Rat Trap Cheddar Cheese

$15.99

Calef’s Country Store

Our most famous and best selling hand packed creamy cheddar. 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!
  • 6 Year 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

Based on 40 reviews
95%
(38)
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3%
(1)
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(1)
L
Lawrence Sickles
Rat Cheese

This cheese is exactly what I remember.
Excellent.

S
Sandra Leland
Purchase of Rat Trap Cheese

First order I placed with you. We always went up in person but we are not able to right now. So I thought I would order on the computer. Everything was wonderful
I will be ordering again soon. The cheese was delicious as usual.

L
Lorraine Blum
Rat Trap Cheese

Ordered the Rat Trap cheese online
It is my favorite cheese
Was delivered quickly! Very happy with my online experience
Have visited the store several times! I’m never disappointed with anything I’ve purchased

M
Mary Bourgault
A Fathers' Day success

To celebrate Fathers' Day, I sent Rat Trap cheese to my son who lives in Oregon. He reported that no one in his family is allowed to eat it except himself! Obviously it was a really big hit!!

D
Donald Cole
Rat trap and vintage cheese

Both the rat trap and especially the vintage cheese is the very best! A little expensive but ultimately worth the price.