Cheese travel
Cheese in Minnesota
Minnesota's best cheese visit is Redhead Creamery near Brooten, where Friday and Saturday farm tours end with a cheese tasting. In the Twin Cities, the France 44 Cheese Shop in Minneapolis and its St. Paul outpost cut cheese to order and run classes. The Caves of Faribault, home of AmaBlu, do not take visitors.
Cheese Tours
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Cheese Shops
Where to Go
Redhead Creamery is on Jer-Lindy Farms in west-central Minnesota, within an hour of St. Cloud, Willmar and Alexandria. The cheese shop opens Wednesday to Saturday and serves lunch on Fridays and Saturdays, when the farm tours run. In Minneapolis, the France 44 Cheese Shop runs cheese classes, and the St. Paul Cheese Shop on Grand Avenue serves its melts. North-east of the Twin Cities, near the St. Croix, Eichtens Cheese sells gouda and tilsit at its farm shop, and Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm books farm tours.
The Caves of Faribault
Blue cheese has been aged in the sandstone caves above the Straight River in Faribault since 1936, and Caves of Faribault still ages its AmaBlu there. The company says it cannot offer public tours.
When to Go
Redhead's farm tours run all year on Friday and Saturday. Autumn is baby goat season at Poplar Hill, which books about two weeks ahead.
Getting Around
Brooten is about two hours north-west of Minneapolis by car, via I-94. The Twin Cities shops are on city bus routes.
More Places to Visit
| Stop | Town | What you can do | When open | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eichtens Cheese | Center City | Farm shop of a third-generation family farm making European-style goudas and tilsit; 16809 310th Street | Mon, Tue and Thu 9am to 2pm | eichtenscheese.com |
| Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm | Scandia | Guided farm tours at Minnesota's oldest Grade A dairy goat farm, which also makes goat milk cheese | By appointment, about two weeks ahead; call 651-442-2506 | poplarhillfarm.com |
Where to Stay in Minnesota
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Questions People Ask
Can you tour the Caves of Faribault?
No. Caves of Faribault says it cannot offer public tours of its sandstone cheese caves.
Where can you take a cheese farm tour in Minnesota?
At Redhead Creamery near Brooten, on Fridays ($10, about an hour) and Saturdays ($15, about two hours). Both end with a cheese tasting.