Best Northeastern American Goat Cheese Types
Bijou is an American cheese hailing from Vermont. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's left to age for 30 days. During the maturation period, Bijou (jewel in French) forms a wrinkly mold-ripened rind with a sweet and yeasty aroma.
Underneath it, the texture is smooth and creamy. The flavors are tangy, sharp, yeasty, clean, milky, and sweet, with hints of hazelnuts and flowers. It's recommended to serve this small hand-shaped button of cheese with pickled cherries, pancetta, fig jam, and roasted hazelnuts.
Coupole is an American cheese produced in Vermont by Vermont Creamery in Websterville. The cheese is made from goat's milk and it's shaped into a dome. The texture is creamy and dense, while the aromas and flavors are fresh, mild, and milky.
The wrinkled rind has a strong and intense aroma that makes the cheese stand out on a cheeseboard. Coupole is an award-winning cheese, including a silver medal at the 2011 World Cheese Awards. This unique cheese is named after its likeness to a snow-covered dome.
Pair with
Bonne Bouche is an American soft cheese made in Vermont. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and microbial rennet. The rind is mold-ripened and sprinkled with tree ash, and it's then aged for 10 days until it develops a wrinkly rind.
After that, it continues to age for up to 80 days. The rind has a yeasty aroma, while the texture is smooth and creamy. The flavors are grassy and citrusy, but they become more robust and piquant with further aging. The name of the cheese means good mouthful.
Cayuga Blue is an American cheese produced in New York by Lively Run Goat Dairy. This blue cheese is made from goat's milk and it ages for 2 months. Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture is compact, firm, and flaky. The aromas are rich and mild, while the flavors are creamy, complex, and intense, although they vary from one wheel to another.
There are blue veins running throughout the body of Cayuga Blue. It's recommended to pair the cheese with powerful beers and wines, as well as Scotch.
Pair with
THE BEST Cayuga Blue Cheeses
Lively Run Dairy
Cayuga Blue
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2022, 2017
La Luna is an American cheese hailing from Vermont, where it's produced by Blue Ledge Farm. This Gouda-style cheese is made from raw goat's milk and has a waxed rind. The aromas are grassy, and the texture is semi-firm and smooth.
The flavors are creamy, tangy, fresh, and milky. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of beer on the side. The name of the cheese means the moon in Italian, referring to the fact that the creators of the cheese met in Italy and began planning for their cheesemaking there.
Kennebec Highlands Caerphilly is an American cheese originating from Sidney, Maine, where it's produced by Kennebec Cheesery. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's usually left to age from 4 to 6 months before consumption.
Underneath its waxed rind, the texture is semi-hard, smooth, and creamy. The aromas are milky and grassy, while the flavors are salty, tangy, and nutty. Kennebec Highlands Caerphilly is often added to pizzas, salads, and pastas, and it's recommended to serve it with bread or crackers.
Mettowee is an American cheese hailing from Vermont, where it's produced by Consider Bardwell Farm. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's available from May through October. Underneath its natural rind, the texture of this fresh cheese is silky smooth, creamy, and soft.
The aromas are subtle, clean, and fresh, while the flavors are creamy, tart, acidic, and tangy. It's recommended to serve Mettowee cheese with fruits, jams, and salads.
Danby is an American cheese hailing from Vermont, where it's produced by Consider Bardwell Farm. This hard cheese is made from raw goat's milk and it's usually left to age for at least 6 months before consumption. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is firm, dense, and smooth.
The aromas are rich, while the flavors are sharp. Danby is named after the eponymous town in Vermont, famous for its white marble, referring to the dense white paste of this cheese. It's recommended to grate Danby over pasta or slice it and eat it on its own as a snack.
Melville is an American cheese hailing from Lebanon, Connecticut. This soft artisan cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's ripened from 7 to 14 days. When young, after 7 days, the texture is silky and blubbery, and after 14 days the texture becomes oily, soft, elastic, and supple.
The flavors are sweet, mild, buttery, and slightly tart and acidic. It's recommended to use Melville with pasta dishes, pizza, tomatoes, fruit jams, and mushrooms. Pair it with a glass of wheat beer or champagne. The cheese is named after the famous author of Moby Dick, and that's why the co-founder of Mystic Cheese, Brian Vivitello, refers to the texture of Melville as blubbery.
Best Northeastern American Goat Cheeses
Bonne Bouche is an acclaimed aged goat cheese produced by Vermont Creamery in Websterville, Vermont, USA. This cheese is known for its distinctive ash-ripened rind that develops a creamy and robust flavor as it ages. Initially aged for 10 days, Bonne Bouche can continue to mature for up to 90 days, becoming softer and more piquant over time.
It's made from pasteurized goat's milk sourced from small family farms, both local and Canadian, and is celebrated for its wrinkly, geotrichum-rind, giving it a unique texture and appearance.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2018, 2013, 2010, 2001
Claire's Mandell Hill is an artisanal cheese produced by Ruggles Hill Creamery. This cheese is crafted with utmost attention to detail and dedication in small batches using high-quality goat's milk. The creamery is known for its commitment to sustainable farming practices and artisan cheese-making techniques.
Claire's Mandell Hill has gained recognition for its rich, tangy flavor and smooth texture, making it a favorite among cheese aficionados.
AWARDS
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2018, 2017, 2016, 2013
Bijou is a type of aged goat cheese produced by Vermont Creamery, known for its artisanal dairy products. Bijou, meaning "jewel" in French, reflects the small, precious nature of this cheese. It is characterized by its delicate, wrinkled rind and creamy, dense interior that becomes more complex in flavor as it ages.
Typically, Bijou has a mildly tangy, slightly sweet taste with earthy undertones, making it a versatile option for cheese boards, salads, or cooking. The cheese is hand-rolled and aged to ensure consistency and quality, showcasing the creamery’s dedication to traditional cheese-making techniques.
AWARDS
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2019, 2016, 2015, 2014
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2021
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2018
Vermont Goats' Milk Feta, made by Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, is a type of feta cheese crafted primarily from fresh, high-quality goats' milk. This cheese is known for its creamy yet crumbly texture and its tangy, slightly salty flavor profile, which makes it versatile for various culinary applications such as salads, sandwiches, and Mediterranean dishes.
This artisan cheese is produced in small batches, ensuring close attention to detail and quality.
AWARDS
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2016, 2014, 2012, 2004
Très Bonne is a distinctive cheese produced by Boston Post Dairy. This cheese stands out for its unique blend of creamy textures and robust flavors, which make it a versatile choice for both casual and gourmet culinary applications. Crafted with meticulous attention to quality, Très Bonne offers a taste experience that is both rich and nuanced, appealing to cheese enthusiasts seeking new and delightful flavors.
The dairy is known for its commitment to sustainable practices and high standards, ensuring that each wheel of cheese reflects their dedication to excellence.
AWARDS
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2016, 2014
AWARDS
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2017, 2012
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
Classic Goat Cheese Crumbles by Vermont Creamery are well-known for their creamy texture and distinct tangy flavor. This product is made from high-quality goat's milk, which is sourced from local farms in Vermont. The crumbles are often used in a variety of dishes such as salads, pizzas, and pasta due to their ability to add a rich, savory element.
The cheese undergoes precise aging processes to bring out its characteristic flavor profile.
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023
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