Our Wisconsin Cheese Tour

There are only 45 "Master" Cheesemakers in the entire world. And Green County, Wisconsin, has more of them than any other COUNTRY. The Master Cheesemakers at Decatur Dairy in Brodhead, Wisconsin are making award winning Havarti and Muenster cheese.

We arrived at about 10:00 in the morning -- the rain had let up...

I noticed this picture on the wall -- Roy Stettler used to be the award winning Master Cheesemaker...

When I noticed THIS GUY -- John had a nice visit with the current Master -- Steve Stettler..

They kindly agreed to give us a tour.  On this day, they were making Muenster...

Even though they were already cleaning up for the day....

Rick showed us the entire operation.  It was SO INTERESTING...

To see all the big blocks of brand new cheese...

Which must cure and age for at least a month before the flavor develops...

Rick told us mold on cheese is nothing to worry about -- you just cut it off before you eat the cheese...

The fresh blocks of Muenster will take a bath in a salt water tank...

Some round farmer's cheese...which has to float because otherwise it would get a flat side...and they are VERY picky about their cheese at Decatur Dairy...

There is a story behind the coloring that is applied to Muenster cheese...

Two brothers were making cheese.  One made Muenster and the other made Monterey Jack.  The one brother started to apply orange coloring to his Muenster so they could tell the difference between the two types of cheese.

I  especially enjoyed our tour guide -- Rick.  He was so genuinely enthusiastic about his work, and his boss, and what they do in this factory.  He took such pride in all of it -- we enjoyed it very much.  AND WE BOUGHT A LOT OF CHEESE...which we will be enjoying for weeks or even months to come...