Top 100 American Cow's Milk Cheeses

Maytag Blue is an American blue cheese originating from just outside Newton, Iowa, on Maytag Dairy Farms. The cheese is made with Holstein cow's milk since 1941. It ripens for 6 months, and during the time it develops a texture that is dense and crumbly. The aromas are strong and pungent, while the flavors are tangy and lemony. It is recommended to crumble Maytag Blue in salads, melt it on burgers, and pair it with a glass of lager or ale.Expand

Muenster is an American imitation of the famous Munster cheese that's traditionally produced in France. This one is made from pasteurized cow's milk. Underneath its orange rind, the texture is smooth, supple, and elastic. This soft cheese has pungent aromas and savory flavors that range from mild to sharp. Compared to the French Munster, Muenster is much milder and it's also sold younger than the French one. Muenster has great melting properties so it's often used in sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, burgers, and pizza. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of beer.Expand

American Provolone is an American type of Provolone cheese. The most famous Provolone cheeses are protected and come from Italy in two versions – dolce and piccante. The American version of provolone is unlike its Italian cousins – it’s usually aged for just two months, while the Italian piccante is usually aged for more than a year, and the dolce version is aged for at least 4 months before consumption. American producers of provolone use non-animal enzymes, which can vary in flavor. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow’s milk, and its texture is semi-soft and light. The flavor is very mellow, milky, and mild, and it’s typically recommended to use it in sandwiches and for cooking. American Provolone is also an important part of famous American dishes such as Muffuletta and Philly cheesesteak.Expand

Monterey Jack is an American cheese made from cow's milk. It originates from Monterey in California, where it was first made by Spanish missionaries under the name queso blanco pais, but it was later taken from them by David Jack, who bought nearly all of Monterey in 1859 and renamed the cheese to Jack's Cheese, soon to be called Monterey Jack's Cheese. Historical shenanigans aside, this semi-hard cheese has a firm, open, supple, and compact texture and a natural rind. It is pale yellow in color, while the flavors are mild and buttery. Monterey Jack also melts exceptionally well. It has a few subvarieties, such as Dry Jack and Pepper Jack. The cheese can be easily found in almost all supermarkets in the United States.Expand

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

Pepper Jack is an American cheese produced in Monterey, California. This popular variety of Monterey Jack cheese is flavored with jalapeño peppers for a spicy kick. It's made from cow's milk and has a natural rind that hides a creamy, smooth, and open texture. The aromas are herbal, while the flavors are sharp, spicy, and buttery. The cheese has a high moisture content and melts easily. Pepper Jack is often used to add flavor to sandwiches, pizza, omelets, and casseroles. It's also recommended to use it in Mexican-style dishes such as quesadillas, enchiladas, and nachos.Expand

Bayley Hazen Blue is an American blue cheese produced by Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and it has a natural rind. It's named after an old military road that was commisioned by George Washington. The recipe for this cheese was developed by altering the aging process and the shape of a Devon Blue recipe. The texture of Bayley Hazen Blue is dense, firm, and slightly dry, yet creamy and fudge-like, with blue veins running throughout it. The aromas are strong, spicy, and grassy, while the flavors are buttery, nutty, and tangy, with hints of anise. It's recommended to serve the cheese with a chunk of dark chocolate and pair it with a glass of fruity red dessert wine. Bayley Hazen Blue can also be served with burgers, tart cherries, spinach salad, or walnuts. Interestingly, it has won numerous awards, including Super Gold at the 2014 World Cheese Awards.Expand

Baby Swiss is an American cheese originating from Ohio. Made with cow's milk, the cheese has a smooth and open texture, while its flavors are nutty, mild, and sweet. It is called Baby Swiss because it looks like a smaller version of Swiss cheese. On the inside, it has numerous small eyes that are as big as peas. The cheese isn't aged for a long time so the eyes don't have time to become larger. It is recommended to pair Baby Swiss with berries and sweet wines.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

