Beal Organic Cheese
Beal Cheese has been produced on the Carmody farm at Beal Lodge in North Kerry since 1987. Beal organic cheese is a raw milk cheese made lovingly by hand and matured for approximately nine months. Kate Carmody uses cheese making to develop her philosophy and passion for all things organic, sustainable and community oriented. In January 2000, the company converted to organic farming (IOFGA Certification) and renamed the cheese to Beal Organic Cheese.
The dairy herd consists of pedigree Holstein cows except for one Kerry and one Jersey cow. Both pasteurized and unpasteurised cheese is available. Beal is a cheddar type cheese and a hard cheese with garlic and herbs produced for summer tourist trade
At the core is Beal Organic Cheese – the award winning raw milk and pasteurised cheese. In an effort to further fully utilise the potential of the farm Kate has continually invested in sustainable, value added ventures like Hemp farming to improve the soil, courses to train budding organic farmers as well as seasonable organic produce.
Milk type: Cow
Style: Cheddar
Flavour: Smooth and mild with butter and hazelnuts when young, with age the cheese starts to pack quite a piquant punch
Paste: Hard, pale yellow paste, closed texture, with very small cracks in the paste
Rind: Natural rind, brine washed, smooth rind
Age: Available from 6 months onwards
Format: 10kg wheels
Rennet: Traditional
Pairings: Cider, Cabernet Sauvignon
Season available: Available all year depending on stock, small quantities produced
Made with raw milk: Yes
Milk type: Cow
Style: Cheddar
Flavour: Mild, buttery and gentle on the palate. Mature blocks are more cheddary with fermented/ yeasty aroma, pleasant sourness with nuts and some bite in the cheddary finish
Paste: Hard, pale yellow paste, closed texture, mature versions can contain small protein crystals
Rind: No rind, aged under vacuum
Age: Available from 3 months, mature version from 10 months
Format: 10kg wheels plus 15 kg blocks
Rennet: Traditional
Pairings: Cider, Cabernet Sauvignon
Season available: Available in small quantities
Made with raw milk: No
