U.S. Specialty Cheese Gallery > Washington

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

Beecher's Handmade Cheese Logo 801 Blanchard Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
+1 (206) 971 4121
www.beecherscheese.com

Contact:  Jena Paxton
jena@sugarmtn.net

Contact Beecher's Today!

In Seattle's Pike Place Market and New York City's Flatiron District, visitors to Beecher's glass-walled cheesemaking kitchens witness firsthand the crafting of their signature favorite, Flagship cheese, as well as many of the other award-winning cheeses Beecher's has to offer. By starting with fresh, pure milk from local farms and applying the traditional methods used by cheesemakers for thousands of years, Beecher's cheeses are free of artificial ingredients, making them just as delicious as the milk they are made from.

In 2003, Kurt Beecher Dammeier opened his first Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market. For Kurt, Beecher's fulfilled an ambition beyond just making great cheese. He has long felt passionately about eating food free of harmful additives and preservatives. That's why everything produced by Beecher's, from the handcrafted cheeses to the delicious side dishes and crackers, is authentic, original, full-flavored food made with ingredients they trust and are proud of. In keeping with Beecher's commitment to pure food, Beecher's contributes 1% of all sales to the Beecher's Pure Food Kids Foundation, empowering kids to make healthy food choices for life.

Discover Beecher's Specialty Cheeses

Flagship

cheese

With hints of browned butter and caramel, Flagship is a versatile cheese this is balanced, dense and creamy. The first wheel of Flagship, Beecher's signature cheese, was handcrafted just as Beecher's Handmade Cheese opened its doors in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market in November of 2003. Flagship is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese with a uniquely robust, nutty flavor. It is carefully aged for 15 months to fully develop its complex flavor and ever-so-slight crumble.

Shelf Life: 48 months

 Raw Milk Cheese: No Cut: Vacuum-packed retail; random weight

award

  • 2009 - Second, American Cheese Society
    • 2007 - Best Semi-hard, American Cheesemaker Awards
    • 2005 - Bronze, World Cheese Awards

Marco Polo

cheese

This favorite from Beecher's fleet of artisan cheeses celebrates the great thirteenth century adventurer Marco Polo - credited with bringing pepper and other discoveries to Europe. Beecher's Marco Polo takes lightly milled and cracked green and black peppercorns and blends them with Beecher's creamy cheese. The resulting cheese is rich in savory umami and butter notes.

Shelf Life: 12 months

 Raw Milk Cheese: No Cut: Vacuum-packed retail; random weight

award

  • 2008 - First, American Cheese Society
    • 2007 - Gold, World Cheese Awards
    • 2005 - Bronze, World Cheese Awards

Flagship Reserve

cheese

Named in 2017 the best clothbound cheddar in America by the American Cheese Society, Flagship Reserve is a special version of Beecher's signature Flagship cheese. It is made only on days when the milk composition is just right. The last curds on the table from these makes are used to produce Flagship Reserve truckles as it allows for slightly lower moisture, higher salt content, and thus a richer taste and texture while maintaining a clean, creamy finish. In addition to using this special raw material, Flagship Reserve is traditionally cloth-bound and open-air aged. This method allows a 14 to 16% moisture loss during aging, concentrating the already rich flavor and producing a long finish.

Shelf Life: 24 months

 Raw Milk Cheese: No Cut: Vacuum-packed retail; random weight

award

  • 2017 - First, American Cheese Society
    • 2016 - Third, American Cheese Society
    • 2015 - Third, American Cheese Society
    • 2014 - Third, American Cheese Society
    • 2011 - Third, American Cheese Society 
    • 2010 - Third, American Cheese Society 
    • 2007 - Second Best in Show, American Cheese Society

Extra Aged Flagship

cheese

Like most of the finer things in life, Beecher's signature Flagship cheese only gets better with age. After at least four years of aging, the cheese takes on a nutty sweetness, completely melting in your mouth with layers of flavor.

Shelf Life: 72 months

 Raw Milk Cheese: No Cut: Vacuum-packed retail; random weight

award

  • 2015 - First, American Cheese Society
    • 2014 - Third, American Cheese Society
    • 2011 - Second, American Cheese Society
    • 2010 - First, American Cheese Society

Flagsheep

cheese

A "Best of Show" winner at the American Cheese Society's annual competition, Flagsheep incorporates sheep's milk into the recipe and is then traditionally cloth-bound and open-air aged. The flavor is dense, fruity and earthy with a butterscotch sweetness.

Shelf Life: 28 months

 Raw Milk Cheese: No Cut: Vacuum-packed retail; random weight

award

  • 2017 - Third, American Cheese Society
    • 2013 - Second, American Cheese Society
    • 2012 - Best of Show, American Cheese Society
    • 2011 - Third, American Cheese Society