9 Amazing Small-Town Cheese Shops To Visit In Wisconsin 

Wisconsin is called the dairy state. So it’s no shock that the College of Wisconsin-Madison created America’s first dairy faculty. The state ranks first for cheese manufacturing and fourth in world manufacturing behind the remainder of the nation, Germany, and France.

Since 90 p.c of Wisconsin’s immigrants got here from northern Europe, the state benefited from their old-world cheesemaking expertise and traditions. Now, Wisconsin is the one state that requires a license to make cheese and the one place exterior of Switzerland the place a Grasp Cheesemaker certificates, also called a Ph.D. in cheese, exists. However nonetheless, solely 90 folks have achieved this tough qualification in america.

Undoubtedly, many present cheesemakers are the descendants of European immigrants who moved to Wisconsin’s small cities. Moreover, many nonetheless use the identical old-world traditions handed down via generations. 

In no explicit order, these Wisconsin outlets supply an opportunity to expertise a few of Wisconsin’s most interesting cheese rooted in a deep heritage.

1. Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

Ellsworth

We get pleasure from a scenic drive via winding two-lane highways to Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery. As we enter the outskirts of city, a line of milk vehicles emerges beside the manufacturing unit, ready to unload, signaling our arrival at a favourite cheese store.

Ellsworth is 14 miles from Purple Wing, Minnesota, the Nice River Highway, and about an hour’s drive from downtown Minneapolis.

Granted, their retailer has a big collection of award-winning cheese and presents, however this manufacturing unit location solely makes cheese curds. Some folks desire them recent whereas others like them battered and deep fried. You may get Ellsworth’s well-known deep-fried cheese curds on the Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Alaska, and South Carolina state gala’s. 

We get a number of various kinds of cheese every time we go to, together with flavored cheese curds.

Professional Suggestions: We purchase Ellsworth take-and-bake pizzas. Staff make them with large mounds of recent cheese. Additionally, the cooler in the direction of the again of the shop has cheese on sale at terrific costs.

2. Marieke Gouda

Thorp

Marieke Gouda is correct off Freeway 29 in Thorp and about half-hour east of Chippewa Falls. 

Because the identify implies, gouda is their specialty and the one sort of cheese they make. They make recent batches each morning and have over 20 flavors. 

Initially from Holland, Marieke Penterman and her husband moved to Thorp however missed having gouda from dwelling, so that they determined to make it themselves. 4 months after her first batch, she started profitable awards and, in 2013, received america Grand Champion.

Marike applies old-world strategies she realized within the Netherlands with supplies and substances imported from her dwelling nation. We loved watching workers make cheese via the cheese store home windows.

Together with their gouda varieties, they promote different Wisconsin manufacturers of cheese. In addition they have a big present store with specialty wines, native merchandise, and imported Dutch merchandise.

Though we didn’t go to Cafe Dutchess at lunchtime, the tables in entrance of the ageing room seemed like a enjoyable place to take a seat. As anticipated, two of their hottest gadgets are the grilled gouda sandwich and recent deep-fried cheese curds hand battered with New Glarus Noticed Cow Beer Batter. 

Professional Tip: Take a free self-guided tour of the dairy farm and manufacturing unit year-round or a paid guided tour from June to August.

3. Nasonville Dairy

Nasonville

In relation to Wisconsin cheese outlets, Nasonville Dairy tops our record. Nonetheless, with 4 Grasp Cheesemakers licensed in 18 varieties (exceptional!), we’re at all times searching for an excuse to go to the manufacturing unit and close by Marshfield.

Nasonville Dairy began making cheese in 1885, and the Heiman household has owned and operated the manufacturing unit because the Sixties. A go to reminds us of how old style cheese outlets seemed when every manufacturing unit offered its cheese from a small retailer onsite. Factories produced a selected cheese every day, so locals purchased cheese in accordance with its schedule. An worker reduce your order recent off the horn, block, or wheel, then wrapped it in white butcher paper.

Like within the outdated days, this slim store isn’t fancy however is at all times busy. We like to go to within the early morning to observe the cheesemaking via the store home windows.

We at all times purchase a bag of recent cheese curds for our day journey snack. Then we’ll buy small blocks of cheese to take dwelling. Now we have many favorites, however some high selections are bacon cheddar, two-year cheddar, asiago, child swiss, and Muenster. 

We’re not huge followers of scorching cheese flavors; nevertheless, a few of their hottest promoting flavors are scorching pepper.

Professional Tip: Contemporary cheese curds are made every day, besides Sunday. To get the freshest, arrive earlier than 9 a.m. Contemporary cheese curds squeak when bitten into however lose their squeak after about 12 hours.

4. Hook’s Cheese Firm

Mineral Level

Search for Hook’s Cheese Firm’s small manufacturing unit in historic downtown Mineral Level on Freeway 39. A typical trait of award-winning Wisconsin cheese outlets is a modest facility, and Hook’s matches the function completely. 

