Brick Cheese vs Queso Casín

Brick Cheese is a semi-hard, smear-ripened cow-milk cheese from United States, while Queso Casín is hard to semi-hard, firm, crumbly, and buttery on the palate and made from cow milk.

What Is Brick Cheese?

Brick cheese is a Wisconsin cheese pressed into brick shape and ripened on the surface with Brevibacterium linens. Young, it is sweet, mild and melts well; aged, it smells stronger and tastes nuttier. It is the traditional cheese on Detroit-style pizza.

What Is Queso Casín?

Queso Casín is a hard to semi-hard cheese from southern Asturias, made with full-fat unpasteurized milk from Casina, Asturian Valley and Friesian cows. It is known for a firm, friable body, a sharp peppery bite, and a rind stamped with flowers or geometric figures.

What's the Difference Between Brick Cheese and Queso Casín?

• Texture: Brick Cheese (semi-hard, smear-ripened), Queso Casín (Hard to semi-hard, firm, crumbly, and buttery on the palate)
• Rind: Brick Cheese (washed), Queso Casín (Smooth, fine, and almost non-existent)
• Aging: Brick Cheese (Best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks), Queso Casín (Minimum 60 days)
• Taste: Brick Cheese (Sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age), Queso Casín (Strong, tangy, slightly bitter, and persistent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brick Cheese Taste Like Queso Casín?

Brick Cheese reads as sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age, while Queso Casín brings strong, tangy, slightly bitter, and persistent character. On the nose, Brick Cheese offers pungent, rich, contrasted with Queso Casín's strong and potent. More specifically, Brick Cheese shows sweet and mild when unaged, nuttier with a stronger smell after aging, while Queso Casín leans toward intensity varies based on the number of kneading cycles. Aging plays into this as well. Brick Cheese at best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks develops a different profile than Queso Casín at minimum 60 days.

Can You Substitute Brick Cheese for Queso Casín?

In most recipes, Brick Cheese and Queso Casín can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect semi-hard, smear-ripened bite and body where the recipe calls for hard to semi-hard, firm, crumbly, and buttery on the palate. Flavor-wise, Brick Cheese reads as sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age while Queso Casín brings strong, tangy, slightly bitter, and persistent notes.

Which Is Better, Brick Cheese or Queso Casín?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-hard, smear-ripened cheese, go with Brick Cheese. For a hard to semi-hard, firm, crumbly, and buttery on the palate profile, Queso Casín is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brick Cheese suits recipes that want sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age notes, while Queso Casín fits dishes calling for strong, tangy, slightly bitter, and persistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brick Cheese the same as Queso Casín?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Brick Cheese is typically aged best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks, Queso Casín minimum 60 days.

Is Brick Cheese similar to Queso Casín?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Brick Cheese for Queso Casín?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Brick Cheese taste like Queso Casín?

Brick Cheese reads as sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age, while Queso Casín is strong, tangy, slightly bitter, and persistent. Aromas also diverge. Brick Cheese leans pungent, rich, and Queso Casín is closer to strong and potent.

What is Brick Cheese made of?

Brick Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks. It originates in United States.

What is Queso Casín made of?

Queso Casín is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum 60 days.

Which should I choose, Brick Cheese or Queso Casín?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brick Cheese is semi-hard, smear-ripened, while Queso Casín is hard to semi-hard, firm, crumbly, and buttery on the palate.