When building a cheese board for your al fresco gatherings this season, think beyond the brie-filled aisles of your supermarket and explore the delicious world of local craft cheese. These masterful alchemists turn milk into everything from soft and tangy goat cheese to sharp and nutty aged cheddar.

Heber Valley Artisan Cheese
Get a taste of cheesy goodness from the Kohler Creamery in Midway. The family has been farming for almost a century and introduced artisanal cheese in 2011. Their Lemon Sage and Mustard Herb cheeses have been awarded top honors at the World Cheese Awards. Try your hand at cheese-making during a mozzarella or farmstead burrata class, held on the fourth Friday of every month. 
hebervalleyartisancheese.com

Park City Creamery
Corinne Zinn’s award-winning products combine her Belgian cheese-making knowledge with a focus on Utah terroir that lends a sense and taste of place to her cheeses. Sample the Silver Queen, a creamy goat cheese with vegetable ash, or Hidden Treasure, a brie-style with truffles. parkcitycreamery.com

Gold Creek Farms
Cheese maker Fernando Chavez and farm owners Alan and Debbie Gold have been creating artisanal cheeses in Kamas since 2009. Chavez proved his skills by winning the coveted First in Class award at the World Champion Cheese Competition after just three years of crafting queso. Try their popular smoked varieties and their tangy blue cheese. goldcreekfarms.com

Beehive Cheese
For 18 extraordinary years, this family-owned creamery has crafted award-winning cheeses with a rubbed-rind technique they pioneered in 2005. Additionally, their commitment to being socially and environmentally conscious prioritizes people over profit and they recently gained B Corp certification. Don’t miss cult favorites like the Barely Buzzed, cheddar rubbed with espresso and lavender; Seahive, cheddar rubbed with sea salt and honey; or Teahive, cheddar rubbed with Earl Grey tea. beehivecheese.com 

Say Cheese
Craving a beautiful cheese and charcuterie spread for your next date night or party but don’t have the time to create one yourself? Let the pros at The Chop Shop do the cheese lifting for you. They offer custom charcuterie boards for 2–12 people featuring cured meats, cheeses, house pickles, charred bread, and grain mustard. Order at least 24 hours in advance. chopshopparkcity.com