Brick Cheese- جبنة البريك

Photo: Alisa

About

Brick cheese is a semi-hard, cow's milk cheese originating in Wisconsin. It was developed by John Joo in 1877.

The cheese has a number of small and irregular holes and an open texture.

The flavor is a mixture of sweet, spicy and nutty. As it ripens, it has a heady aroma and becomes almost as strong as limburger.

The name brick cheese is said to have come from the fact that bricks were once used to weight the curd and press out the whey.

Information

Other names: Cheese, Wisconsin Brick Cheese

Translations: Ķieģeļu Siers, Mūrinis Sūriai, Caramida Brânză, Brick sir, Gạch Cheese, Cegła Cheese, ईंट पनीर, Brick Queijo, Кирпич сыра, Brick Τυρί, قرميد الجبن, 브릭 치즈, Cihla Sýry, Brick Keju, 砖奶酪, Maó Formatge, Brick Sir, Tehla Syry, Brick Formaggio, בריק גבינה, Brick Ost, Цигла Сиреви, ブリックチーズ, Brick au fromage, Ladrillo Queso, Цегла сиру, Brick Juusto, Тухла сирене

Physical Description

Brick cheese is a medium-soft cheese that crumbles easily and is somewhat sticky to the knife. When young, brick cheese has a mild, sweet flavor. As it ages, brick cheese develops a more ripe, and strong.
Brick cheese is named for the shape it's made in, either a rectangular, or square brick.

Colors: pale yellow to white

Tasting Notes

Flavors: young; mild and sweet, spicy and nutty. aged; ripe and strong, heady.

Mouthfeel: Creamy

Food complements: Fruit; apples, Grapes bread: rye bread or pumpernickel

Wine complements: Light red, Fruity white, Gamay beaujolais

Beverage complements: Ale, Lemonade

Substitutes: German or danish tilsit, Havarti, Chedder, Limburger

Preparation and Use

Brick cheese is well suited for being sliced for use on sandwiches. It also melts well and can be used in fondues, or sauces.

Social/Political

History: Brick cheese is an American original, created in 1877 by John Jossi.
In 1873 Jossi was in New York, working in an Limburger plant. During that time he envisioned making a cheese that began with drier curds than those used in the making of Limburger he was used to.
In 1877 he returned to Wisconsin where he began running a newly built Wisconsin plant, and set out to develop Brick cheese.
The name Brick cheese is attributed to both the bricks that are used to press the curds, and the brick shape of the molds themselves.