Henning's Cheese

Henning's Cheese: Big-time flavor from small dairy farms

Henning's Cheese is a family operation with third- and fourth-generation cheesemakers at the helm. Based in Kiel, Wisconsin in the heart of America's Dairyland, Hennings's emphasizes quality over quantity, using slow, traditional make procedures. Knowing that great cheese starts with great milk, the company sources cow's milk exclusively from local family farms within 30 miles of the factory, paying above-market prices to support their small dairy partners. The terroir in this eastern Wisconsin region – part of the Niagara Escarpment – imparts unique flavors to the milk thanks to a mineral-rich landscape and a unique composition of grasses and crops. Henning's Cheese is best known for its flavored cheeses – and for its unique ability to make mammoth cheddar wheels up to 12,000 pounds for special events and parades.

Part of a proud Wisconsin tradition

The commitment to excellence and innovation you'll find at Henning's Cheese is shared by each of the more than 1,200 cheesemakers in Wisconsin. That's because we are a state that's dedicated to one thing: making the best, most flavorful, highest-quality cheese in the world. Alongside Henning's scrumptious products, our shelves are full of classic cheeses made with Old World techniques and new cheeses that explore unexplored universes of flavor. Dunbarton Blue cheese from Roelli Cheese Haus, for example, is an English-style aged white cheddar with hints of blue. Widmer brick cheese from Widmer's Cheese Cellars is a Wisconsin Original stinky cheese that's made with traditional techniques and flavor. Butterkäse from Edelweiss cheese is a deliciously mild and creamy variety. And Uplands Pleasant Ridge Reserve is a washed-rind, Alpine-style cheese that's one of the most awarded cheeses in American history.

All about Henning's Cheese

With over a century of cheesemaking history and experience, Henning's Cheese still stands as a testament to the family's commitment to producing the best tasting, highest quality cheeses – made locally for national enjoyment.

A Master Cheesemaker

The production of Henning's Cheeses is guided by Kerry Henning, who made cheese alongside his father as a young boy and received his cheesemaker's license at age 20. Kerry has earned a Master Cheesemakers certification in colby, cheddar, and monterey jack.

A barn-load of awards

Hennings has won many national and international awards, including first place at the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest for its chipotle cheddar, first place at the 2019 United States Championship Cheese Contest for its aged cheddar, and first place at the 2013 American Cheese Society for its sharp cheddar.

Types of cheese

The makers at Henning's craft traditional cheddar, colby, monterey jack, cheese curds, and mozza whips, a low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese snack similar to string cheese but with more of a spaghetti shape. Many of Henning's Cheeses are flavored with ingredients like hatch chile, habanero peppers, tomato basil, garlic and dill, bacon, peppercorn, blueberry, and mango.

What to sip and savor with Henning's Cheese

Henning's Cheeses can be enjoyed on their own with bread and crackers, served with wine and beer, or melted into lots of delicious dishes. Here are pairing suggestions for a few of Henning's most well-known cheeses.

Mild Cheddar

The gentle, milky flavors of Henning's Mild Cheddar cheeses are best enjoyed with lighter wines like pinot gris, rosé, chardonnay, and merlot, or with pale lagers, IPAs, and pilsners if you're in the mood for beer. Bake it into savory hand pies, slice it for grilled cheese, or shred it for a decadent mac and cheese. On the cheese board, pair your Henning's mild cheddar with focaccia, fig jam, raw honey, cashews, apples, grapes, and pears.

Medium Cheddar

The bolder flavors of Henning's Medium Cheddar are well matched by a bigger wine like cabernet sauvignon, or by a porter, amber beer, or hard cider. Medium cheddar adds intense flavor to hashbrowns, veggie dishes, and biscuits. For snacking and grazing, try pairing this Henning's Cheese with apples, grapes, pears, raw honey, nuts, and buttery crackers.

Aged Cheddar

With sharper flavors and a firmer texture, Henning's Aged Cheddar is best paired with more complex wines like riesling, chardonnay, champagne, syrah, and pinot noir. For beer, off-dry beverages with a touch of sweetness are best – try a saison ale, cider, bock, or Belgian ale. This cheese also goes down well with a brandy or whiskey Old Fashioned, a mimosa, cider, or bourbon. In the kitchen, add aged cheddar to cheesy soups, scones, biscuits, or a flavorful egg strata. On the charcuterie board, surround aged cheddar with dates, fig jam, raw honey, dried cherries, hearty crackers, and pumpernickel bread.

Traditional Bandaged Colby

Henning's mild-flavored Traditional Banadaged Colby cheese is great with chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, red zinfandel, or riesling, as well as hard cider, lagers, tequila, and rye whiskey. Melt it into fondue, slice it for grilled cheese sandwiches, bake it into quiche, or use it as the topping on a breakfast pizza. Colby makes a great snack or cheese board addition – pair it with tea cookies, cashews, strawberries, apples, butter crackers, and rye bread.

Habanero Jack

This monterey jack cheese blended with habanero peppers is a deliciously hot treat that's best enjoyed with an aromatic variety like gewürztraminer or with a bloody mary or virgin mary. Habanero Jack makes a brilliant queso dip, and it's great on tacos, nachos, and burgers as well. On the cheese board, you'll find that milk chocolate, pancetta, bacon, strawberries, and crackers will add even more flavor dimensions to this impressive cheese.

Chipotle cCeddar

A white cheddar blended with roasted jalapenos, Henning's Chipotle Cheddar is best enjoyed with a glass of rosé, zinfandel, or cranberry vodka. Try slicing it up for roast beef sandwiches, cutting it for deep-fried cheese, melting it into quesadillas, or shredding it over tacos and nachos. On the grazing board, Chipotle Cheddar sets off flavor alarms when paired with tart cherry jam, grilled pineapple, salsa, and corn chips.