You Might Need A Bigger Cooler After Visiting This Wisconsin Cheese Store

Pepperoni Pizza Monterey Jack is a real cheese you can buy here. So is Mango Habanero, Black Truffle, and a Fenugreek variety that sounds like a spelling bee word.

The shelves hold more than 100 fresh and aged cheeses. The people behind them are farmer-owners in a cooperative that dates back to 1896. I love it when a place this old still has fun with flavors.

This stop sits along a quiet highway in northwest Wisconsin. Inside, there’s a bistro with grilled sandwiches and fried cheese curds. There’s also an ice cream counter that serves malts, sundaes, and twist cones.

I’d probably come in looking for one familiar cheese and leave wondering what Fenugreek tastes like. That’s the fun of a place like this. You can stick with the classics, but the unusual flavors make it awfully tempting to try something completely new.

Farmers Have Been Running This Cheese Show Since 1896

Long before road trips had playlists, farmers in northwest Wisconsin were already pooling their milk. Burnett Dairy Grantsburg Cheese Store grew from that teamwork, which started in 1896.

The cooperative traces its roots to the Branstad and Wood River creameries. Today it remains one of the few full-service dairy cooperatives still making cheese.

Farmer-owned means the people producing the milk also own the business. That’s a pretty direct line from the barn to your shopping basket.

Burnett Dairy Cooperative is a big name in Wisconsin cheese circles. Still, the store keeps a friendly, roadside-stop personality that makes browsing easy. You don’t need to be a cheese expert to feel welcome here. Curiosity and a decent appetite are the only real requirements.

Knowing the history makes each block of cheddar feel a little more meaningful. You’re buying from a group that has kept going for well over a century. That’s a lot of milking, stirring, and aging behind one small purchase. It also explains why the cheese counter feels so confident.

Tradition matters at this place, but nobody treats it like a museum. The fun starts the moment you grab a cart and look around.

Over 100 Cheeses Will Test Your Willpower

Pepperoni Pizza Monterey Jack exists, and it might be the funniest cheese name you’ll read all week. It’s one of more than 100 fresh and aged varieties here.

The Monterey Jack lineup alone could fill a small fridge. Look for Chipotle Cranberry, Garlic Chive, Hot Pepper, Roasted Garlic, and Italian Sun-Dried Tomato. Classic fans have plenty to love too. Mild Cheddar, Baby Swiss, Swiss, Farmer’s, and Northwoods Cheddar all share the cases.

Colby comes in Bacon and Bacon Onion versions. Gouda shows up Hickory Smoked or with Rosemary, and Provolone gets a smoky twist as well. Gold’n Jack deserves a look, especially the 3 Pepper version. It’s a fun pick for anyone who likes a little heat with lunch.

Shredded cheese blends and spreadable cheeses round things out. Those are handy for tacos, casseroles, or crackers on a lazy Sunday.

My advice is simple: make a short list before you shop. Then accept that the list will probably grow by five items. Plain and Smoked String Cheese are great for the car ride home. They’re easy to snack on without making a mess.

The Wood River Creamery Line Gets Wonderfully Weird

Black Truffle and Mango Habanero in the same cheese family? That pairing sounds like a dare, yet it fits right in at Burnett Dairy. The Wood River Creamery line honors one of the cooperative’s original creameries. It brings bolder flavors to the shelves for anyone feeling adventurous.

Start with the Original if you want a baseline. Then branch out to Applewood Smoked Sea Salt, which sounds like a campfire wearing its best outfit.

Herbes de Provence adds a garden-style twist. Chipotle Garlic brings warmth, while Roasted Red Pepper and Cracked Peppercorn delivers color and kick.

Smoked Cracked Peppercorn is another strong option for grilled burgers. Fenugreek is the curveball, with a name most people need to say twice.

These cheeses make a cheese board look instantly fancy. You won’t need to explain much, because the labels do the talking. Try pairing a mild pick with a spicy one for contrast. Guests at your next party will have plenty to discuss.

Honestly, this section of the store is where coolers start getting crowded. One wedge becomes three before you notice what happened.

Master Cheesemakers Are Behind Every Block

Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker is not a title anybody gets by luck. It takes years of training, and Burnett Dairy has people who earned it. Bruce Willis, yes, that’s really his name, has worked at the dairy for over 45 years. He’s certified in Colby, Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack.

Rob Stellrecht joined that Master Cheesemaker club more recently. He earned his certification in cheddar and mozzarella in April 2025. That expertise shapes what lands at Burnett Dairy Grantsburg Cheese Store. The cheeses are award winners, guided by skilled hands at the vat.

Here’s a fun bit of history too. In 1988, Burnett Dairy’s Dale Olson earned the World Grand Champion Cheesemaker Award. So that humble string cheese in your kid’s lunch has a championship past. Not many snacks can say that with a straight face.

