I.C.Y.M.I.: This Alberta Cheesery & Restaurant Is Bucket-List-Worthy, Especially If You Love Cheese

If you’re in Alberta and you love cheese, you’re seriously missing out if you haven’t visited this iconic hotspot yet. You’ll find this gem in Vermilion, Alberta, a small town in the central region of the province about 60 kilometres west of Lloydminster and 192 kilometres east of Edmonton. Without further ado, we’re pleased to introduce you to the Old School Cheesery.

The Old School Cheesery wears many hats. It’s a production facility, a restaurant, a boutique, and Alberta’s first-ever Économusée. In the simplest terms, it’s a place where you can get the best and most fresh artisanal cheese the province has to offer, order delicious treats like charcuterie boards for events and gatherings, or enjoy a delicious, cheese-forward meal in a super cozy atmosphere. There’s no such thing as just “liking” cheese. You’re either indifferent or obsessed, and that’s a hill we’re willing to die on. If you fall in the obsessed category, you need to sample the delicacies that this place creates.

They’re famous for their super squeaky cheese curds, their creative cheddars, their Canadian-style brie, which is as creamy as can be, and their hard cheese, which they’ve named “Le Bourdon.” The hard cheese is aged in honey from local honey producer, Lazy Bee Honey, and it has the perfect sharp taste with a hint of sweetness from that golden honey. In terms of flavours, the cheddar products include Mild Cheddar, Smoke Cheddar, Dill Cheddar, Garlic Cheddar, Peppercorn Cheddar, Chipotle Cheddar, and Beer Infused Cheddar. For Brie, we’ve got Canadian Style Brie, Eclipse Vegetable Ash Brie, and Harvest Moon Smoked Brie. Is your mouth watering yet?

If you want to sample the exquisite cheese products that the Old School Cheesery has dreamed up but don’t want to stop there, you can pay the restaurant a visit and sample some delicious dishes in one of the more welcoming atmospheres we’ve ever encountered. Some menu items that patrons rave about include the gourmet grilled cheese, ham and dill Mac and cheese, and smoked Mac and cheese. We assume you can spot the cheese theme.

Outside of the unforgettable cheese products and delicious dishes, the story behind the Old School Cheesery is what draws a lot of people in. The business was founded by Patrick Dupuis in 2016 after serving 25 years in the military. Patrick completed the cheese maker certificate program at Guelf University in Ontario, acquired his pasteurizing license, and became the head cheese maker for his own business. A year later, their first employee was hired. Patrick’s eldest daughter, Valerie, came on board in 2017. She also acquired her pasteurizing license and became a cheese maker, learning under her father.

This place is the essence of all things artisanal, local, family-minded, and community-minded. Old School Cheesery was the first Economusee in Alberta. Opening its doors to visitors from around the world. A visit to the premises in the company of passionate artisans and cheese lovers will enable you to discover fresh products made on site and follow the journey of milk until its transformation into cheese. How cool is that?

Like we said, if you love cheese, you’ll love it here. So, what are you waiting for?

Britanny Burr is a freelance writer and a contributor to Great West Media. This content has been republished for the Great West Media & Southern Alberta Newspapers Cool Winter Guide advertising feature. The Cool Winter Guide is a special feature about winter activities, bucket list adventures, winter attractions, events, and road trip-worthy food & beverage destinations across Alberta. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff.

This article was originally published on March 14, 2024.