Everyone can use a makeover at some time, and micro dairies are no exception. After seven years making some of the most delicious cheeses in Georgia and bringing in plenty of national and international cheese competition awards, the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy has undergone renovations and process adjustments.

For starters, the Dairy has begun gently pasteurizing its artisanal cheeses. The pasteurization process utilizes the lowest level of heat that meets pasteurization requirements, which means the flavor profiles of the cheese remain intact. Applying low heat over a short amount of time makes the cheese more stable, but keeps the same delicious Flat Creek Lodge taste that cheese lovers are used to.

“In adding pasteurization, we are probably ahead of the curve,” says Flat Creek Lodge Dairy owner Caroline Harless. “The FDA seemed to be getting stricter and is very concerned about the control of microbial pathogens.” While the FDA exempts certain cheeses from pasteurization, raw milk cheeses require a minimum 60-day aging period. With the new pasteurization, Flat Creek Lodge cheeses are ready as soon as the process is complete.

The Dairy facilities have received recent upgrades too, such as a four-inch well to supply fresh water, three new 180,000 BTU gas heaters and new cooling units in the sanitized caves. The Dairy still boasts an all-Jersey herd, which has now been expanded to 60 cows. Jersey cows produce the highest butter fat content – one of many the reasons Flat Creek Lodge cheese are so good. To keep it all running cleanly, a quality control safety expert has joined the staff.

“We’re taking a variety of measures to make sure Flat Creek Lodge cheese are safe and provide the highest quality,” says Harless. “In fact, with the pasteurization, I would even say that some of the cheeses taste better and are more consistent.” And she should know. At the Dairy, cheeses are tasted constantly, and favorites like Dragon’s Breath, Gouda, Triple Threat and Aztec Cheddar have been hitting restaurant tables, shelves and markets this summer.

Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy is located on the 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge resort. Offering an award-winning line of artisanal cow’s milk cheeses that appeal to the most discerning palate, Flat Creek Lodge provides cheese to some of the finest restaurants, markets and chefs in Atlanta and the Southeast.