My 3rd Wensleydale

[JeffHamm]

I've vac sealed this one today.  It's now 1000g, and the rind is looking really good on this one.  I should have taken a photo as I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.  I've got a few cheeses ahead of it, and may age it out until we move to our new place in June. 

- Jeff

[Threelittlepiggiescheese]

congratulations on the new place

[anutcanfly]

Hum... Looks great but no picture...  Just your word for it... Surrre. 

[JeffHamm]

Due to public demand, here's my full dressed Wensleydale!  Come one, come all to see if it can escape from the vaccuum of death! 

- Jeff

[Boofer]

Due to public demand, here's my full dressed Wensleydale!  Come one, come all to see if it can escape from the vacuum of death! 

- Jeff

Ooooh, I get chills. 

-Boofer-

[anutcanfly]

Well I'm glad to hear your Wensleydale is fully dressed!  We'll have no funny business here.  This is a PG rated site! 

[Boofer]

Well I'm glad to hear your Wensleydale is fully dressed!  We'll have no funny business here.  This is a PG rated site! 

Hey, I've been known to press naked. 

-Boofer-

[anutcanfly]

   I'm not sure I wanted that information! 

[DeejayDebi]

ROLFMAO! You guys are funny! Your Wensleydale is looking gret Jeff and congrats on the new digs!

[JeffHamm]

Hi,

Ok, so this is now around 4.5 months old, and that seems a good time to give it a try.  I've removed it from the vaccuum of death and low and behold, the b.linens that was on the top and bottom must have been a bit active as the top and bottom were damp and had a moist slime to them (yum, that does sound good! )  The sides have grown some white mould, and spots of blue, but nothing over powering (including the slime).  I've taken some measurements, and it's still bang on 1000g.  So that's good.  Also it's about 14.8 x 5.2 cm, for a density of 1.12g/ccm.  When I cut into it, it was firm, but with that nice give way texture indicating it's still properly elastic.  The smell seems very good.  And I have now shaved a wee slice off the side and the taste is out of this world.  Absolutely, and without a doubt, the best cheese I've made yet, well, at least that shaving was.  I really hope the rest of the wheel can hold up to that shaving because that was really fantastic.  I've cut into this because we're having family dinner at our place tonight.  I'm hoping it will last until then!

- Jeff

[Boofer]

Sweet!

But that first pic was kinda scary. 

Hope it goes over well. Looks good, Jeff.

(I liked the "vacuum of death". Very dramatic.)

-Boofer-

[JeffHamm]

Thanks Boofer!  Yah, it went down well.  This make is definately now my Wensleydale procedure.  It's fairly straight forward and easy, so good for those starting out.  At 4.5 months it's really good, but of course I can't speak for earlier than that.  I know some people cut into Wensleydales at 1 or 2 months, but other than carephilly, I've found most cheeses are just way too bland at that age. 

Anyway, my vac bags don't seem to prevent the mould and other growth the way yours do, but they did hold the moisture in.  So, I'm pretty pleased with that.

- Jeff