Best Midwestern American Raw Milk Cheese Types
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.
Pair with
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.
Daphne's Alpine Cheese is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's made by Daphne's Creamery. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and it's left to age for at least 60 days before consumption. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is smooth and semi-soft.
The flavor is nutty and grassy. Daphne's Alpine has great melting properties, which is the reason why it's perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches or grating over salads and pasta dishes. It's recommended to pair the cheese with crisp and fruity wines and beer.
Pleasant Ridge Reserve is an American cheese produced in Wisconsin by Mike Gingrich. Modelled on Beaufort and Gruyere, this cheese is made from raw cow's milk only from May to October. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is smooth, firm, and dense.
The flavors are full, rich, nutty, grassy, and creamy. A small batch of Pleasant Ridge Reserve is aged for more than a year, and it's then sold as Extra Aged in the fall and early winter. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of dry Champagne or Chardonnay.
Pair with
Ameribella is a semi-soft American cheese hailing from Indiana. Inspired by the cheeses of Northern Italy, this cheese is made from cow's milk and it's left to age for at least 60 days. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is creamy and smooth, with small eyes running throughout the paste.
The aromas are milky and grassy, while the flavors are salty and savory, with hints of hay and mushrooms. With age, the flavor becomes more sweet and complex, while the texture becomes runnier. It's recommended to serve Ameribella with crusty bread, cold cuts, or thinly sliced pears and cucumbers.
Great Lakes Cheshire is an American cheese hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where it's produced by Zingerman's Creamery. The cheese is made from raw milk coming from a mixed herd of cows, so the milk is extremely rich. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is supple and crumbly.
The flavors are rich and well-rounded, making the cheese great for cheeseboards. It's recommended to serve Great Lakes Cheshire with fresh bread and sliced onions and tomatoes.
Ocooch Mountain is an American cheese hailing from Wisconsin, where it's produced by Hidden Springs Creamery. The cheese is made from raw sheep's milk and it's usually left to age from 3 to 4 months before consumption. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is compact, dense, chewy, and grainy, becoming firmer with age.
The aromas are rich and nutty, while the flavors are nutty and fruity with hints of leather and caramel.
THE BEST Ocooch Mountain Cheeses
Hidden Springs Creamery
Ocooch Mountain Grande Reserve
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place 2023, 2019, 2008
Mont Saint-Francis is an American semi-hard cheese hailing from Indiana, where it's produced by Capriole Goat Cheese. The cheese is made from raw goat's milk in the style of French and Belgian monastic cheeses. Underneath its pungent stout-washed rind, the texture is firm and brittle, becoming more soft with age.
The aromas are pungent and intense, while the flavors are rich, strong, and earthy. Due to its complex aromas and flavors, it's recommended to pair Mont Saint-Francis with fortified wines, bitter beers, and bourbon. The cheese was named after a Franciscan retreat near the production area.
Pair with
Moonglo is an American tomme-style cheese hailing from Illinois. The cheese is made from raw goat's milk and it's left to age for 3 to 4 months before consumption. The rind is washed with tea made from Moonglo pear leaves, and underneath it the texture is firm and dense, dotted with small eyes.
The aromas are intense and goaty, while the flavors are sharp, nutty, fruity, tangy, citrusy, and caramel-like. It's recommended to use Moonglo in grilled cheese sandwiches as it has great melting properties. Pair it with sweet and crisp apples.
Old Kentucky Tomme is an American cheese hailing from Indiana. This cross between a Tomme du Savoie and Jack cheese is made from raw goat's milk and it's left to mature from 4 to 8 months. Underneath its bloomy natural rind, the texture is creamy and buttery.
The aromas are rich and goaty, while the flavors are smooth and buttery, with mushroomy and cellar-like notes. The cheese melts well and it's recommended to serve it with grilled apples.
Best Midwestern American Raw Milk Cheese Producers
BelGioioso Cheese, based in Wisconsin, 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.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021
World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2000
BEST Belgioioso Cheese Cheeses
Best Midwestern American Raw Milk Cheeses
BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella Snacking Cheese is a product made by BelGioioso Cheese. This cheese is crafted using traditional Italian recipes and high-quality milk. It is conveniently packaged for on-the-go consumption, providing a fresh and mild flavor that is ideal for snacking.
Each piece of cheese is individually wrapped to ensure freshness and portability, making it a popular choice for a quick and nutritious snack.
AWARDS
World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2018
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