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Beaufort is a hard cheese from the French Alps in the Savoie region of France. It is a somewhat sharp cheese and is similar to Gruyère and Comté cheeses, but it's a little creamier and does not have any holes. It is made from the milk of Tarine and Abondace breed of cows. It is aged anywhere from 6 to 15 months. The rind is yellow to brown in color, and the interior is a pale white to a pale yellow.

There are 3 types of Beaufort.

Beaufort de Savoie, also called Summer Beaufort, has a pale yellow interior. It is made from summer milk and the beta-carotene in the grasses and herbs gives the interior a yellower color than the winter version. Summer Beaufort also has a stronger flavor and is more aromatic.

Beaufort de l'hiver is Winter Beaufort. The interior is a pale white, and its flavor is more delicate.

Beaufort d'alpage is a farmhouse variety of the cheese, made high in the Alps.

Wheels of Beaufort cheese are large, typically weighing about 100 pounds (45 kg).

Beaufort melts easily, and so it makes a great fondue cheese or goes well sliced on warm sandwiches.

Where to buy

You can find Beaufort online at fromages.com, an online distributor specializing in French cheeses. Beaufort is also available at amazon.com.