DUNDEE, Ore. — Local cheesemaker Briar Rose Creamery is continuing its streak of national and international recognition, most recently earning two top awards at the annual American Cheese Society competition in late July.
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“It’s incredible,” said Sarah Marcus, Briar Rose co-owner and cheesemaker. “We’re going against some of the biggest cheesemakers in the world that have their own microbiologists on payroll in these competitions. For our itty-bitty operation—sourcing from two family-owned dairy farms and our small team—this is amazing.”
Butterbloom, Briar Rose’s soft bloomy rind cow’s milk cheese, was awarded first place in the soft-ripened cheeses made from cow’s milk category. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow’s milk and aged for two to 10 weeks, according to the creamery’s website. Cheesemonger Janet Fletcher called the win significant for the Dundee Hills cheesemaker, noting the category is “hyper competitive.”
Briar Rose’s Fromage Blanc also earned first place in the Fromage Blanc made from cow’s milk category, scoring a perfect 100 from judges—meaning they found no technical flaws and deemed the cheese aesthetically perfect in appearance, aroma, texture, and flavor.
“Getting a perfect 100 score, that was a first for us,” Marcus said. “It was very validating. It just goes to show how great the cream is that we’re getting from our farms. And our team—I don’t do this alone. We have a great team.”
Both cheeses have been standouts for Briar Rose, winning awards across the globe in recent years. Butterbloom was recently awarded a gold designation at the 2024 World Cheese Awards in Portugal, as well as a silver medal at the 2024 American Cheese Society competition. The personal-sized Butterbloom, known as Butterbaby, received a Good Food Award in 2024—the creamery’s ninth Good Food Award and the first for Butterbaby.
Fromage Blanc has consistently earned accolades since 2019, including two Good Food Awards (2019 and 2023) and two medals at the American Cheese Society competition—gold in 2022 and silver in 2023.
Briar Rose Creamery was founded in 2010 by Marcus and co-owner Jim Hoffman, who oversees marketing and distribution. Marcus, a native of California’s Bay Area, began her cheese career at Cowgirl Creamery in San Francisco. She interned at Cowgirl’s cheesemaking facility and went on to work in England, Spain, North Carolina, and Vermont.
According to the Briar Rose website, the creamery sources milk from Perrin Family Farms near Woodburn and Abiqua Acres near Silverton. Both farms are certified organic and do not use growth hormones.
Those interested in trying the cheeses can visit Briar Rose’s farm store at 19231 NE Fairview Drive in Dundee on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit briarrosecreamery.com.
