Prairie Breeze (Milton Creamery, Milton, Iowa)

Rufus Musser arrived in Milton in 1992 with his wife Jane to start a farm. They now make numerous styles of cheese including Colby and Cheddar, along with ‘squeaky’ fresh cheese curds. Prairie Breeze may look like a simple large block Cheddar aged over six months, but due to the quality of the milk, and the respect for grazing and maintaining a seasonal approach to rearing the cows, the flavours of the cheese are really delicious and fruity. I think many lessons can be learned from this style of production and the results that can be achieved by a considered approach. This simple-style table or cooking cheese is great with a dry cider or a hoppy beer.