Pinconning is a traditional semi-hard American Colby-style cheese. It's named after Pinconning, Michigan, where it was first created by Dan Horn in 1915. The cheese is aged up to 120 months, giving Pinconning a special savory flavor. It's made from cow's milk and it's available in mild, medium mild, medium sharp, sharp, extra sharp, and super sharp (more than 7 years!) varieties. The texture changes with aging, but it's usually creamy, rich, and open. It's recommended to use it in dishes such as mac & cheese and soufflés.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

Jasper Hill Farm is a farmstead cheese producer based in Greensboro, founded in 2003 with a clear mission to strengthen the rural economy of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom through high-quality cheesemaking. The operation is built around milk from its own farm, with a strong emphasis on consistency, milk quality and expressing a sense of place through different cheese styles. A central pillar of the business is The Cellars at Jasper Hill, a purpose-built underground aging facility designed to provide precise control over humidity, temperature and microbial development during affinage. These cellars are used not only for Jasper Hill’s own cheeses but also to support other small regional producers by offering professional aging, storage and distribution services. This collaborative model has positioned Jasper Hill as both a producer and an infrastructure backbone for the local artisan cheese community. Their portfolio spans multiple styles, from blue and soft-ripened cheeses to alpine-inspired varieties, many of which have received international recognition. Jasper Hill Farm is widely regarded as one of the most influential producers in American artisanal cheesemaking, known for combining technical rigor with a strong commitment to regional sustainability.Expand

Spring Brook Farm Cheese is located in Reading, Vermont, where they produce artisanal cheeses. The cheeses produced by Spring Brook Farm are made using traditional techniques and include varieties such as Tarentaise, an alpine-style cheese. The farm also operates as an educational facility, teaching students about sustainable agriculture through its partnership with the Farms for City Kids Foundation.Expand

The Farm at Doe Run is an award-winning creamery located in Coatesville, Chester County, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania. It was founded in 2008 by Richard Hayne, the founder of Urban Outfitters, with the goal of creating a local farm that produces high-quality cheeses and provides jobs for the community. Today, the farm is run by a team of experienced cheesemakers, including Olivia Haver, a former member of the Jasper Hill team, who, together with colleagues from Vermont, has taken the lead in cheese production and affinage. The farm exclusively raises grass-fed Jersey and Normande cows, East Friesian sheep, and Saanen and Nubian goats. This biodiversity allows for the production of a wide range of cheeses, from soft and creamy to aged and textured. All cheeses are handcrafted using the farmstead method, meaning that only milk from the farm is used, without any ingredients sourced externally.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

Parish Hill Creamery is a seasonal cheese producer that focuses on traditional Italian methods and raw cow's milk. The creamery crafts its cheeses using microbial rennet and cultures developed from the local environment. Led by Peter Dixon, who is an experienced cheesemaker, Parish Hill Creamery emphasizes the importance of terroir and sustainable practices in cheese production.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

Calkins Creamery is a family-owned creamery located on a farm in Honesdale, in northeastern Pennsylvania. It was founded in 2007 by Jennifer Rudnitsky and her family, with the goal of enhancing the long-standing tradition of the Calkins family farm. The cows grazing on the farm’s pastures provide the milk that is processed on-site into cheeses, ensuring complete quality control – from animal feed to the final product. The creamery’s offerings include a wide range of cheeses, from fresh varieties to semi-hard and surface-ripened styles. The focus is on traditional cheesemaking techniques combined with modern expertise, resulting in cheeses of rich flavor and authentic character that reflect the terroir of the region. As a local producer, Calkins Creamery is deeply connected to its community – their cheeses are sold directly on the farm, in specialty shops, and at farmers’ markets, while also supplying restaurants eager to feature artisanal products on their menus. In this way, the creamery not only preserves tradition and agricultural sustainability but also contributes to the development of Pennsylvania’s and the broader region’s gastronomic culture.Expand