Maine Wins At This Years ACS Awards

Just a few hours ago, the American Cheese Society convened in Montreal and handed out awards to some of the best cheese makers in the US and Canada. Because of the wonders of interwebs, I was able to find the list of winners within hours of being announced. This is how I spend my Friday nights. One thing of note was that this was the first ACS award won by Spring Day Creamery in Durham, ME. I had the pleasure of visiting the farm for Open Creamery Day back in 2009 and spent a lot of time talking with Sarah, her family, and tasting many of the cheeses she had on hand. The cheese that won for her, I would easily compare to Bleu D’Auvergne. It’s also exceptional that she came in 2nd to this years ‘Best in Show’ eventual winner, Rogue Creamery’s Rogue River Blue—which is easily the best blue cheese being made in the US. I hope the Maine contingency, whether they won today or not, is out enjoying and celebrating in the streets of Montreal.

DC: Open Category made from cow’s milk

1st Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese Co., TX
Birdville Reserve

2nd Monforte Dairy, ON
Abondance

3rd Hahn’s End, ME
Petit Poulet

FK: Blue-veined made from cow’s milk with a rind or external coating

1st Rogue Creamery, OR
Rogue River Blue

2nd Spring Day Creamery, ME
Spring Day Blues

3rd Glengarry Fine Cheese div of Glengarry Cheesemaking Inc., ON
Celtic Blue

QE: Yogurts, Plain – made from sheep’s milk with NO additional ingredients

1st Best Baa Dairy, ON
Sheepmilk Yogourt

2nd La Moutonniere, QC
Royogourt

3rd Appleton Creamery, ME
Yogurt

3rd Valley Shepherd Creamery, NJ
Ewegurt

U. AGED GOAT’S MILK CHEESES
Taupinière, Rinded Log and Pyramid Types, etc.

UG: Open Category

1st LaClare Farms Specialties LLC, WI
Evalon

2nd Chèvrerie du Buckland, QC
Tomme du Maréchal

3rd Appleton Creamery, ME
Chevre Wrapped in Brandied Grape Leaf

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Maine Cheeses at 2010 American Cheese Society Awards

While it wasn’t as fancy as the Emmy’s, though I’m sure the food and drinks were better, the American Cheese Society held it’s awards this past weekend in Seattle, WA. Because I’m obsessive turophile that I am, I’ve been waiting for the past 24 hours for the results to be posted.
The big winners this year were from Wisconsin and Vermont in the ‘Best in Show’ Category (Uplands Cheese Company’s ‘Pleasant Ridge Reserve’ placed 1st; ‘Bonne Bouche’ from Vermont Butter and Cheese Company 2nd; and Farm for City Kids Springbrook Farm’s Tarentaise’took 3rd), Maine did have a small representation.
Winners from the state were:

• Appleton Creamery’s ‘Camella’ took first place, while besting Cypress Grove Creamery’s ‘Truffle Tremor’ in the “Soft Ripened, flavor added” Goat’s Cheese category.
• Appleton also topped the “Feta from Sheep or Mixed Milk” category for their ‘Sophia’ Feta.
• Pineland Farms Feta won 3rd in the “Feta from Cow’s Milk” category.
• Pineland also garnered 3rd for their Salsa Jack in the “Flavor Added–Monterey Jack” category.
• Pineland’s Salsa Jack, this time in spreadable form, placed second in the interestingly titled “Cold Pack Cheese Food and Cheese Spreads With Flavor Added.”

Both are repeat winners from last year but Maine still hasn’t repeated the showing it had back in 2007, when 17 Maine cheeses took home awards. But, as it goes with award ceremonies, there’s always next year.