Top 85 American Semi-soft Cheeses

Humboldt Fog is an American cheese produced in Arcata, California. The cheese is made with goat's milk and has a paper-thin bloomy rind. Inside, there is a semi-soft body with a creamy, smooth, and slightly runny texture, due to the fact that Humboldt Fog ripens from the outside to the centre. The cheese is distinguished by a layer of edible ash on the interior, which is actually a nod to the French Morbier cheese. The aromas of this cheese are pungent and floral, while the flavors are citrusy, tangy, and slightly lemony. It is recommended to drizzle it with honey and serve it with almonds, tart apples, or prosciutto. For the best experience, pour a glass of beer or Sauvignon Blanc on the side. And if you're eating Humboldt Fog and think that the flavors are ''dreamy'', you might not be far from the truth - its inventor, Cypress Grove Chevre founder Mary Keehn says she fell asleep on a plane and dreamed about a new type of cheese with a line running through it, and the Humboldt Fog was born.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

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

Point Reyes Original Blue is an American blue cheese produced in California by Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and has a natural rind. The texture is creamy and buttery and the aromas are milky, fresh, and intense. The flavors range from milky, sweet, and creamy to strong. It's recommended to serve it with pasta dishes, red meat, grilled vegetables, or fresh salads. Pair the cheese with a glass of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, or sparkling wine.Expand

Cougar Gold is an American cheese hailing from the Washington State University Creamery in Pullman. Sold exclusively in 30-ounce cans since 1948, this semi-soft cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. When out of the can, visually, it's a white cheddar with rounded edges and without a rind. The texture is smooth and firm, but it becomes crumbly and crystalline with age. The flavors are creamy, nutty, and sharp, with a milky smooth and mellow finish. The cheese is stored for at least one year before it can be sold. Cougar Gold was originally produced with a bacteria called WSU19, which limits carbon dioxide production so that the cheese can be safely stored into a can. Nowadays, the cheese comes in the following flavors: Original, Natural Cheddar, Smoky Cheddar, Viking, Dill Garlic, Sweet Basil, Hot Pepper, and Crimson Fire.Expand

Crema de Blue is an American blue cheese made in New Jersey by Valley Shepherd Creamery. The cheese is made from raw Jersey cow's milk. After aging in caves for 65 days, underneath its natural rind the texture becomes creamy and semi-soft, with blue-green veining throughout the body. The flavors are full, spicy, creamy, and tart, with hints of licorice. It's recommended to serve it on a cheeseboard, where it will most likely be the most popular cheese on the plate.Expand

Moses Sleeper is an American cheese produced in Vermont by Jasper Hill Creamery. Made from pasteurized cow's milk, it was inspired by the classic French Brie. Underneath its thin bloomy rind, there is a gooey texture with a milky aroma. After 6 to 12 weeks of aging, the flavors become rich and nutty, with hints of cauliflower and fresh cream. There's a bright and clean finish with hints of white mushroom aroma. It's recommended to serve Moses Sleeper on a cheeseboard with baguettes, pickled carrots, or country-style meat spreads.Expand

Breakfast Cheese is an American cheese hailing from California, where it's produced by Marin French Cheese Company. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's usually sold at a very young age of 3 days. The texture is firm and dense, slightly clay-like, and ivory white in color. The aroma is fresh while the flavors are tangy, salty, buttery, mild, creamy, and citrusy. It's recommended to serve it with bagels and fruit as a tasty snack. This cheese was originally sold in saloons where it was served as an alternative to pickled eggs, hence the name Breakfast Cheese. The small version is known as Petite Breakfast, made with the addition of a dollop of fresh cream to the mix.Expand

Herbes de Provence Chevre is an American semi-soft cheese hailing from Colorado, where it's produced by Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's shaped into logs that are coated in Herbes de Provence, a traditional French spice blend originating from Provence. The texture of this rindless cheese is creamy and crumbly. The aromas are fresh and clean, while the flavors are mild and herbaceous. It's recommended to serve the cheese with crusty bread and Kalamata olives. Pair it with a glass of fruity wine such as Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc.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