Knowing the makers adds something special to each bite. You’re tasting decades of careful work, not just a product off a truck. Next time you peel a string cheese, give it a little respect. It comes from a proud Wisconsin tradition.

Fried Curds And Grilled Sandwiches Make Lunch Easy

Shopping for cheese can make anybody hungry. Luckily, the on-site Bistro serves fried cheese curds that solve that problem fast. The menu also covers gourmet grilled sandwiches, soups, salads, and pizza. It’s a smart way to taste the cheese before buying a pound of it.

One grilled sandwich mixes Cheddar Gruyere, oven-roasted turkey breast, and spinach. It all comes on cranberry wild rice bread, which sounds very Wisconsin. Prefer something simple? Gold’n Jack cheese on white bread keeps things classic and comforting.

Burnett Dairy pizzas are available here too. The separate Pizza Kitchen location in Grantsburg also offers frozen and take-and-bake pizzas. The Bistro usually runs a little shorter than the store hours. Plan lunch before mid-afternoon so you don’t miss your chance.

Indoor and outdoor seating gives you choices on nice days. Eating outside with fried curds feels like a small summer celebration. Order a basket to share, or at least pretend you’ll share. Nobody will judge you either way.

Early Birds Get The Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches

Mornings get a cheesy upgrade before 11 AM. That’s when the Bistro serves breakfast sandwiches built on buttery croissants. The Prima stacks bacon, eggs, and Cheddar Gruyere together. It’s the kind of breakfast that makes a long drive feel worth the early alarm.

Gouda Morning goes a different direction. Italian sausage meets Hickory Smoked Gouda for a smoky, hearty start. Both sandwiches show off the dairy’s own cheeses. Breakfast becomes a tasty preview of what’s waiting in the coolers nearby.

The store opens at 8 AM Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, the doors open at 9 AM. That timing works well for anyone heading north for a weekend. You can fuel up, shop, and still reach the lake by lunch.

Watch the clock, though, because breakfast ends at 11. Showing up at 11:05 is a sad little lesson nobody needs. Grab a coffee with your sandwich if you’re road-tripping. Then take a quick lap around the cheese cases while you’re fully awake.

Save Room For Malts, Sundaes, And Twist Cones

Dessert is serious business at a dairy. The ice cream counter here serves both soft serve and hard-scoop ice cream. Frozen yogurt is on the menu too. That gives everyone in the car something to pick, even the picky ones.

Twist cones are a classic choice for indecisive folks. You get two flavors without having to choose a winner. Malts, flurries, and sundaes come with various flavors and toppings. Building the perfect sundae might take longer than picking your cheese.

Homemade ice cream sandwiches are another treat worth noticing. They’re easy to carry outside on a warm day. Ordering works a little differently than some places. You typically pay at checkout first, then hand your slip to the ice cream staff.

Knowing that ahead of time keeps things smooth. You’ll look like a seasoned pro instead of a confused tourist. Ice cream after a cheese haul might sound like a lot of dairy. In Wisconsin, though, that’s basically a balanced afternoon.

Gifts, Local Goodies, And Meats Fill The Gaps

Cheese gets top billing, but the supporting cast is strong. The store carries gourmet items from other local food companies. That makes it easy to build a full snack spread. Pair your cheddar with crackers or spreads and you’re nearly done.

Local meats are available here as well. Add some to your cooler and you’ve got the start of a charcuterie board.

Gifts and Burnett Dairy merchandise line the shelves too. A branded shirt is a fun way to prove you made the trip. Holiday shopping can get easier with one stop. A cheese box plus a local treat makes a thoughtful present.

Online ordering is also an option for many products. That helps when you get home and instantly regret skipping that Gouda. Burnett Dairy Grantsburg Cheese Store works like a pantry, gift shop, and deli rolled together. It’s a handy stop for travelers and planners alike.

Bring a list for friends back home. They’ll appreciate the Wisconsin souvenir far more than a keychain.

Plan Your Stop On Highway 70 The Smart Way

Finding the place is the easy part. Burnett Dairy Grantsburg Cheese Store sits at 11631 WI-70, Grantsburg, WI 54840. That’s about five miles east of Grantsburg on Highway 70. It’s a natural stop for drivers crossing northwest Wisconsin.

The store is open seven days a week. Hours run 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday, and 9 AM to 5 PM on Sunday. Holiday hours can vary, so check before you go. The store closes on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Christmas Eve brings an early closing time too. Plan holiday cheese runs a few days ahead to stay safe. Ample parking makes pulling in simple, even with a trailer or boat. Indoor restrooms are another welcome perk for road warriors.

Now for the real tip: bring a bigger cooler than you think. Ice packs help keep your haul fresh on the drive. Leave a little extra time for browsing, snacking, and ice cream. Rushing through a place like this would be a cheesy mistake.