SHEPHERD'S WAY FARMS
SHEEP CHEESE
Made By Hand, On Our Farm
Shepherd’s Way Farms award-winning sheep milk cheeses include fresh to aged, blue to tomme style. All Shepherd’s Way Farms cheeses are farmstead, which means they are made on the farm with milk from the farm’s pasture-based ewes. Jodi still makes every wheel of Shepherd’s Way Farms cheese, by hand.
Because Shepherd’s Way is a small farm with a flock of around 200 ewes, milk and cheese production is limited. With such small production, Shepherd’s Way Farms cheeses are only available at select cheese shops, specialty grocery stores, restaurants and Twin Cities farmers markets.
Among the first farmstead sheep milk cheesemakers, Shepherd’s Way began crafting and marketing its first cheese, Friesago in 1998. A second cheese, Shepherd’s Hope was introduced in 1999 and the sought-after Big Woods Blue was added in 2003. Hidden Falls, Shepherd’s Ricotta, Morcella are more recent additions, made in smaller batches. Our newest cheese, Sogn, is a tomme style and a 2022 ACS 1st place winner. In 2023, Sogn placed again in the farmstead sheep cheese category and Burr Oak placed in the aged sheep cheese category.
Friesago
A First Place Farmstead Sheep Milk American Cheese Society winner, Friesago is a natural rind semi-aged sheep milk cheese with a dense texture and pleasantly mild flavor and a slightly nutty finish. A multiple award-winner, Friesago is versatile as a table cheese and as a cooking cheese. Called a “must try” by Food and Wine magazine!
Friesago wheels average ten pounds.
Shepherd's Hope
Shepherd’s Hope is a unique mild, fresh cheese with a gentle citrus note at the finish. Another multiple award-winner -- a 2012 ACS award winner, in fact – Shepherd’s Hope is a chef and retail favorite. Unlike any other fresh sheep milk cheese, it has a shelf life of eight to ten weeks after production. Shepherd’s Hope is exceptional with a crisp Chardonnay and a fresh baguette or in a tomato basil salad.
Available in two versions – Original and Organic Garlic/Herb – Shepherd’s Hope wheels are approximately four pounds, shipped vacuum sealed.
Big Woods Blue
Big Woods Blue is a full-flavored sheep milk blue cheese. Named one of the best blue cheeses in the country, Big Woods Blue blends spicy notes of a blue with the creaminess of sheep milk for a complex flavor. Finishing top in its class at ACS more than once -- and a 2017 ACS award first place winner -- Big Woods Blue has been widely praised by food writers nationwide. It pairs nicely with a rich Port or a sweet Muscadet.
Big Woods Blue wheels are approximately six pounds, wrapped in foil.
Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls is made with sheep milk from the farm. Hidden Falls has a soft, delicate bloomy rind that ripens the cheese inward. With a lactic creamy interior, qualities of citrus and wildflower present initially with a lingering note of woodsy mushrooms.
Hidden Falls wheels are three to four pounds, wrapped in paper.
**LIMITED AVAILABILITY – Preorders recommended***
Morcella
Morcella is a seasonal, soft-ripened sheep milk cheese with local morel mushrooms. Made in small batches with only spring and summer milk, Morcella is a creamy, earthy cheese with a mottled bloomy rind. Like the morel mushrooms it is named for, Morcella is only around for a limited time April-July. Pre-orders possible.
Sogn
Sogn is our newest cheese, an all sheep milk tomme made in small batches of 25 wheels. With a beautiful, wild rind that reflects the diverse flora in our aging space, Sogn has a white, slightly crumbly interior with a slightly fruity, earthy flavor. An ACS 2022 First Place Winner and a 2023 ACS Winner in the aged farmstead sheep milk category . **Limited Availability**
Sogn wheels are approximately 4 lbs and wrapped in paper.
Burr Oak
A 2023 ACS winner, Burr Oak is an extra-aged sheep milk cheese with a deep browned-butter flavor and a hazelnut finish. Perfect for grating, Burr Oak has an extra firm texture. Only a few batches are made each year!
Burr Oak wheels are approximately 5-6 pounds.
