Cheese Brothers at Madeline's

Cheese Brothers is a Wisconsin cheese company co-founded in 2015 by Eric Ludy and Gene Graf. They are not brothers by birth, but they are bonded by a shared cheesemaking heritage: Eric's great-grandfather, Swiss cheesemaker Fred Ludy, started the family's first Wisconsin cheese factory in 1919, and Gene learned the trade from Eric's father, Tom Ludy. The two set out to build a different kind of cheese company, originally selling directly at farmers markets and festivals.

When in-person markets shut down in 2020, Cheese Brothers pivoted to a fully online business and moved operations to a larger facility in Almena, Wisconsin. The cheeses are made and aged at Wisconsin creameries in towns like Stanley and Kiel, with smoked varieties cold-smoked over wood at a smokehouse in Barron. Every order is vacuum-sealed and, in warm weather, packed with insulated gel ice packs at no extra charge.

The lineup runs from aged white cheddars (including 8-year and 15-year cured wheels) to flavored goudas, smoked provolone and mozzarella, alpine-style and Italian-style cheeses, handmade cold-pack cheese spreads, a baked squeaky cheese, and pairings like summer sausage from Barron Sausage Co. Many cheeses carry playful names and bold flavors, from horseradish cheddar to scorpion-pepper gouda.

Cheese Brothers products at Madeline's

Every item below is live and in stock at Madeline's. Click any product to see full details, sizes, and ordering.

• 

  8-Year-Aged Cheddar ($12.95). A 5 oz aged white cheddar from Kiel, Wisconsin, nutty, tangy, and sharp after eight years of aging. A charcuterie-board standout.

• 

  15-Year-Aged Cheddar ($23.95). A 5 oz aged white cheddar, the maker's most complex and sharp to date, with a firm, sometimes crumbly texture. Available while supplies last.

• 

  "Pretty Boy" Sharp Cheddar ($8.95). A 6 oz sharp cheddar aged one to two years in Kiel, nutty and tangy with a rich, sharp finish.

• 

  "Precious Cargo" Horseradish Cheddar ($8.95). A 6 oz creamy, buttery cheddar with a bold horseradish bite. Good on sandwiches or garnishing a Bloody Mary.

• 

  Classic Gouda ($8.95). A 6 oz creamy, full-flavored gouda with a slightly sweet edge, the base for many of the maker's flavored goudas.

• 

  Honey Sriracha Gouda ($8.95). A 6 oz gouda called Bantam, balancing Sriracha heat with a tinge of honey sweetness at a mild spice level.

• 

  Mango Habanero Gouda ($8.95). A 6 oz creamy gouda with sweet tropical mango up front and a hot habanero finish.

• 

  El Diablo - Scorpion Pepper Gouda ($8.95). A 6 oz creamy gouda loaded with fiery scorpion peppers, creamy and slightly sweet with serious heat.

• 

  "Bluegrass" Bourbon Gouda ($8.95). A 6 oz smoked gouda made with real Kentucky bourbon, wood-fire smoked in Barron, with hints of vanilla and caramel.

• 

  Smoked Provolone ($8.95). A 6 oz provolone smoked in the Cheese Brothers smokehouse, buttery, sharp, tangy, and smoky.

• 

  Smoked Mozzarella ($8.95). A 6 oz naturally smoked mozzarella called Nonna Mozz, rich and smooth with deep smoky flavor. Good on pizza and with smoked meats.

• 

  Adelheid Alpine-Style Cheese ($8.95). A 6 oz smooth, nutty alpine-style cheese built for fondue, raclette, and grilled cheese.

• 

  Fratello ($8.95). A 6 oz Italian-style cheese inspired by Asiago and Parmesan, but softer and more meltable. Pungent, creamy, and rich for pasta and pizza.

• 

  Dill Havarti ($8.95). A 6 oz buttery Havarti with fresh, herbaceous dill, somewhat sweet and aromatic. Pairs well with salmon and crisp white wine.

• 

  Bacon Golden Baked Bliss Cheese ($10.95 to $69.95). An 8 oz baked, squeaky cheese studded with real bacon bits, meant to be heated and eaten hot from a skillet, grill, or oven.

• 

  Beer Cheddar Cheese Spread ($9.95). An 8 oz handmade spread blending Wisconsin lager with classic cheddar, rich and savory for pretzels and crackers.

• 

  Onion and Chive Cheese Spread ($9.95). An 8 oz handmade cheddar spread with fresh onion and chives, mild, sweet, and nutty. Good for dipping vegetables.

• 

  Port Wine Cheese Spread ($9.95). An 8 oz handmade spread blending sweet port wine with Wisconsin cheddar, sweet, nutty, and creamy on crackers or baguette.

• 

  Cranberry Walnut Cheese Spread ($9.95). An 8 oz cream cheese spread with real cranberries and walnuts, sweet, nutty, and ideal on bagels.

• 

  Jalapeño Pepper Cheese Spread ($9.95). An 8 oz handmade cheese spread with real cheese and jalapeños, spicy, sharp, and savory but not too hot.

• 

  Barron Sausage Co. Summer Sausage ($10.95). An 8 oz classic beef-and-pork summer sausage made in Milwaukee, savory, smoky, and tangy. Built to pair with Wisconsin cheddars.

• 

  8-Year Aged Cheddar Snack Sticks (30-Pack) ($69.95). Thirty 1 oz sticks of sharp, creamy 8-year-aged Wisconsin cheddar, portable for travel, the office, and lunchboxes.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy Cheese Brothers cheese?

You can buy Cheese Brothers online at Madeline's (madelines.co), which carries the maker's aged cheddars, flavored goudas, smoked cheeses, handmade cheese spreads, and pairings. The products listed above are live and in stock.

How is Cheese Brothers cheese shipped?

Every order is vacuum-sealed, and in warm weather it is insulated with gel ice packs at no extra charge so the cheese arrives fresh. Cheese Brothers ships as a fully online Wisconsin cheese business.

What is Cheese Brothers known for?

Cheese Brothers is known for small-batch Wisconsin specialty cheeses, including long-aged white cheddars (8-year and 15-year), bold flavored goudas like honey Sriracha and scorpion-pepper El Diablo, wood-fire smoked varieties, and handmade cold-pack cheese spreads.

Who founded Cheese Brothers?

Cheese Brothers was co-founded in 2015 by Eric Ludy and Gene Graf in Wisconsin. Eric's great-grandfather, Swiss cheesemaker Fred Ludy, started the family's first Wisconsin cheese factory in 1919, and Gene learned the trade from Eric's father.