Slideshow

Slide Show: Inside Ancient Heritage’s New Urban Creamery

January 27, 2015

Paul Obringer crumbles curds in his hand to test a batch of Hannah cheese for texture.

After almost a decade in Eastern Oregon, cheesemakers Paul and Hank Obringer of Ancient Heritage Dairy recently opened an urban creamery location in SE Portland.

Hank Obringer pours cheese into molds to be pressed into wheels at the urban creamery. Giant windows at the new location give pedestrians the chance see artisan cheesemaking in action.

After hours of churning, the cheese culture solidifies and is cut.

Marketing director Emily Davidson shows off rounds of cheese soaking in a brine solution inside the cheese caves at Ancient Heritage Dairy.

Hannah, one of Ancient Heritage's bestsellers is a raw sheep and cow's milk cheese in a natural rind. Last year, its "earthy and savory flavor" earned a Good Food Award and a second place ranking from the American Cheese Society.

This month, Ancient Heritage Dairy joins local artisans like Jacobsen Salt, Coava Coffee, and New Deal Distillery in the Southeast Industrial neighborhood to bring Portland its first local creamery in decades.

Located on the corner of 7th Ave and Main, the new 2200-square foot location boasts three cheese caves for aging and floor to ceiling street-side windows for viewing the cheese-making process.

The retail side, set to open in May, will act as a specialty shop by day and provide a private event space in the evening for Renata, the long-delayed, Italian-focused, cheese-fueled eatery from former French Laundry front man, Nick Arnerich.

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