Liederkranz
Liederkranz is back. This smelly cow-milk cheese was extinct cheese from 1985 - 2010, but has been brought back to life in Wisconsin.
Liederkranz was first created in the late 1800's by a cheesemaker in Monroe, New York, named Emil Frey. The cheese was developed to imitate Limburger to fill the demand by German immigrants for the cheese.
Production stayed in New York for several years. Due to various ownership changes, production began in Ohio in 1926. In 1929 the company making Leiderkranz was acquired by the Borden Company who continued to make the cheese until 1981. After a fire damaged their plant, Borden decided to no longer make Leiderkranz, and production was again started in Ohio by the Fisher Company. In 1985, due to bacterial contamination of a batch of cheese, the Fisher Company ceased making Leiderkranz.
Several years went by, and many believed the cheese and its bacterial cultures needed to make it had gone extinct. Through a couple more ownership changes, Leiderkranz became available again through the DCI Cheese Company in Wisconsin.
A close cousin to Limburger, Leiderkranz is made in small rectangular blocks from cow's milk. It has an edible, pale yellow or tan crust, with a semi-soft, pale interior. The cheese is smelly, though many describe it as slightly less pungent than Limburger, and somewhat creamier. The label says that Leiderkranz is "A mellow yet robust cheese".
The bacteria involved in making Leiderkranz is different than the one used in making Limburger. Leiderkranz is a smear-ripened cheese, meaning that a bacterial solution is applied periodically to the rind of the cheese during maturation.
The cheese is served with rye bread, dark ales, and sometimes fruit.
Below is a video put on YouTube by the DCI Cheese company about Liederkranz.
Where to buy
Liederkranz is rising in popularity, but is harder to find than Limburger. You are more likely to find it in the eastern half of the United States than in the west. If you live somewhere it's not readily available in grocery stores, you can find it online at amazon.com.
Comments
Janine kocher 2016-07-29 23:06:40
Are there any stores in Ohio that carry the Liederkranz cheese, or other places can purchase?
reply to Janine kocher
Barry Pulskamp 2016-12-19 19:22:52
Just found it today at Jungle Jim's in Fairfield, Ohio.
reply to Barry Pulskamp
margery schuler 2016-10-19 10:56:07
I enjoyed Liederkranz as a child many,many years ago and glad that it is back. Where can I buy it in Maine? I live in the Lewiston-Auburn area.
Thank You
reply to margery schuler
JOSEPH ORNATO 2017-02-01 22:23:28
Where can Liederkrantz be bought in Tampa, Florida?
reply to JOSEPH ORNATO
Jeanne Zeltner 2017-05-07 16:43:56
I am curious as to where I can order Leiderkranz online. I live in SAN Diego county, CA.
reply to Jeanne Zeltner
Fred 2017-07-21 17:19:53
You can not find this in Dallas, Texas. I am going to try to order by mail
reply to Fred
R.C.Balogh 2018-01-26 14:41:22
Found this 3 years back, at a shop and save chain store in Bridgeview Il. They discontinued it, so luckily I found Limberger / made in Austria, which is milder than most U.S. made Limberger. Guess I creep out store personnel when I ask if they handle anything stronger than swiss cheese. Do you have na list of stores in so.west Chicago suburbs that market Leiderkrantz.
reply to R.C.Balogh