A barn at Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton, New Jersey, where the farm produces goat’s milk cheeses, soaps and lotions. (MARY CONNOLLY/MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Montclair offers a taste of New Jersey’s farms and artisanal food producers right in our backyard, thanks to places like Ironbound Farm Market at Lackawanna Station and the Montclair Farmers Market on Walnut Street.
These markets offer a convenient way to explore what New Jersey has to offer. And if cheese is your thing, you just might learn a thing or two about the small dairies and cheesemakers in our state.
Gorgeous Goat Creamery stands out among these makers and is worth your attention – and a fall day trip.
High Quality Goat’s Milk, Cheeses, Soaps & Lotions
Maria Stewart and Matt Kriegler of Gorgeous Goat Creamery. (COURTESY GORGEOUS GOAT CREAMERY)
Gorgeous Goat Creamery is New Jersey’s only Grade A goat dairy and is committed to regenerative reforestation.
The farm, run by Maria Stewart and her husband, Matt Kriegler, is located in Stockton, about an hour west of Montclair, near the Delaware River and Frenchtown.
“Cumulus,” a brie-style cheese at Gorgeous Goat Creamery. (MARY CONNOLLY/MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
It’s known for its high-quality, mild goat’s milk and cheeses—bright, creamy fresh chèvre; buttery feta, Gouda, “Cumulus,” a brie-style cheese and tangy flavored yogurts —as well as lush goat’s milk lotions and soaps, all made by hand in small batches.
But that’s not all. There’s plenty of fun to be had with the goats, too.
A Shot of Goat Joy
The goats at Gorgeous Goat Creamery. (MARY CONNOLLY/MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
The farm offers plenty of events during the warmer months, starting in spring, when baby goat season begins!
Spending time with these adorable and curious animals is a surefire way to knock off any remaining winter doldrums and lift the mood at any time of the year. Seasonal activities include feeding and snuggling with baby goats, hiking with goats, farm tours and restorative therapist-facilitated wellness programs with the goats. There are also goat happy hours, soap-making classes, cheese tasting events and more. A visit to Gorgeous Goat Creamery is enjoyable for adults, fun for kids and offers a connection with nature that feeds the soul.
The Origin Story
(MARY CONNOLLY/MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
The goats just…happened.
The owners came to New Jersey from the Midwest, but raising goats and making soap and cheese wasn’t part of their original plan.
“My husband and I are transplants to the East Coast. We’re Midwestern born and raised, and obviously life has taken us to other destinations,” Stewart said.
“The funny thing is, we didn’t move to New Jersey to become goat farmers. We became goat farmers by accident, more or less. Our property had 17 acres primarily of forest with a lot of invasive, thorny plants that came from the landscaping industry and they’re really hard to remove, the deer won’t touch them. Lo and behold, Google informed me that goats would like to eat these invasive plants. In 2018, we got our first four goats to eat the invasive plants as hobby animals.”
Four goats become eight, then more. Suddenly there was a herd.
Lots of Milk = Lots of Cheese, Soaps and Lotions
“The soaps were actually the beginning of the slippery slope turning into a full-on goat dairy”, said Maria. “When we had our first herd of goats, I thought it would be nice to have a little fresh milk for our refrigerator.”
To help pay for the goat’s feed, Stewart and Kriegler started selling their goat milk soaps, lotions and fresh milk at a local farmer’s market. Customers began asking if they also made cheese, which led to experimenting with cheese-making.
Kriegler is a professional ceramic artist and mechanic. Stewart’s professional experience is in the food and nutrition space (working in part in regulatory affairs for large food ingredients companies). She also grew up on a Midwestern vegetable farm. Together, they combined their talents to build a farm and navigate the licensing and regulatory process of setting up a full-fledged commercial dairy, which officially opened in 2020. Their products are now available at regional farmers’ markets, retail outlets throughout the state and on a few menus at area restaurants and wineries.
Make A Day of It
See what’s happening at the farm, register for an event and plan a foodie adventure around it.
After visiting the goats, head over to nearby charming Frenchtown for lunch, shopping and a stroll along the Delaware River.
Then swing by the barn at Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse to pick up some of their award-winning cow’s milk cheeses, some tasty breads, meats and charcuterie.
From there, round out the day with a visit to the Ironbound Farm Ciderhouse: sample their delicious hard ciders, grab a bite at their farm-to-table restaurant, and pick up farm-fresh regional groceries in their shop before jumping onto I-78 West to head home.
A fantastic day celebrating the Garden State!
Plan Your Visit
Gorgeous Goat Creamery, 71 Featherbed Lane, Stockton, NJ
Website: gorgeousgoat.com
Where to Buy in the Montclair Area: Ironbound Farm Market at Lackawanna Station.
Dining and Cooking