This Vintage Gouda is aged 5 years and there are not so many Goudas of that age, with a similar miracle of flavor. The color of this gourmet cheese is deep amber and burnt orange with a texture similar to Parmigiano Reggiano, very firm and flaky. Its rich flavor and subtle sweetness is intense and complex. It is an excellent substitute for grating cheeses as it caramelizes beautifully; it is even a better cheese with a nice rich red wine or a cool glass of beer. We cut the very old cheese in 1 & 5 Lb. pieces and most likely the piece will fall apart as you take it out of the package; that's how aged and crumbly the cheese is, ready to be eaten. One of the rarest, most sought after Dutch specially-cured cheeses has been made in the southern provinces of the Netherlands for over 800 years, Aged Farmer Gouda. Easy to distinguish, it is the dairy world's equivalent of a Rembrandt or Van Gogh. This edible opus magnum has been matured for five years, allowing its body to develop a muted caramel color, matched by an intense flavor with a sweet finish. This Aged Gouda has been aged to the point that fissures form in the cheese when you cut it. Some purists who turn up their noses at young Goudas have far greater respect for the more mature relatives of the clan. As is typical with more aged cheeses, aged Gouda tends to be harder in texture than a young Gouda; in fact, the older versions (3-5years) have a texture more similar to Parmigiano Reggiano. The interior, or paste, is more deeply colored than that of a young Gouda; in a Gouda aged for roughly 18months or longer, the paste becomes more of an amber, or yellowish-brown. The flavor is complex: intense, butterscotch-caramel, salty yet on the sweet side (it is often described as caramelized or toffee-like). Read More »