Top 21 Western American Hard Cheeses

Midnight Moon is a gouda-style cheese that's produced in the Netherlands and sold under the Cypress Grove label in Arcata, California. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's left to age from 6 to 12 months before consumption. Underneath its waxed rind, the texture is smooth, dense, grainy, and hard. The aromas are sweet and nutty, while the flavors are buttery, nutty, sweet, and savory with hints of butterscotch and caramel. It's recommended to pair Midnight Moon with a glass of Zinfandel, Syrah, or sherry. The cheese has won many awards, including a gold medal at the World Cheese Awards in 2014.Expand

Fiscalini Bandaged Cheddar is an American cheese hailing from Modesto, California, where it's produced by Fiscalini Cheese Company. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and it's aged from 18 to 30 months before consumption. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is hard, firm, and crumbly. The aromas are rich, buttery, and slightly smokey, while the flavors are nutty and earthy. Fiscalini Bandaged Cheddar has won numerous awards, including gold medals at the World Cheese Awards in 2006, 2007, and 2008. It's recommended to serve the cheese with fresh fruit such as pears and apples. Pair it with wines such as Gamay, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, or Chardonnay for the best experience.Expand

Aggiano is an American cheese produced in Utah by Beehive Cheese Company. It's made from pasteurized milk of Jersey cows. The name is a reference to the Utah State University Aggies (agricultural students), who have first suggested the recipe for its production. The texture of Aggiano is dry, yet creamy. The aromas are fruity, while the flavors are tangy and reminiscent of butterscotch and pineapple. It's recommended to serve it with fresh fruits, pasta, salads, chocolate, or toasted nuts. Pair it with a glass of medium to full-bodied red wines, whiskey, or fruity wheat beer.Expand

Promontory is an American cheddar-style cheese produced in Utah by Beehive Cheese Company. The cheese is made from Jersey cow's milk and it's named after the Promontory Summmit, where the first Transcontinental Railroad in the USA was completed in the year of 1869. The aromas of the cheese are rich and fruity, and the flavors are buttery and citrusy. The texture is semi-firm, creamy, and full-bodied. It's recommended to pair the cheese with ales, IPAs, and full-bodied red wines. Serve Promontory with fruit preserves, dates, or honey for the best experience. The cheese has won many awards, including a gold medal at the 2013 World Cheese Awards. There are also other varieties of this cheese, with added habanero peppers or rosemary, as well as the smoked version of Promontory with added habanero peppers.Expand

San Andreas is an American cheese based on Italian Pecorino, produced in California by Bellwether Farms. The cheese is made from raw sheep's milk and ages for about 3 and a half months. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is creamy and smooth, with a few eyes running throughout the paste. The aromas are clean, rich, and mild, while the flavors are rich, with notes of nuts, hay, and butterscotch. It's recommended to serve it with bread and olives. Pair it with a glass of red wine such as Pinot Noir.Expand

Apple Walnut Smoked is an American Promontory cheese variety hailing from Utah, where it's produced by Beehive Cheese Company. This cheddar-style cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. When young, it's cold-smoked over red apple wedges and walnut wood, and it's then left to mature for a minimum of 8 months. The aromas are smoky and subtly sweet, while the flavors are nutty, buttery, sweet, and smoky. The texture is smooth and creamy. It's recommended to use the cheese in sandwiches or serve it with cold cuts, bacon, and toasted nuts. Pair it with a glass of bourbon or a bottle of dark ale, stouts, or porters.Expand

Barely Buzzed is an American cheese hailing from Utah, where it's produced by Beehive Cheese Company. This cheddar-style cheese is made from Jersey cow's milk. The rind is rubbed with a combination of roasted coffee and lavender buds diluted with oil. When fully aged (in caves, on Utah blue spruce), the texture is smooth and creamy, while the aromas are rich. The flavors are nutty, with hints of caramel, coffee, and butterscotch. It's recommended to pair it with coffee or a glass of stout and serve it with crusty whole-wheat bread.Expand

Wagon Wheel is a semi-firm American cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese hails from Petaluma, California, where it's produced by Cowgirl Creamery. It has a natural rind and it's aged for about 2 months. The yellowish paste is speckled with tiny eyes, and the aroma is earthy and musty, while the flavors are mild, caramel-like, slightly tart, buttery, mellow, and creamy. The texture is springy and supple. It is recommended to serve Wagon Wheel as a part of a larger cheese board.Expand

Capriago is an American hard cheese hailing from Sebastopol, California, where it's produced by Bohemian Creamery. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's aged from 8 to 10 weeks. During the maturation process, the rind is washed in brine. The texture is firm, the aromas spicy and nutty, while the flavors are nutty and slightly sweet. It's recommended to pair it with pinot wines and serve it with fresh fruits or seasonal green vegetables.Expand

Dry Jack is an American cheese made from cow's milk. It is an aged version of the popular Monterey Jack. The cheese is aged for an additional 6 months or more. Its texture is crumbly and firm, the aromas are earthy, while the flavors are mild, slightly sweet, and nutty. Dry Jack can be shredded, sliced, grated, cooked, or consumed on its own. It is recommended to use it in cheese sandwiches, souffles, or omelets. Alternatively, grate it over pasta, soups, or tacos.Expand

Beehive Cheese Company is a family-owned artisan cheese maker based in Uintah, USA. Since its founding in 2005 by the Ford and Welsh families, Beehive Cheese has been dedicated to crafting high-quality, handcrafted cheeses. The company has quickly established a reputation for innovation, winning over 130 major awards for its cheeses. Beehive Cheese is renowned for producing unique and flavorful cheeses, including signature rubbed-rind varieties, such as Seahive, a cheese made with local honey and sea salt. The company is committed to sustainability and is certified as a B Corporation, meaning they meet high standards of social and environmental performance. Beehive Cheese also values community engagement and maintains strong ties to its local area. With a passion for quality, sustainability, and creative flavors, Beehive Cheese offers cheese enthusiasts a truly exceptional experience.Expand

Familia del Norte is an artisan cheese producer based in Ferndale, Washington, USA. It was founded by Nidia Hernandez, a first-generation Mexican-American with strong ties to Whatcom and Yakima counties. With over eight years of experience in cheese-making, Nidia decided to share the richness of Latin American tradition through the Familia del Norte line of cheeses. These cheeses reflect a commitment to authenticity, quality, and a passion for Latin American culinary heritage. They are ideal for use in Mexican dishes such as tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and nachos, but also pair wonderfully with fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts, and bread.Expand