Wisconsin · United States
Pleasant Ridge Reserve.
Pleasant Ridge Reserve tastes like a summer pasture distilled into cheese—grassy and bright, with a nutty warmth and whispers of honey and butter that emerge as it lingers on your tongue. The texture is hard and crystalline, crumbly yet supple, evoking the alpine meadows where the cows graze. Each bite unfolds with unexpected complexity: hay, stone fruit, a mineral sweetness that reminds you that great cheese begins in the field, not the factory.
Origin
44.4°N · 89.7°W
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Pleasant Ridge Reserve was created in 2000 by Mike Gingrich at Uplands Cheese in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and is now made by cheesemaker-owner Andy Hatch, using raw milk only when cows are on pasture (May through October). It is the only American cheese to win the American Cheese Society's Best of Show three times (2001, 2005, 2010) and regularly wins international awards.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · raw
- Family
- Alpine
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 4–18 mo
- Intensity
- 3 / 5
- Texture
- hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Pleasant Ridge Reserve's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for alpine cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 45–60 min before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Cut thin wedges from the centre out, so every slice gets its share of paste and rind.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Pleasant.
44 pairings across 8 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Pleasant Ridge Reserve are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Pleasant Ridge Reserve at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
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