Top 63 Wisconsinite Cheeses

Colby Jack or Cojack is an American cheese originating from Wisconsin. The cheese is a combination of Colby and Monterey Jack. It has a semi-soft, smooth texture and an appealing marbled visual appearance. Its flavor ranges from mild and sweet to sharp and tangy. Colby Jack is usually used in omelets, sandwiches, sauces, and soups, and it is recommended to serve it with baked potatoes, pears, apples, and steamed vegetables. Due to its good melting properties, it is also used in casseroles and with nachos.Expand

Colby is an American cheese originating from the city of Colby in Wisconsin. This semi-hard cheese is made with cow's milk and has a firm, springy, and open texture. Its flavors are mild, creamy, and sweet, so Colby is often used in hamburgers, grilled sandwiches, fajitas, or served with apples, pears, and rye bread. Colby is sometimes compared to cheddar, even though these two cheeses taste different – Colby is softer, it has a higher moisture content, and the curd is washed, which reduces the acids in the cheese, making it less tangy.Expand

Brick is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin. When pressed with coal-fired bricks to let the moisture out, it is also shaped into a brick, hence the unusual name. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's smear-ripened with bacteria. Underneath the washed rind, the texture is smooth and open with small eyes throughout the body. The aromas are rich and pungent, while the flavors range from mild and sweet when young to tangy and intense with nutty hints when aged. It's recommended to serve Brick with pickled vegetables and au gratin dishes. The young one pairs well with light red wines while the aged versions go well with hard cider and robust beer.Expand

Buttermilk Blue is an American blue cheese originating from Wisconsin, where it is made by Roth. The cheese is made with raw milk from Jersey and Holstein cows. It is aged in cellars for at least 2 months, resulting in a creamy and crumbly texture, fresh and mellow aromas, and piquant and tangy flavors. The interior is ivory in color, with blue-gray veins dispersed throughout it. Buttermilk Blue should be paired with figs, pears, dark chocolate, and raw vegetables. Because it crumbles so easily, it is a great addition to burgers, pizzas, salads, and dips. Regarding beverages, it is recommended to pair it with gin and sweeter wines.Expand

Hoop Cheese or Red Rind Hoop Cheese is a traditional cheese hailing from Wisconsin. This soft cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk, and the whey is completely drained out before it's placed in a round mould known as a hoop. The cheese comes with a waxy red coating which is why it's also called Red Rind Hoop Cheese. The texture is springy and soft, but the cheese spoils fast because it's not aged. The flavors are typically mild, salty, and slightly nutty. Due to its very short shelf life, Hoop Cheese is nowadays usually found at gas stations and small restaurants in the southern parts of the United States.Expand

Cave Aged Marisa is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's produced by Carr Valley Cheese Company. The cheese is made from sheep's milk and it's left to age in cellars for a minimum of 90 days before consumption. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is semi-hard and firm. The aromas are sweet, while the flavors are sweet and tangy with creamy and lactic notes. It's recommended to pair Cave Aged Marisa with a glass of Rioja or sherry.Expand

Daphne's Alpine Cheese is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's made by Daphne's Creamery. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and it's left to age for at least 60 days before consumption. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is smooth and semi-soft. The flavor is nutty and grassy. Daphne's Alpine has great melting properties, which is the reason why it's perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches or grating over salads and pasta dishes. It's recommended to pair the cheese with crisp and fruity wines and beer.Expand

Menage is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's produced by Carr Valley Cheese Company. The cheese is made from a mix of pasteurized sheep's, cow's, and goat's milk. Underneath its green waxed rind, the texture is firm, dry, and creamy. The aromas are pleasant, while the flavors are intense, full, and rich. It's recommended to pair Menage with a glass of Shiraz or Pinot Noir in order to elevate its flavors. Menage has won many awards, including a bronze medal at the World Cheese Awards in 2011.Expand

Pleasant Ridge Reserve is an American cheese produced in Wisconsin by Mike Gingrich. Modelled on Beaufort and Gruyere, this cheese is made from raw cow's milk only from May to October. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is smooth, firm, and dense. The flavors are full, rich, nutty, grassy, and creamy. A small batch of Pleasant Ridge Reserve is aged for more than a year, and it's then sold as Extra Aged in the fall and early winter. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of dry Champagne or Chardonnay.Expand

Moody Blue is an American cheese produced in Wisconsin by Emmi Roth. This blue cheese is made from Holstein and Jersey cows' milk. It's smoked over fruit wood, resulting in flavors that are nutty, smoky, subtle, tangy, mellow, earthy, and creamy, with hints of coffee and roasted nuts. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is creamy, while the aromas are smoky and rich. It's recommended to serve it with honey, dark chocolate, asparagus, mushrooms, and red peppers. Wine pairings include Zinfandel and Merlot. Moody Blue is great on a cheese plate, and it's often used as an addition to creamy condiments.Expand

Uplands Cheese located in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, is renowned for its artisanal cheese production, particularly the Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Rush Creek Reserve. The company operates on a dairy farm that has been milking cows for over a century.

The farm is uniquely situated on Pleasant Ridge in the Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin, which is ideal for the diverse range of grasses that contribute to the high-quality milk produced by their cows. The farm is managed with a focus on sustainable, seasonal, and pasture-based systems.