Tony and Julie Hook craft a few of the greatest cheese on the planet. Tony has over 50 years of cheesemaking expertise, and in 1982 Julie beat one of the best competitors on the planet with Colby to win the “World Champion Cheese” title towards all different classes. She stays the one girl to perform this. Annually, Hook’s Cheese constantly locations at or close to the highest on the planet’s high competitions.

We like visiting Mineral Level as a day journey from Madison. Sadly, getting there early sufficient for recent cheese curds turns into tough. We’ve been there at 8:30 to seek out the curds have already offered out. Nonetheless, we suggest making an attempt the 15-year cheddar for a particular deal with.

Professional Tip: Enter via the again door, the place an accessible ramp winds to the doorway.

5. Decatur Dairy

Brodhead

Journey quarter-hour east from Monroe to expertise the world’s first Grasp Cheesemaker of cheese curds. Steve Stettler, a third-generation cheesemaker, held Grasp Cheesemaker certifications in six varieties till he determined curds wanted admission to this system. They listened, and now Steve owns seven Grasp Cheesemaker certifications. Unsurprisingly, his delectable deal with received the 2022 World Champion Cheese Curds title.

We tried Steve’s well-known curds at Stoughton’s SyttendeMai competition, the place he volunteers on the Stoughton Lion’s Membership meals tent. They serve his well-known curds deep fried in a beer batter. 

Granted, Muenster makes up half of Decatur Dairy’s manufacturing; nearly each shopper buys its Colby Swiss. Prospects rave about its delicate Colby taste with a hint of Swiss. Plus, it makes a superb melting cheese. 

6. La Grander’s Hillside Dairy

Stanley

Tucked away on a quiet rural street 11 minutes southeast of Stanley, La Grander’s quietly produces seven million kilos of cheese curds yearly for the favored Culver’s restaurant chain to deep fry. 

The La Grander household purchased the plant in 1960 and has been producing high-quality cheese merchandise ever since. With three Grasp Cheesemakers on employees, they make glorious cheddar, Colby, Colby jack, gouda, Monterey jack, pepper jack, and curds.

A go to to their small retailer once more reminds us of old style cheese outlets. Employees reduce your order from the horn, then wrap it. We purchased a bag of scrumptious recent cheese curds for the experience dwelling, however new horns of pepper jack, made for the superb Amish and Mennonite model Troyer, tempted us, too.

7. Union Star Cheese

Fremont

Since 1911, 4 generations of Metzigs have owned and crafted cheese at Union Star Cheese. Dave and his son, John, earned their Grasp Cheesemaker certificates, Dave’s in cheddar, and Colby for John. John grew to become Wisconsin’s youngest Grasp Cheesemaker in April 2016

After graduating from school, John labored with cheesemakers in Eire, Switzerland, and England. Now, he makes quite a lot of cheeses, from curds to specialty handcrafted European-influenced flavors.

Union Star’s conventional cheese varieties embrace cheddar, Colby, Muenster, Monterrey jack, string cheese, and feta. They’ve loads of Artisan and European types, too.

8. Widmer’s Cheese Cellars

Theresa

Flags of Swiss cantons improve Widmer’s Cheese Cellars’ 100-year-old constructing and sign that one thing particular awaits contained in the door. Simply 25 minutes south of Fond du Lac, Grasp Cheesemaker Joe Widmer creates old-world type cheese the identical means his household has for 100 years. Joe earned Grasp Cheesemaker certificates within the brick, Colby, and cheddar classes. 

Traditional greatest describes Widmer’s cheese. Joe’s grandfather immigrated from Switzerland in 1905 and acquired a cheese plant in 1922. Every technology of Widmers has lived in the home above the ability since. All through the years, little has modified with the household’s cheese manufacturing. As an example, the identical bricks, vats, and different authentic tools from Joe’s grandfather nonetheless make a few of America’s best-tasting cheese.

As well as, Joe is the one cheesemaker left in America who continues to make use of actual bricks — the identical bricks his grandfather used to separate whey from cheese by urgent them into kinds.

Professional Tip: Widmer’s constantly wins high awards however don’t overlook the Aged Brick Unfold, one in all their greatest award-winning specialties. 

9. Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Firm

Rudolph

One of many state’s greatest and busiest manufacturing unit cheese outlets is 8 miles north of Wisconsin Rapids. Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Firm’s massive retailer carries over 300 completely different merchandise making it a enjoyable vacation spot for a street journey. We took dwelling a pack of string cheese, cranberry cheddar, child swiss, and a bag of curds.

John Moran is the third-generation proprietor and Grasp Cheesemaker licensed in cheddar and Colby. His plant makes a speciality of Colby, Monterey Jack, cheddar, and pepper jack cheese.

Editor’s Observe: Study extra about College of Wisconsin-Madison’s dairy faculty and the information talked about within the first paragraph of this text right here.