Marieke Young Smoked Gouda Cheese

Marieke’s Young Smoked Gouda is everything a smoked cheese should be: creamy, rich, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of savory smoke. Aged only 2 to 4 months, this young gouda is semi-soft with a smooth, buttery texture that melts beautifully. It’s an ideal melter for burgers, mac and cheese, gratins, and sandwiches, and just as at home sliced with fruit preserves and fresh bread for a simple snack or cheese board.

This cheese is crafted by Marieke Penterman and her team at Hollands Family Cheese in Thorp, Wisconsin. Marieke grew up on a dairy farm in the Netherlands and brought Old World cheesemaking traditions with her to the Midwest. The milk for her gouda comes directly from the farm’s rBGH-free Holstein-Friesian cows and is piped fresh from the first milking of the day to the vat. The wheels are hand-packed, brined for 60 hours, and aged on Dutch pine planks, which help create their signature flavor and texture. Marieke’s commitment to traditional methods has made her one of America’s most celebrated cheesemakers.

• Pairings: Amber ales, hard cider, Pinot Noir, or smoky cocktails like a mezcal old fashioned
• Awards: ACS 2025 2nd Place, ACS 2024 1st Place, ACS 2023 2nd Place (Smoked Gouda, all milks)