Vintage Cheddar Cheese

(17)

$34.99

Calef’s Country Store

Very rare. Strong sharp flavor, crystallized and very crumbly, sold by the lb.

Product Details

Calef’s features many varieties of “Snappy Old Cheddar” with varying degrees of sharpness. As a cheddar ages it loses moisture, becomes crumblier, begins to crystalize (tyrosine) and gets sharper in flavor.

Our Cheddar scale, least sharp to stand up and take notice:

  • Sharp – the opposite of it’s name this is our mildest offering
  • Extra Sharp – A bit sharper but still considered a mild cheese.
  • Rat Trap – Our best seller. Creamy, a bit sharp. Cut from hand packed 40LB wheels.
  • Super Sharp – Still creamy but a bit sharper after bite
  • Rugged Cheddar – As the name implies, has some bite. A good start on your aged cheddar journey.
  • 3 Year Aged – Aged at least 3 years, crystals and crumbly texture starting to develop.
  • Wicked Sharp – Crystals and crumbly texture very prevalent. A little bit goes a long way!
  • Vintage – Our sharpest offering, heavily crystalized and very crumbly

About The Producer

Calef's Country Store

Calef’s Country Store

Established in 1869, Calef's has been "buying local" since Ulysses S. Grant was president.

In 1869, just after the Civil War, Mary Chesley Calef mortgaged her family farm and pledged her savings to open Calef’s Store in the front rooms of her modest home in Barrington NH. Five generations of the Calef family operated Calef’s Big Store until the 1990’s, including Mary’s son Senator Austin Calef. Today the traditions endure as Calef’s Country Store serves the local community as well as visitors from afar. We still pump our own molasses and honey, cheese is aged in our cooler, and our smoked Ham is mouthwatering.

Walk through our doors today and take a step back to a simpler time, when customer service wasn’t a gimmick, but the way things were done.

The wood floors creak with stories of lore, our wood stove warms passersby, the aroma of fresh baked breads and donuts entice even the healthiest of folks.

Jar after jar of penny candy tempts young and old alike.

Our Calef’s brand old fashioned jams, jellies, pickle items, bread and soup mixes offer something for everyone.

The wooden pickle barrel is still a focal point in the store. Our Ginger Snaps are renowned for their bite.

Next time you visit New Hampshire, stop by and pay us a visit, you’ll be glad you did. Store hours and directions.

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

DeeDee
Rating: 5/5
Vintage Cheddar
I have purchased the Vintage Cheddar twice and it's now the only cheddar I want. The perfect crumble. perfect amount of crunch and very sharp. I love it with your mustard pickles. Your delivery has gone well this winter, hope it's as good in the summer! I'm so glad I found your store.
Thu Jan 08 2026 08:48:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Anne Lumnah
Rating: 5/5
Incredible!
Sat May 17 2025 00:55:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Janet B
Rating: 5/5
Almost perfect
This cheese was delicious! For the price, however, I wish there has been more crumbly crystallization.
Fri Dec 20 2024 00:15:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Teresa Treiger
Rating: 5/5
Great cheddar - you won't regret buying
We love cheddar cheese and had a favored aged variety (from a brand in a nearby state). Moving to NH, we started buying local and were excited to find Caleb's. Their Vintage Cheddar is a wonderful mix of sharp, creamy cheddar goodness with the perfect crystalline crunch. The pound that we purchased was gone in less than a week. This is now our favored brand. Can't wait to stop by the store for our next purchase.
Thu Oct 17 2024 11:23:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Robert Melvin
Rating: 5/5
Yes Indeed
I took one bite and immediately went ‘mm mm mm,’ followed by a dignified yet primal ‘yum yum yum. ’ The flavors danced on my tongue like a symphony of angels performing a cheese opera, each note hitting the perfect umami crescendo that could only be described as pure bliss. As I sat there, eyes closed in pure ecstasy, I began fantasizing about a life dedicated to this cheese. I envisioned myself being lovingly buried in the very cave this cheese was aged in, entombed in its glorious, musty embrace. I would let the mold consume me, becoming one with the cheese, aging together as time passed, turning into a refined vintage beyond any mortal comprehension. And as the centuries roll by, I picture the day when humanity’s tech tree progresses far enough to raise me from the dead. Picture it: scientists in hazmat suits, unearthing my perfectly aged cheese-coated corpse, proclaiming me a millennium vintage cheddar artifact of immeasurable value. They would gasp in awe as I am reborn, still savoring the lingering flavors of my eternal cheesy slumber, demanding only one thing: more cheese. We thank you, Calef.
Thu Sep 12 2024 00:29:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Paul Murphy
Rating: 5/5
GOAT
Best cheddar cheese on the planet. I shared some with a total cheese snob. He's absolutely hooked!
Sat Apr 06 2024 12:54:56 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Michael Britton
Rating: 5/5
Calef's Country Store
Great gourmet foods. Easy online ordering. Well packaged and fast shipping. Michael Britton
Thu Feb 15 2024 01:25:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Christine Quirk
Rating: 5/5
Best !
Absolutely delicious, zesty creamy highly recommend!
Sun Dec 24 2023 03:05:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Chris Helbig
Rating: 5/5
6 yr cheddar
One word AWESOME
Mon Sep 11 2023 00:06:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Jeff Dolan
Rating: 5/5
Childhood memory revisited
I recently ordered, and happily consumed your 6 yr aged cheddar. When we were kids our parents would drive up from Ma. to buy it and it's still the best. ..
Mon Mar 20 2023 00:25:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)