Best Western American Cheese Types
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.
Pair with
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.
Pair with
VARIATIONS OF Monterey Jack
THE BEST Monterey Jack Cheeses

Rumiano Cheese Company
Monterey Jack
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2010

Cabot Creamery
Cabot Monterey Jack
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2024, 2014, 2004
Joseph Farms Cheese
Monterey Jack Cheese
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2024

Oregon Blue is an American blue cheese made from raw cow's milk. The cheese ages for a minimum of 90 days in Rogue Creamery's caves. The texture is firm and buttery, and the aromas are earthy and clean. The flavors are mellow, sweet, and buttery, with hints of cream.
On the inside, there are veins of earthy blue molds. Oregon Blue has been produced since 1957 and has won numerous awards. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Riesling or Pinot Noir.
Pair with
Point Reyes Bay Blue is an American cheese hailing from California. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's left to age for 90 days. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is crumbly and creamy with blue-green veining running throughout the paste.
The aromas are strong and earthy, while the flavors are creamy, sweet, mushroomy, salty, and buttery, with hints of caramel at the finish. It's recommended to pair Point Reyes Bay Blue with toasted nuts or grilled peaches. The cheese also melts well, so it's often used in risottos and pasta dishes or on steaks and burgers.
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.
THE BEST Pepper Jack Cheeses

Tillamook County Creamery
Pepper Jack
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2014

Cabot Creamery
Cabot Pepper Jack Shingled Slices
World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class 2024, 2022
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.
Mt Tam is an American cheese hailing from California, where it's produced by Cowgirl Creamery. This soft triple-cream cheese is made from organic cow's milk with the addition of cream. It has a bloomy rind and the texture is firm, smooth, dense, and creamy.
The flavors are rich and buttery with earthy, mushroomy, and grassy hints. Mt Tam is named after the majestic Mt. Tamalpais in Northern California. It's recommended to pair the cheese with a glass of Sancerre.
Pair with
THE BEST Mt Tam Cheeses

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.
Purple Haze is an American cheese produced in California by Cypress Grove. It dates back to the 1970s, when Mary Keehn found herself with excess goat milk and invented the cheese in the process. Nowadays, the milk is pasteurized in vats with coagulants and cultures, and the mix is then placed into a curd press to drain.
The curd is combined with salt and shaped into disks which are dusted with wild fennel pollen and lavender. Without aging, the cheeses are sent to markets where they can be sold and consumed. This aromatic, fresh, soft cheese has no rind, and its texture is crumbly, smooth, creamy, and spreadable.
Pair with
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.
Best Western American Cheese Producers
Beecher's Handmade Cheese, established in 2003, is renowned for its artisanal cheesemaking in the heart of Seattle's Pike Place Market. The company was founded by Kurt Beecher Dammeier and quickly became known for its commitment to quality and natural ingredients, producing cheese free from artificial preservatives and flavor enhancers.
Beecher's is particularly famous for its Flagship cheese, a semi-hard cow's milk cheese noted for its robust, nutty flavor that is carefully aged for 15 months to develop its complex character. Beecher's operates transparently with a glass-walled facility that allows visitors to watch the cheesemaking process, emphasizing educational outreach and community engagement.
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2021

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
BEST Beecher's Handmade Cheese Cheeses
Cypress Grove is a cheese producer that specializes in goat cheese varieties. The company began with a few goats to provide milk for her children. Cypress Grove gained popularity with its flagship product, Humboldt Fog, a soft-ripened cheese with a distinctive layer of edible ash.
The company has expanded its product line to include other types of fresh and aged goat cheeses.
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022, 2020, 2014, 2010

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2022
BEST Cypress Grove Cheeses
Bellwether Farms, located in Petaluma, California, is a family-owned creamery that produces a variety of artisan cheeses and dairy products. They are known for using traditional methods and primarily sheep's milk, along with cow's milk, to create their products.
Bellwether Farms also offers a line of yogurts alongside their cheeses.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2004, 2003
BEST Bellwether Farms Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023
BEST Rogue Creamery Cheeses
Harley Farms, located in Pescadero, California, is a goat dairy farm that produces a variety of award-winning goat cheeses. The farm spans nine acres and houses a herd of over 200 Alpine goats, from which the milk is sourced for cheese production.
Harley Farms offers a selection of cheeses including chevre, fromage blanc, ricotta, and feta, as well as farm tours and events for visitors.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000
BEST Harley Farms, Inc. Cheeses
Beehive Cheese is a cheese producer based in Utah, specifically in Uintah. The company, founded in 2005 by brothers-in-law Tim Welsh and Pat Ford, specializes in crafting artisanal cheeses. They are particularly known for their unique cheese varieties like Barely Buzzed, which is a cheese hand-rubbed with a mix of coffee and lavender.
Beehive Cheese focuses on using high-quality ingredients and creating distinctive flavor profiles.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Beehive Cheese Cheeses
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2022, 2018, 2017, 2016
BEST Brush Creek Creamery Cheeses
Cowgirl Creamery, founded in 1997 by Sue Conley and Peggy Smith, is based in Petaluma, California. The company specializes in artisanal cheeses, producing a variety of organic cheese products. Cowgirl Creamery is known for popular cheeses like Mt.
Tam and Red Hawk. This cheese producer sources milk from local dairies in the Point Reyes region, ensuring high-quality ingredients in their products.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024
BEST Cowgirl Creamery Cheeses
Laura Chenel's Chevre, based in Sonoma County, California, is known for pioneering artisan goat cheese in America since the late 1970s. The company emphasizes sustainable farming and local sourcing, utilizing milk from goats raised in the region to produce a variety of fresh and aged goat cheeses.
Their products reflect a commitment to natural methods and the rich terroir of the Sonoma Valley.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2011

Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
2023
BEST Laura Chenel's Chevre Cheeses
Face Rock Creamery, located in Bandon, Oregon, began operations in May 2013. The creamery specializes in producing a variety of cheeses, including cheddar, Monterey Jack, and curds. It also features a viewing room where visitors can watch the cheese-making process, emphasizing transparency and consumer education.
Face Rock Creamery has won several awards for its cheeses at national competitions.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013

Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
2023
BEST Face Rock Creamery Cheeses
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