Quick Answer: Our top pick for Gouda on a charcuterie board is Trader Joe's 1000 Day Gouda (4.7 out of 5). Best value: Trader Joe's Goat Milk Gouda. Splurge: Beemster XO. We ranked 6 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
For a board, aged Gouda is the prize: deep caramel flavor and crunchy crystals. Young Gouda is milder and softer. These brands cover both.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked September 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Trader Joe's 1000 Day Gouda ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 |
| Best value: Trader Joe's Goat Milk Gouda ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best splurge: Beemster XO ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Trader Joe's 1000 Day Gouda ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 | Very aged, low price |
| 2. Rembrandt 12 Month Aged Gouda ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.7 | Crystals and caramel |
| 3. Old Amsterdam ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Widely available aged Gouda |
| 4. Trader Joe's Goat Milk Gouda ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Something different |
| 5. Beemster XO ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 | Deep butterscotch |
| 6. Boar's Head Gouda ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | Mild and young |
1. Trader Joe's 1000 Day Gouda
★★★★½ 4.7 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: Very aged, low price · $ budget
Aged about 2.7 years. Tasting Table ranked it second for its nutty, mushroomy notes, subtle sweetness and crystals.
- Why we like it: Very aged for the price.
- Keep in mind: Only at Trader Joe's.
- Where to buy: Trader Joe's.
2. Rembrandt 12 Month Aged Gouda
★★★★½ 4.7 out of 5 · Best for: Crystals and caramel · $$ mid-range
Tasting Table's number one grocery-store Gouda, with an intensely nutty aroma, caramelized flavor and a pleasant crystalline texture.
- Why we like it: Top-ranked. Widely available.
- Keep in mind: Less intense than 2-year Goudas.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
3. Old Amsterdam
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best for: Widely available aged Gouda · $$ mid-range
A Dutch aged Gouda that is widely stocked, very crystalline and good value.
- Why we like it: Easy to find. Good value.
- Keep in mind: Few published reviews.
- Where to buy: Grocery cheese case, Costco.
4. Trader Joe's Goat Milk Gouda
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: Something different · $ budget
A goat's milk Gouda-style cheese that scored 10 out of 10 in Sporked's Trader Joe's cheese review.
- Why we like it: Top score. Cheap.
- Keep in mind: Milder and softer than aged cow's Gouda.
- Where to buy: Trader Joe's.
5. Beemster XO
★★★★☆ 3.8 out of 5 · Best splurge · Best for: Deep butterscotch · $$$ premium
A Dutch Gouda aged 26 months, with a deep butterscotch flavor and plenty of crystals. A benchmark aged Gouda. (Source: cheese.com.)
- Why we like it: Deep flavor.
- Keep in mind: Expensive.
- Where to buy: Whole Foods, cheese counters, Costco.
6. Boar's Head Gouda
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: Mild and young · $$ mid-range
Soft and buttery but mild, according to Tasting Table. Better for kids and cubes than for a cheese-focused board.
- Why we like it: Everywhere.
- Keep in mind: Mild.
- Where to buy: Deli counters.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trader Joe's 1000 Day Gouda | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.7 |
| Rembrandt 12 Month Aged Gouda | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4.7 |
| Old Amsterdam | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4.2 |
| Trader Joe's Goat Milk Gouda | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Beemster XO | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3.8 |
| Boar's Head Gouda | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3.5 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: An age statement in months. Anything over 12 months will have crystals and a butterscotch flavor. Wax coatings are not eaten.
Skip: Thin pre-sliced Gouda for a board. It turns plasticky. Cut an aged Gouda into shards instead.
For what Gouda pairs with and how to serve it, see the aged gouda guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Gouda questions
What is the best Gouda for a charcuterie board?
An aged Gouda with crystals. Rembrandt 12 Month topped Tasting Table's test; Trader Joe's 1000 Day is the best value.
What are the crunchy bits in aged Gouda?
Protein crystals that form as the cheese ages. They are a good sign.
What goes with aged Gouda?
Apples, pears, dark chocolate, walnuts and a malty beer or a Merlot.
Sources
- Tasting Table: 9 Grocery Store Gouda Cheeses, Ranked
- Sporked: Best Trader Joe's Cheese
- cheese.com: Beemster Extra Aged (XO)
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