A guide to Cougar Gold — the unique aged cheddar from Washington State University sold in a can. Its history, nutty flavor, and cult following.
Cougar Gold is one of America's most unusual and beloved cheeses — a rich, nutty, aged white cheddar-style cheese sold not in wax or plastic but in a 30-ounce metal can. Made by Washington State University, it has a devoted cult following and a fascinating origin story.
What Cougar Gold Is
Cougar Gold is a cheese made by the Washington State University Creamery in Pullman, Washington. It's a hard, aged, white cheese — often described as a cheddar, though it's a distinct, dense, slightly crumbly cheese with a character all its own. It's named after the university's Cougar mascot and "Gold" for one of its developers, Dr. N.S. Golding. It's sold exclusively in cans, which is central to its identity.
Why It Comes in a Can
The canning of Cougar Gold traces back to research collaboration in the mid-20th century, when Washington State University worked with the American Can Company to find a way to store cheese in metal cans without the gases that normally cause cans to swell. The breakthrough involved selecting cultures that didn't produce problematic gas, allowing cheese to age safely sealed in a can. The cans let the cheese age for years and made it shippable and shelf-stable, and the format became the cheese's signature.
Flavor and Texture
Cougar Gold has a firm, dense, slightly crumbly paste, pale and white. The flavor is rich, nutty, sharp, and savory, with a tangy depth that intensifies the longer the can is aged — and many fans deliberately age their cans for additional years in the fridge, where the flavor grows sharper and develops crunchy crystals. It's a complex, satisfying cheese that rewards patience, somewhere between a sharp cheddar and a nutty Alpine cheese.
How to Use Cougar Gold
Cougar Gold is excellent on a cheese board, served in chunks or slices with crusty bread, fruit, and nuts, where its nutty sharpness shines. It melts well for grilled cheese, gratins, and sauces, and grates over dishes for a savory boost. Once opened, the cheese is typically transferred to wrapping or kept covered in the fridge. Its bold flavor makes it a fine cooking and eating cheese.
Pairings
Cougar Gold pairs with robust red wines, craft beers, and cider, as well as with the apples and other produce of its Pacific Northwest home. On the plate, nuts, dried fruit, apples, and crusty bread complement its nutty, sharp flavor.
Buying and Storing
Cougar Gold is sold in its distinctive 30-ounce cans, primarily through the WSU Creamery and online, making it a popular gift. Unopened cans can be aged in the fridge for additional years to deepen the flavor. Once opened, wrap and refrigerate the cheese and use within a few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Cougar Gold sold in a can?
Mid-20th-century research at Washington State University found a way to age cheese safely in sealed metal cans, and the format became the cheese's signature, allowing long aging and easy shipping.
What does Cougar Gold taste like?
Rich, nutty, sharp, and savory, with a tangy depth that intensifies with age, somewhere between a sharp cheddar and a nutty Alpine cheese.
Can you age Cougar Gold?
Yes. Many fans age unopened cans in the fridge for additional years, which sharpens the flavor and develops crunchy crystals.