed Trappist Cheese from the Making Artisan Cheese at Home book. The milk was infused with coriander seeds and lemon peel.

ale washed 001

Also a layer of the two was placed between the curd for extra flavor.

My cheese wash was made with a mix of brine and of white Belgian beer.

ale washed 004

Although the inside of the cheese tastes good, my washed rind did not turn out like it should have. It did not have the pungent odor know to this cheese, not did I get the firm, flavorful rind around the cheese. I think some bad bad bacteria got in there with the good bacteria. Just had to cut the rind off before consumption.

Ale Washed Trappist Cheese

Ale Washed Trappist Cheese was this month's challenge for the washed rind cheese recipe. Mine has a layer of coriander seeds and lemon peel inside as well.
Servings 2 cheeses

Ingredients
  

  • 2 gallons pasteurized milk
  • 3 tsp coriander seeds crushed
  • 3 tsp granulated orange peel
  • ½ tsp Meso II starter
  • ½ tsp calcium chloride diluted in ¼ cup nonchlorinated water
  • ½ tsp liquid rennet diluted in ¼ cup nonchlorinated water
  • Kosher salt
  • Two 12 oz bottles of Belgian Ale at room temperature plus 16 to 24 oz more for washing

Instructions
 

  • In a nonreactive 4 quart saucepan, heat 2 quarts of milk over low heat to 90°F; this should take about 20 minutes. Stir in 2 teaspoons of the coriander and 2 teaspoons of the orange peel, then slowly raise the temperature to 110°F over the course of 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover, and let steep for 45 minutes.
  • Place the remaining 1-1/2 gallons of milk in a nonreactive pot. Pour the steeped milk through a fine mesh strainer into the larger pot of milk and whisk to combine. Discard the coriander and orange. Bring the milk to 90° over low heat; this should take 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  • Sprinkle the starter over the milk and let it rehydrate for 5 minutes. Mix well with an up and down stirring motion. Cover and maintain 90°F for 30 minutes. Add the calcium chloride and gently stir for 1 minute, then add the rennet the same way. Cover and let sit for 1 hour, or until the curds give a clean break.
  • Still maintaining 90°F, cut the curds into ½ inch pieces and let sit for 10 minutes. The curds will shrink to the size of small beans. Meanwhile, heat 1 gallon of water to 175°F. Ladle off enough whey to expose the curds. Add enough hot water to bring the temperature to 93°F. Stir for 10 minutes. Repeat this process of removing whey and adding hot water, this time bringing the temperature to 100°F. Stir for 15 minutes, then let the curds settle for 10 minutes. Cover and let rest for 45 minutes, maintaining 100°F. The curds will mat and form a slab.
  • Drain off enough whey to expose the slab of curds. Transfer the slab to a flat bottomed colander, place it over the pot, and let drain for 5 minutes. Transfer the slab to a cutting board and cut into 3/8-inch thick slices. Place in bowl and gently toss with 2 teaspoons of the salt.
  • Line two 5-inch molds with damp cheesecloth and set on draining rack. Tightly pack a quarter of the curds in each mold, and press at 5 lbs for 10 minutes, just to compact the curds slightly. Peel back the cloth and sprinkle each cheese with ½ tsp of coriander and ½ tsp of orange peel, then pack in the rest of the curds. Press at 8 lbs of pressure for 6 hours at room temperature. Remove the cheese, flip over and rewrap. Press at 8 lbs of pressure for 8 hours.
  • Pour the bottle of ale into a lidded, non reactive container large enough for ale and cheese. Remove the cheese from the mold and place it in the ale. Soak the cheese, covered, for 8 hours at 55°F, flipping over once.
  • Remove the cheese from the ale and pat dry. Reserve and refrigerate the ale and place the cheese on a cheese mat. Air dry at room temperature for 12 hours. Return the cheese to the ale and soak for another 12 hours at 55°F. Remove, pat dry, and air-dry at room temperature for 12 hours, or until the surface is dry to the touch. Discard the ale.
  • Prepare a brine-ale wash: boil ½ cup of water and let it cool, and combine with ½ cup of ale, then dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in it. Store in the refrigerator.
  • Place the cheese on a mat in a ripening box and ripen at 50°F and 90% humidity for 4 to 6 weeks. Flip the cheese daily for the first 2 weeks, then twice weekly after that. After each flip, pour a little brine-ale wash into a small dish, dip a small piece of cheesecloth in it, and use it to wipe the surface of the cheese. Discard any unused brine-ale wash after 1 week and make a fresh batch. Also wipe away any moisture from the bottom, sides, and lid of the ripening box each time you flip the cheese.