Berle Farms "Berleburg"

By Aaron Estes, Cheese Editor

Berle Farm in Hoosick, NY is a certified organic farm that produces seasonal and sustainable goods such as hand-stirred cheeses and yogurt as well as pastured beef.

When Lucy’s Whey, the cheese shop where I work part time, first started carrying this cheese at the Chelsea Market shop, it was made and shipped under a different name -- Bovinaburg.

After some consideration and discussion, “Bovinaburg” became “Berleburg” and it has been a staple ever since.

I have not had a chance to meet the cheesemaker Beatrice Berle yet, but I look forward to hopefully visiting her farm one day and witnessing her operation first hand.

She is dedicated to the environment and healthy farm practices. I am interested to see if this has an impact on her milking and cheesemaking process in comparison to some of the other farms and creameries that I have worked with and visited.

Berleburg has a straw-colored, semi-firm paste that is fairly smooth with a couple of mechanical openings here and there. 

This is a very mild, snacking cheese, suitable for melting, a cheese plate or even a sandwich. Although not very complex, the finish is, interestingly enough, like buttered popcorn.

For me, Berleburg is “comforting,”  in that it reminds me of the cheese that I ate growing up, but with a little something extra.  Definitely worth a try if you happen to come across it.

Comments

[Ian Barry]

Aaron- Nice writeup. I grew up about 5 miles from Berle Farms, a stone's throw from the Vermont border. Beatrice is a family friend and one of the hardest workers I've ever met. Nice to see her cheeses are getting out there...all the way to the big city.

[Aaron Estes]

Thanks Ian. Berleburg is a nice addition to the NY cheese portfolio. It has been a nice seller at the shop! I hope to travel up that way sometime soon.