This approach includes rotational grazing, which ensures fresh pasture for the cows daily, contributing to the exceptional flavors of their milk. The company's commitment to traditional cheesemaking methods, combined with innovative approaches to enhance the unique flavors of their farm, has established Uplands Cheese as a leading example of artisanal cheesemaking in the U.S..Expand

Springside Cheese Corp, based in Wisconsin, is a family-owned business that specializes in crafting artisanal cheeses. They offer a variety of cheese products including traditional cheddar, specialty aged cheeses, and flavored cheeses.

Springside Cheese Corp operates both a production facility and a retail store in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin.Expand

Roelli Cheese Company is located in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, and specializes in crafting artisanal cheeses. The company has a history spanning four generations of cheesemakers, dating back to the early 20th century.

Roelli is known for its small-batch production methods and focus on high-quality, unique cheeses such as their flagship product, Dunbarton Blue.Expand

Marieke Gouda is an American cheesemaker based in Thorp, Wisconsin. The story began when Marieke Penterman, originally from the Netherlands, moved to the United States with the desire to bring the tradition of authentic Dutch Gouda.

On the family farm, together with her husband Rolf, she founded Hollands Family Cheese, where everything takes place in one location – from the cows to the finished cheese. Their Gouda is produced according to authentic Dutch recipes, using fresh milk from their own herd, traditional cultures, and equipment imported from the Netherlands. Thanks to their dedication to quality and artisanal craftsmanship, Marieke Gouda has won more than 200 national and international awards to date.

Today, their cheeses represent a blend of European tradition and American innovation, recognized for their outstanding quality and richness of flavor.Expand

Arena Cheese is located in Arena, Wisconsin, and is known as the original producer of Colby Jack cheese. The company also specializes in producing a variety of other cheeses, including cheddar and specialty cheeses.

Arena Cheese is recognized for using traditional cheesemaking techniques combined with modern innovations to enhance both quality and flavor. This producer is a family-owned business with a long tradition in the cheese industry, dedicated to preserving authentic flavors and high standards. Their cheeses are often awarded at domestic and international competitions, and the company actively supports local farms and the community through collaboration and purchasing milk from local producers.

Arena Cheese produces cheeses that are suitable for everyday use, culinary experiments, and gourmet occasions.Expand

Edelweiss Creamery, located in Monticello, Wisconsin, is a cheese producer known for making traditional Swiss-style cheeses. The creamery operates with a focus on using milk from local, grass-fed cows and employs traditional cheese-making techniques, including using a copper vat for some of their specialty cheeses.

One of their notable products is the Grand Cru Surchoix, which has won awards for its quality.Expand

Hidden Springs Creamery is a farmstead creamery located in Westby, Wisconsin, specializing in the production of sheep’s milk cheeses. Their philosophy is based on sustainable farming and a careful approach to production, where the milk is collected from the farms on which the cheeses are also processed.

This approach allows them to create cheeses that reflect a specific "terroir" – a unique flavor that develops from the particular grazing conditions and environment. Their cheese lineup includes products such as Driftless, a creamy and spreadable cheese with various flavors; Farmstead Feta, a sheep’s milk cheese with a rich and salty taste; and Timber Coulee Reserve, an aged cheese with deep and complex aromas.Expand

Blakesville Creamery is a modern artisanal creamery located in Port Washington, Wisconsin, specializing in the production of handcrafted goat’s milk cheeses. Their farm maintains its own herd of Alpine and Saanen goats, which ensures complete control over milk quality and freshness.

This approach gives their cheeses exceptional purity of flavor and rich aroma, while every step of production—from milking to aging—is designed to highlight the natural qualities of the milk. Blakesville Creamery combines sustainable practices and modern techniques with a passion for traditional cheesemaking. Their assortment includes a variety of soft and semi-hard cheeses, often inspired by European styles but with a distinctive American touch.

Special attention is dedicated to small-batch production, artisanal craftsmanship, and innovative flavors, making Blakesville Creamery a recognized name among cheese lovers and culinary experts across the United States.Expand

Sartori Cheese is a brand specializing in the production of high-quality cheeses with a particular emphasis on artisanal and hand-crafted products. Founded in a small business in Wisconsin, Sartori quickly became known for its innovative production techniques and unique, rich flavors of cheese. The brand offers a wide range of cheeses, including various types of hard cheeses as well as cheeses with added spices and herbs, enhancing every bite.

Sartori is renowned for using the finest milk from local farms in its production process, creating cheeses that not only meet high taste standards but also provide a richness of textures and aromas that develop over time.Expand

Deer Creek Cheese is not simply a dairy – it is an atelier of creativity in the world of cheese. Founded in 2006, their journey began with carefully selected cheddars aged 1 and 3 years, aiming to highlight the elegance of higher-class aging in Wisconsin cheddars. This innovative approach grew into collaborations with master cheesemakers such as Kerry Henning and Sid Cook, inspired daily by a children’s book and family artistry – their daughter Sophie illustrates the labels that tell the story of each cheese.

In addition, Deer Creek donates 1% of annual sales to environmental protection, showing that their mission is to share extraordinary flavors — and responsibility — with the world.Expand