Local dairies, local beer, local good! Troegenator Beer Cheese, crafted by Caputo Brothers Creamery with fresh milk from small Pennsylvania dairy farms and an iconic brew from Tröegs Independent Brewing, is now available exclusively at all 180 GIANT Food Stores, MARTIN’S Food Markets and GIANT Heirloom Market locations.
GIANT worked with Caputo Brothers Creamery of Spring Grove, Pa. and Tröegs of Hershey, Pa. to produce Troegenator Beer Cheese, available for a limited time only, helping to keep the barn doors open at two Pennsylvania dairies on the verge of closing. One of the most important parts of the Commonwealth’s agriculture economy, dairy farming supports 52,000 jobs and contributes $14.7 billion to the state’s economy. However, challenging market conditions have created a serious threat to the livelihood of many dairy farmers. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania lost 370 dairy farms in 2018.
“Our new partnership with Caputo Brothers and Tröegs is more than just about the product, it’s an opportunity to support Pennsylvania growers and producers as part of the overall economic engine of our local communities,” said John Ruane, senior vice president of merchandising, GIANT Food Stores. “For more than 95 years, GIANT has a deep heritage of sourcing locally grown and produced products for our customers. We’re proud to take that commitment to the next level with helping to develop Troegenator Beer Cheese, the ultimate example of local collaboration!”
Before being pressed into forms, the cheese curds are bathed in Troegenator, an award-winning Double Bock. The wash adds Troegenator’s caramel profile to the finished cheese. Most closely related to a Gouda, Troegenator Beer Cheese is slightly sweet with notes of caramel, stone fruit, and a pinch of salt. Available in the deli department, the new local artisan cheese can be sliced and served with cured meats and fresh fruit, melted on a burger or paired with a hop-forward beer like Perpetual IPA.
“We pride ourselves not only making cheese that tastes good, but also does good,” said Rynn Caputo, president, Caputo Brothers Creamery. “The fact that the Troegenator Beer Cheese is helping Pennsylvania dairies find new paths to success is really exciting and unique, and we couldn’t be more honored to work with GIANT and Tröegs to do so.”
“We’re central Pennsylvania natives, and using local ingredients has been important to us for a long time,” says Tröegs brewmaster and founding brother John Trogner. “Our collaboration with Caputo Brothers and GIANT is about creating connections among Pennsylvania makers and helping farmers find sustainable ways to survive and thrive. We’re proud to be a part of it.”
About Caputo Brothers Creamery
Founded in Pennsylvania in 2011 by husband and wife duo David and Rynn Caputo, Caputo Brothers Creamery is focused on revolutionizing the mozzarella industry while providing a sustainable partnership for local dairy farms. Named for their sons, Giovanni and Matteo, the creamery is a true family business. Primarily known throughout the country and chef community for being the exclusive producer of fermented cheese curds that can be stretched into fresh mozzarella, the Caputos have built
their reputation of quality cheesemaking by sourcing the highest quality milk possible from local, family-owned dairy farms. To date, Caputo Brothers Creamery has saved two dairy farms with the goal of saving additional farms as they grow. Since 2018, Caputo Brothers Creamery has worked with Giant Food Stores to develop in-store mozzarella and cannoli bars. The creamery currently produces about 200,000 lbs of artisan cheese annually. Additionally, the creamery operates a small restaurant and retail shop and leads culinary tours to Italy. For more information, visit caputobrotherscreamery.com
About Tröegs Independent Brewing
Founded in Pennsylvania in 1996 by brothers John and Chris Trogner, Tröegs Independent Brewing is driven by a sense of adventure and curiosity. From the beginning, the brewery has been built by family, friends and kindred spirits who share a love of great beer. Troegs is widely known for award-winning beers like Perpetual IPA, Troegenator, Nugget Nectar and Mad Elf, as well as the experimental Scratch Series, wood-aged Splinter Series and Hop Cycle seasonals. Tröegs started working in earnest with local ingredients back in 2002 with the debut of holiday favorite Mad Elf. Today, the brewery buys about 25,000 pounds of local honey every year. Tröegs also sources local produce including pumpkins, cherries, peaches, nectarines and strawberries from the fertile Fruit Belt of Pennsylvania, and this year the brewery sourced 100,000 pounds of Pennsylvania-grown barley for its new LolliHop Double IPA and Field Study IPA.
About GIANT Food Stores LLC
Founded in 1923 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, GIANT Food Stores is passionate about building strong families and creating healthier communities for a better future. GIANT proudly serves millions of families across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. An omni-channel retailer, GIANT showcases the talents of its more than 32,000 associates at its 181 stores, 132 pharmacies, 102 fuel stations and over 100 online pickup hubs and grocery delivery service in hundreds of ZIP codes. As a company that has deep community roots coupled with a purpose-driven culture, its associates believe in giving back to their community and over the last five years, GIANT, with the help of its customers and vendor partners, has proudly donated more than $100 million to local nonprofits. The GIANT Food Stores family of brands includes GIANT, MARTIN’S Food Markets, GIANT Heirloom Market, GIANT Direct and MARTIN’S Direct. GIANT Food Stores is a proud company of Ahold Delhaize USA. For more information visit the GIANT or MARTIN’S websites.