Our newest soft-ripened cheese, Hooper, is as dynamic as the Vermont landscape it’s crafted in. Hooper is alive, evolving with each day, and telling its own story through color, texture and flavor. One of the most alluring aspects of Hooper is the color variation of its unique, wrinkled rind.
What color should you expect from Hooper’s rind, and when? It really depends on so many variables, so, let’s dig into the process that leads to Hooper’s quirky color development.
Hooper is alive thanks to 13 different organisms working together. If all other Vermont Creamery aged cheeses are classical music, then Hooper is like a jazz band—a wild, unpredictable, but harmonious collaboration. While our other cheeses may follow a strict, classical rhythm, Hooper plays with different notes, creating a unique flavor and color with every bite.
Washing:
Washing the cheese is like tuning an instrument. By washing the rind with a French sea salt brine, we knock back the Geo just enough to give B. Linens the spotlight. This is where the magic happens—turning Hooper into that unique, funky wheel we love.
In Short: It's golden.
When Hooper leaves our creamery in Vermont, it’s still young. Fresh from our caves, the rind starts out in soft, pale tones, ranging from light golden to a mellow yellow orange. At this early stage, you’ll notice a mild color that’s just signaling the beginning of its transformation.
The Ripening Journey: From Yellow to Orange
As Hooper ages, it may begin to deepen in color. About two to three weeks after leaving the Creamery, depending on storage conditions, you might see a more vibrant, darker orange start to develop.
Hooper’s rind is consistently inconsistent, by design. It will never turn a uniform orange like a spray-painted surface. The color variation is a natural part of the aging process. Each wheel of Hooper will have its own unique look, with some parts staying lighter and others deepening to a rich orange. It’s all part of the beauty of artisan cheesemaking.
Peak Color: Around 6 Weeks of Age
By the time Hooper reaches around six weeks old, which is about three weeks after it ships from Vermont, its rind will reach peak color. Expect a lovely mix of pale cream, yellow, and vibrant orange hues. But remember, Hooper is alive—its rind won’t look the same from wheel to wheel, or even from batch to batch. No two pieces are alike, ever.
Why Isn’t My Hooper Bright Orange?
If you pick up a wheel of Hooper and it’s not bright orange, don’t worry—it’s all perfectly natural. The color will vary depending on how long the cheese has been aging and the specific conditions it’s been stored in. Some wheels will stay more on the creamy side, while others will develop a deeper orange tone.
The bottom line: Hooper is a living, breathing cheese, and its color will evolve over time. Every wheel is a bespoke combination of science and art.
Stay Tuned for More!
We’re so excited to see how Hooper continues to grow and change. We’ll be keeping a close eye on its development in the coming weeks and months, and we can’t wait to hear what you think. We love seeing Hooper enter the marketplace and find a home in your fridge, be sure to follow us on Instagram for more Hooper content and be sure to tag any Hooper you see in the wild!