Top 7 cheese brands

For thousands of years, cheese has been a beloved staple in homes and kitchens worldwide, with its origins shrouded in mystery — how, when, why, or by whom it was first crafted remains unknown. With countless varieties like classic English cheddar, French brie, Italian Romano, and Greek feta, the options for enjoying cheese seem limitless, much to the delight of cheese lovers.

When browsing grocery store shelves or the deli section for the perfect cheese to pair with dinner, snacks, or dessert, the question arises: which brand should you choose? After all, there are so many to choose from, including cheese varieties from budget-friendly to splurge.

1. Truly Grass Fed

Imported from Irish family farms that practice regenerative farming, Truly Grass Fed offers non-GMO, growth hormone- and antibiotic-free dairy products like butter, cheese blocks, and slices. Cows roam green pastures where they have a 95% grass-fed diet rich in clover.

The brand claims on its website that milk from grass-fed cows is nutritionally superior to grain-fed, a quality reflected in the rich, hearty flavor and creamy texture of its sharp and aged cheddar, which I sampled. Beyond snacking, I used Truly Grass Fed cheddar shreds and slices in a cheeseburger casserole.

2. Kerrygold

Kerrygold, a popular cheese brand imported from Ireland and found in most grocery stores, is a favorite go-to for cheese lovers. Kerrygold offers blocks, slices, and snacks like aged cheddar, reserve cheddar, Skellig, Blarney, Swiss, blue cheese, and other unique options, such as aged cheddar with Irish whiskey or Dubliner with Irish stout.

Kerrygold is crafted from award-winning, family-run farms that have been in the same families for generations, keeping to tradition. It’s one of my favorites and is also well-loved in the carnivore community. Kerrygold cheddar has a sharp bite that’s creamy and dense, and shines in recipes, such as casseroles, burgers, and omelets.

3. Cabot Creamery

Cabot Creamery, a farm-owned co-op, crafts award-winning, minimally processed cheeses from hundreds of family farms. A favorite among cheese lovers, Cabot offers blocks, shreds, slices, or cracker cuts, featuring a plethora of styles from mild cheddar to spicy pepper jack or horseradish cheese.

There’s also a legacy collection that features standouts like the rich, creamy, somewhat sharp farmhouse reserve cheddar. Another legacy gem, Alpine, boasts a sweet, yet nutty, taste — a cross between cheddar, parmesan, and Swiss — and is loved throughout the Northeast. Cabot’s always a solid hit for recipes or snacking, with options ranging from sharp and crumbly to sweet and creamy.

4. Castello

For more than 130 years, Castello Cheese has paved its cheesy path with brie. Now the company offers a lineup that includes havarti, gouda, Camembert, cheddar, and blue cheese, all while aiming to cut food waste and use sustainable packaging.

Castello’s dill havarti was the best of the bunch and it vanished in days of opening. I enjoyed it so much snacking that I didn’t get a chance to work it into any dishes. The sliced havarti melted perfectly on burgers with a mozzarella-like stringiness, and the gouda was tasty, but didn’t steal the show like the havarti did.

5. Tillamook

Tillamook, a beloved name in cheese circles for more than 100 years, is a co-op farmer-owned brand named after a European valley. The company crafts cheeses that have earned hundreds of state, national, and world competition awards. Offering more than just naturally aged cheeses, which are offered in blocks, baby loaves, shreds, slices, and snacks — Tillamook offers ice cream, sour cream, yogurt, butter, and cream cheese.

Its farmers’ collection features bold options like smoked black pepper and white cheddar, spicy habanero Jack, hickory smoked cheddar, garlic chili cheddar, and English-style sweet cheddar. Shredded varieties include cheddar Jack, kobe Jack, Italian blend, Italian four cheese, Mexican blend, parmesan, and mozzarella. Another solid pick, Tillamook melts as you’d hope and delivers the rich flavor you’d expect from a good cheese.

6. Old Croc

Old Croc is popular with cheese enthusiasts, but it’s a cheese that’s easy to miss if you’re unfamiliar with the brand. Old Croc hails from Australia, offering grass-fed cheddar with a bold, sharp, rich flavor that’s ideal for snacking, pairing with chocolate, or showcasing on a charcuterie board with savory meats.

Old Croc offers cheese products in blocks, bites, slices, and spreads — and are available in sharp, extra sharp, smoked, or grand reserve styles. For a crunchy, salty, savory kick, try spreading port wine cheddar or bacon and jalapeño cheddar on pork rinds or bacon strips.

7. Collier’s

From South Wales, Collier’s is a solid pick for block cheese. The company crafts cheddar from Welsh milk, which is aged up to 20 months, resulting in a slightly sweet, tangy flavor with a less intense bite than other extra sharp cheddar. It’s crumbly, yet creamy, and originally made for Welsh coal miners.

Collier’s offers Welsh and Celtic cheddar blocks, sliced Welsh cheddar, and churned butter. Known for crunchy bits in its cheddar squares — not salt crystals, but calcium lactate grains formed during aging — it adds a fun twist to snacking. I also tested Collier’s extra mature cheddar, shredded and sliced, in a cheesy sirloin steak and bacon-egg casserole, where its deep, thick, creamy profile stood up beautifully to the bold steak and bacon combo.

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