Seven creameries come home with 19 ribbons, including eight firsts.
Oregon artisan, farmstead, and specialty cheese makers placed among the top states in the nation for the number of honors awarded during the American Cheese Society’s 2015 Annual Cheese Competition, winning a total of 19 ribbons, including eight first place recognitions.
The awards were announced July 31 at the American Cheese Society’s 32nd Annual Conference held in Providence, Rhode Island. Notable wins were firsts for Face Rock and Tillamook in two crowded Cheddar subcategories.
Winning Oregon cheesemakers took honors in 11 categories and 19 subcategories. Included were Ancient Heritage, Portland; Briar Rose, Dundee; Face Rock, Bandon; Ochoa Queseria (Don Froylan), Albany; Rogue, Central Point; Tillamook, Tillamook; and Willamette Valley Cheese, Salem.
The judging is the nation’s largest cheese competition, and recognizes only the highest quality cheeses based on both aesthetics (flavor, aroma, and texture) and technical accomplishments. 38 cheese specialists judged the 2015 competition, which included 1,779 entries representing 267 processors from North and South America.
Additional information about the American Cheese Society and its competition can be found here and a full list of Oregon winners below.
Consumers will have the opportunity to taste most of these and other offerings from Oregon creameries at the Guild’s annual event October 3 in Portland, The Wedge.
2015 American Cheese Competition Awards
Oregon Winners by Category & Subcategory
Fresh Unripened Cheeses – Cheese Curds, All Milks
3rd Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook Cheddar Cheese Curd
Cheddars – Aged Cheddar (12-24 months), All Milks
1st Face Rock Creamery, OR
Face Rock 2 Year Extra Aged Cheddar
Cheddars – Aged up to 12 Months, Cow’s Milk
1st Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook White Medium Cheddar
Blue Mold Cheeses – Blue-Veined with Rind, Cow’s Milk
2nd Rogue Creamery, OR
Rogue River Blue Cheese
Hispanic & Portuguese Style Cheeses – Fresh, Unripened, All Milks
2nd Ochoa’s Queseria, OR
Queso Fresco Don Froylan
Hispanic & Portuguese Style Cheeses – Melting
1st Ochoa’s Queseria, OR
Queso Oaxaca Don Froylan
Feta Cheeses – Goat’s Milk
1st Briar Rose Creamery, OR
Goat Milk Feta
Flavored Cheeses – Fresh Unripened, All Milks
3rd Face Rock Creamery, OR
Face Rock Garlic Olive Fromage Blanc
Flavored Cheeses – Farmstead, All Milks
1st Willamette Valley Cheese, OR
Smoked Black Pepper and Chive Gouda
Flavored Cheeses – Hispanic Style, All Milks
1st Ochoa’s Queseria, OR
Don Froylan Queso Botanero Cilantro & Jalapeño
Flavored Cheeses – Monterey Jack, All Milks
2nd Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook Hot Habanero Jack
Flavored Cheeses – Yogurt, All Milks
3rd Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook Low Fat Key Lime Yogurt
Flavored Cheeses – Cold Pack and Spreads, All Milks
2nd Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook Hot Habanero Jack
Smoked Cheeses – Cheddar, All Milks
2nd Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook Smoked Medium Cheddar
Smoked Cheeses – Open Category, Cow’s Milk
1st Rogue Creamery, OR
Smokey Blue
Goat’s Milk Cheeses – Aged Over 60 Days
2nd Briar Rose Creamery, OR
Carena
Cream Products – Crème Fraiche and Sour Cream, Cow’s Milk
2nd Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook Premium Sour Cream
Butters – Salted, Cow’s Milk
1st Tillamook County Creamery Association, OR
Tillamook Salted Sweet Cream Butter
Washed Rind Cheeses – Open Category; Sheep’s, Mixed, or Other Milks
3rd Ancient Heritage Dairy, OR
Willow Creek
