In Your Face was one of the first three cheeses we developed at Face Rock and it’s now one of the most popular flavors we offer!. Our spicy 3-pepper cheddar is decorated with a visible confetti of Jalapeno, Habanero and sweet red Chili’s. This trio of heat makes this a cheese that’s full on In Your Face with flavor.

While all our cheddars start as curds, we only package a favorite few flavors for sale. One is In Your Face. We aren’t the only ones that think this spicy curd is something special. In 2014, our In Your Face curds took 1st place in the ACS Awards, the only national cheese competition in North America, and they brought home a 3rd place at the 2018 ACS Awards. 

We also take those tasty fresh curds and press them into 40lb blocks that take a time out in our aging room until they are ready to cut into tasty small blocks for you to enjoy. 

A sharp observer may notice that In Your Face uses the same three peppers as our Pepper Jack, Rock’N Jack. And yet, these two cheeses have very different flavors. Most people think the cheddar has more heat, but that is just an illusion! The perceived difference in heat is due to the different moisture levels inherent between cheddar and Jacks. During the cheesemaking process, Monterey Jacks have the lactic acid rinsed from them, which creates a more mild cheese flavor and adds moisture. The result is that a Jack will coat your taste buds and give the illusion of cutting the heat. Cheddar is not rinsed, and it loses moisture as it ages, so an aged cheddar will have a naturally bolder taste. Fresh cheddar curds have a fair amount of moisture, so In Your Face curds will not have as much heat as its aged sibling. 

• In Your Face is a fantastic choice to use in all kinds of Mexican-inspired dishes. The flavor profile fits naturally with corn tortillas, limes, avocados, fresh tomatoes, black olives, roasted garlic, cilantro, & shredded meats. Check out our WonTon Tacos for a fun addition to Taco Tuesday!
• In Your Face is a great cheese to use in stuffed baked potatoes, Mac and Cheese, casseroles, and as soup toppers! The heat adds a sparky flavor to any of your favorite recipes that call for cheddar.
• We love using In Your Face in cornbread, muffins, biscuits and savory scones. The heat is less pronounced but is definitely there!
• For a fresh take on a summer cheese board, feature In Your Face alongside fresh grilled tree fruit, cherries and berries, grilled kielbasa, fresh sliced summer sausage, and nuts. The heat in In Your Face works great with all the sweetness of summer produce!

For wine pairings, we recommend staying away from wines with high acidity and low tannins as they can turn bitter when paired with peppers. Instead, opt for light bodied & dry or fruit-focused & citrusy. Our picks are: Dry Rose, Zinfandel, Barbara, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Champagne, & Sangria.

On the beer side, we love hoppy IPAs and anything on the lighter lager side as a refreshing complement to spicy In Your Face.