Apricity Soft Ripened Cheese

“Apricity” means “the warmth of the sun in winter,” and it’s an apt metaphor for this airy, fluffy orb of fresh young cow’s milk cheese, which is light and lively enough to brighten up even the coldest winter’s day in Minnesota, where it’s made. This soft-ripened cheese has a thin, delicate rind that enrobes a creamy, fudgy, slightly grainy paste that melts in your mouth. It has that buttery lactic tang of young cheese, with secondary notes of herbs, grass, and a bit of barnyard funk that increases as the cheese ages. It takes to sweetness very well, so pair it with a drizzle of honey and smear it onto bread or a cracker with apple butter or fruit jam.

All of Alemar’s cheeses are made using traditional techniques and old-world practices in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under the guidance of founder Keith Adams and head cheesemaker Charlotte Serino, they’re creating a lineup of French-inspired cheeses made with gently pasteurized local cow’s milk that since its founding in 2008 have won an array of awards and accolades.

• 100% cow’s milk, ripened for 3-4 days
• Pairings: Crisp, bright, and/or sweet white wines like Riseling, wheat beer, fruit beer, and cider