Top 76 American Semi-hard 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

Goat Gouda is an American semi-hard cheese produced in California. This Gouda-style cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and cream. The rind is natural, and the texture is dense, firm, and smooth, sometimes slightly grainy. The aroma is sweet and the flavors are caramel-like, milky, and nutty. Goat Gouda ages for about 5 months before it's ready for consumption. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Chardonnay and serve it with sour cherry preserve.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

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

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

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

Habanero Cheddar is an American cheese hailing from Oregon. This semi-hard cheese is pressed into blocks and it's made from pasteurized cow's milk, habanero chili peppers, and spices. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is crumbly and creamy. The aroma is spicy, while the flavors are spicy, tangy, and savory. The cheese melts well so it's often used in grilled cheese sandwiches, but it can also be melted over burgers and nachos.Expand

Roasted Garlic Cheddar is an American cheese produced in New York by Muranda Cheese Company. This semi-hard artisan cheese is made from raw cow's milk and it's infused with roasted garlic, hence the name. The cheese also often contains spices such as chives and parsley. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is crumbly. The aromas are strong, while the flavors are full, sharp, intense, and garlicky. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of dry Riesling.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

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

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

Carr Valley Cheese is a family-owned cheese company located in Wisconsin, known for its traditional cheesemaking techniques passed down through generations. It produces a wide variety of cheeses, including artisanal and specialty cheeses, that have won numerous national and international awards.

The company operates multiple retail stores across Wisconsin.Expand

Rumiano Cheese Company is a family-owned cheese producer based in California. They are known for making high-quality cheese, including organic and non-GMO products.

Rumiano Cheese specializes in crafting various types of cheese such as cheddar, mozzarella, and butter using sustainable practices and high-quality ingredients. Their headquarters is located in Willows, California, and they source their milk from local, pasture-raised cows. The company has a long history, dating back to 1919, and is known for being one of the oldest family-owned cheese companies in California.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

Klondike Cheese is a family-owned creamery from the heart of Wisconsin, led for generations by the Buholzer family. Their tradition blends artisanal dedication with modern technology, grounded in carefully selected milk from local farms and the highest quality standards.

The result is a line of products distinguished by reliability, pure dairy flavor, and consistent texture. Their classic cheeses, such as Havarti, Gouda, Brick, and Muenster, stand out for their versatility and rich taste. Whether served on an elegant cheese board, incorporated into favorite dishes, or simply enjoyed melted, Klondike cheeses always deliver the perfect balance of tradition and modern 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

Global Foods International is an American producer of specialty cheeses based in Schiller Park, Illinois. A fourth-generation family company, founded in the 1930s, it continues the tradition of quality started in Switzerland and Germany.

Today, they produce a wide range of cheeses, including smoked cheeses, blocks, slices, shredded, diced, and processed cheeses, as well as products in large and industrial packages. They also offer services such as smoking, cutting, and custom packaging, as well as private-label production. Global Foods International also stands out for its awards: in the past two years, they have won 31 medals at prestigious cheese-making competitions, including 12 Best in Class awards.

Their commitment to quality and innovation makes them a recognized leader in the specialty cheese industry in North America.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

BelGioioso Cheese, based in Green Bay, USA, is renowned for its production of Italian-style cheeses since 1979. The company operates out of multiple facilities and crafts over 27 different varieties of cheese.

BelGioioso is known for its commitment to quality, using fresh, local milk and traditional cheesemaking methods. This commitment is evident in their practice of processing milk into cheese on the same day it is collected from local farms to ensure freshness and flavor. BelGioioso has been recognized widely in the cheese industry, receiving numerous awards from prestigious competitions like the World Cheese Championship and the American Cheese Society.

Their range includes popular Italian-style cheeses such as fresh Mozzarella, Mascarpone, Ricotta, and aged cheeses like Parmesan and American Grana, which are aged in specialized caves to enhance their flavor.Expand