Prairie Farms Dairy is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the United States. Founded in 1938, it operates as a cooperative, meaning it is owned by dairy farmers who supply the milk and other dairy products. Prairie Farms Dairy produces a wide range of dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and yogurt, and distributes them across a large portion of the United States. The cooperative's business model is centered around supporting local dairy farmers while offering high-quality, fresh dairy products to consumers. Prairie Farms Dairy is known for its commitment to sustainability and animal welfare, as well as for using advanced technologies in dairy farming to ensure the quality of their products.Expand

Kingston Creamery is cooperative from Cambria (Wisconsin), established as a community response when local dairies closed. Renamed during the pandemic, the cooperative is still bravely run by families who preserve traditional methods—hand-milking cattle, small farms, old-fashioned milk cans—all with the goal of producing exceptional cheese. Their award-winning blue cheeses, such as Heritage Blue, combine piquant, earthy notes with a sweet, fruity undertone, the result of long-standing dedication to quality and artisanal craftsmanship. Founded as a step toward preserving the community and way of life, the cooperative now brings together over 60 members who jointly produce and market milk, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for their farmers and the preservation of their cultural heritage.Expand

Cowgirl Creamery is a renowned artisanal cheese producer, founded in 1997 by Sue Conley and Peggy Smith in Petaluma, California. The company specializes in the production of organic cheeses, offering a wide range of hand-crafted cheeses that reflect their commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. Cowgirl Creamery prides itself on using milk from local farms in the Point Reyes area, known for its rich pastures. The use of locally sourced, organically grown milk gives their cheeses a unique character, depth of flavor, and a high level of quality. Two of Cowgirl Creamery's most famous products are Mt. Tam and Red Hawk, both cheeses with rich, creamy textures and complex flavors. Mt. Tam is a soft, creamy cheese with a mild sweetness, while Red Hawk is a washed-rind cheese with a deep, intense flavor, characterized by its reddish-orange rind. These cheeses have become symbols of quality and excellence in the world of artisanal cheese. Cowgirl Creamery produces cheeses in small batches, allowing them to pay close attention to every step of the production process, from sourcing the milk to the final aging phase. By combining traditional techniques with innovative approaches, they continuously improve their products while staying true to the authentic methods of cheese-making.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

Cabot Creamery is a well-known dairy cooperative based in Cabot, Vermont. Established in 1919, it comprises over 1,000 dairy farm families from Vermont and neighboring states. The cooperative specializes in producing a variety of dairy products, including award-winning cheeses, butters, and yogurts. Cabot is particularly famous for its cheddar cheese, which comes in various flavors and aging profiles, from mild to extra sharp. The cooperative emphasizes high-quality, sustainable practices, ensuring that their products are made from the milk of cows that are humanely treated and raised on family farms.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

Rogue Creamery was founded in 1933 in Oregon, and has since become a recognized name in the cheese industry, specializing in organic, hand-crafted cheeses with a particular focus on blue cheeses. The creamery has maintained high standards of quality over the years and has built an outstanding reputation in the United States and worldwide. Rogue Creamery is committed to sustainability, with its business model based on environmentally responsible practices. The creamery uses only milk from local farms that meet strict organic production standards. The milk used for their cheeses comes from farms that practice sustainable agricultural methods. Rogue Creamery produces its cheeses in small batches, using traditional methods and handcrafting techniques. Their cheeses are known for their high quality, which has earned them numerous prestigious awards.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

Montchevre Betin is a company specializing in the production of goat cheese. It was established in 1989 and is based in the United States. The company produces a wide variety of goat cheeses including traditional chevre logs, crumbled feta, and specialty flavors. Montchevre sources its milk from a network of independent family farms, ensuring a focus on sustainable and responsible farming practices.Expand