42 culturecheesemag.com BES T CHEESES 2024
Traditional Aged Brick
Widmer's Cheese Cellars
Teresa, Wisconsin
e judging category "American
Originals" is defined by the ACS as
cheeses that are "uniquely American in
their original forms: brick cheese, brick
muenster, Colby, dry jack, Monterey Jack,
and teleme." Traditional Aged Brick from
Widmer's Cheese Cellars took home First
Place in this category in 2023. Literally
in the shape of a brick, this washed-rind
cheese dates back to 1877, and Master
Cheesemaker Joe Widmer still uses the
same bricks his grandfather used to press
each block of cheese into its namesake
shape. Aged Brick is matured three to five
months and has nutty, tangy, savory, and
pungent flavors. AB
St. Malachi
The Farm at Doe Run
Unionville, Pennsylvania
e cheese that took the crème de la
crème 2023 ACS Best of Show was St.
Malachi, which also won Best of Class
in its category at the 2023 USCCC, and
Super Gold at the 2022 WCA. Described
as Alpine-style meets gouda, this raw
cow's milk cheese is aged around three
months and features a firm texture with
a deep, golden-yellow paste dotted with
tyrosine crystals. It's flavor profile is
grassy, fruity, and buttery with a touch of
caramel richness. AB
TRADITIONAL AGED BRICK
ST. MALACHI
PAIR IT!
Creamy, nutty, caramel notes of
St. Malachi are an elegant complement
to the sweet vanilla and cherry flavors
of a Rye Whiskey Old Fashioned. –AB
Sachi
Shiawase Cheese
Ashoro, Japan
Shiawase Cheese's cheesemaker Sachio
Honma creates a variety of raw-milk
cheeses using traditional, conscious
methods. One of those cheeses is Sachi,
a raw, grass-fed cow's milk cheese
inspired by European Alpine greats with
flavors of toasted nuts and an underlying
caramel-like sweetness, which won
Super Gold at the 2022 WCA. AB
PHOTO:
St.
Malachi:
Adam
DeTour
