AMERICAN SOCIETY JUDGING & COMPETITION 2012 CATEGORIES

A. FRESH UNRIPENED Mascarpone, , Neufchatel, Ricotta, Impastata, Quark, Fromage Blanc, Cottage Cheeses Excluded: Fresh , Queso Blanco types AC: Open Category – made from cow's milk AG: Open Category – made from goat's milk AS: Open Category – made from sheep's or mixed milks AM: Mascarpone – made from cow’s milk AR: Ricotta – made from cow’s milk AQ: Fromage Blanc, Fromage Frais, and Quark – made from cow’s milk

B. SOFT RIPENED CHEESES White surface mold ripened cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Coulommiers, etc.) Excluded: External Molded Blue Cheeses BA: Open Category – made from cow’s milk BB: Brie – made from cow’s milk BC: Camembert – made from cow's milk BG: Open Category – made from goat's milk BS: Open Category – made from sheep's or mixed milks BF: Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasoning, fruits – all milks BT: Triple Crème – soft ripened / cream added – all milks

C. AMERICAN ORIGINALS Cheeses recognized by the ACS as uniquely American in their original forms: , Dry Jack, Brick Cheese, Brick Muenster, Colby, Teleme CB: Brick Cheese – made from cow’s milk CD: Dry Jack – made from cow’s milk CJ: Monterey Jack – made from cow’s milk CM: Brick Muenster – made from cow’s milk CY: Colby – made from cow’s milk CT: Teleme – made from cow’s milk

Liederkranz* & Oka** The ACS Judging Committee recognizes these cheeses as true American Originals. However, these names are owned by individual companies. This ownership of the name of an American Original means that there will only be one possible entry of this cheese by this name into the ACS Judging & Competition. Though worthy of recognition, these American Original cheeses will not sustain enough entries to populate an individual category which merits judging, scoring, and awards.

Please Note: Liederkranz* has been moved to Category VC and Oka** has been moved to Category DC.

ORIGINAL RECIPE / OPEN CATEGORY Cheeses recognized by the ACS as unique in their recipe and formulation, and which do not strictly conform to the guidelines of other acknowledged recipes for cheese types. (Cheesemakers will be asked for a brief explanation of what differentiates their entry.) CC: Original Recipe / Open Category – made from cow's milk CG: Original Recipe / Open Category – made from goat's milk CS: Original Recipe / Open Category – made from sheep's or mixed milks

2012 ACS Categories - Final Page 1 Revised 2/17/2012 D. AMERICAN MADE / INTERNATIONAL STYLE Cheese modeled after or based on recipes for established European or other international types or styles (Beaufort, Abondance, Gruyere, Juustoleipa, Caerphilly, English Territorials, Leyden, Butterkase, Monastery, Oka-styles**, etc.) Excluded: all Cheddars, all Italian Type cheeses, all Feta, all Hispanic/Portuguese-style DD: Dutch style (Gouda, Edam, etc.) – all milks DF: Dutch style - Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits, etc. – all milks DC: Open Category – made from cow's milk DE: Emmental style with eye formation (Swiss, Baby Swiss, Blocks, Wheels, etc.) – made from cow’s milk ALLOWED: Cheesemakers producing traditional Emmental wheels (180 lb. approx.) are permitted to submit cuts from original wheels. Entries cut from original wheels must weigh a minimum of 22 lbs. NOT ALLOWED: Emmental wheels, blocks, or cuts that have been plugged, cored, or otherwise visibly sampled prior to entry. DG: Open Category – made from goat's milk DS: Open Category – made from sheep's or mixed milks

E. CHEDDARS All Cheddars – all milks EA: Aged Cheddar – aged over 12 and up to 24 months – all milks EF: Cheddar with sweet flavorings, fruits, seasonings, herbs, spices, alcohol/spirits – all milks EP: Cheddar flavored with sweet, savory, jalapeno, chipotle, red, green peppers, black, white, green peppercorns, garlic, onions – all milks EC: Cheddar – aged up to 12 months – made from cow’s milk EG: Cheddar – aged up to 12 months – made from goat’s milk EX: Mature Cheddar – aged over 24 and up to 48 months – all milks EE: Mature Cheddar – aged over 48 months – all milks EW: Cheddar wrapped in cloth, linen – aged up to 12 months – all milks EB: Cheddar wrapped in cloth, linen – aged over 12 months – all milks

F. BLUE MOLD CHEESES All cheeses ripened with Roqueforti or Glaucum Penicillium Excluded: Colorless Mycelia

RINDLESS BLUE-VEINED CHEESE Defined as having no additional rind or coating on the external face of the cheese (Roquefort-style, Danish Blue- style, etc.) FC: Rindless Blue-veined – made from cow's milk FG Rindless Blue-veined – made from goat's milk FS: Rindless Blue-veined – made from sheep's or mixed milks

BLUE –VEINED CHEESES WITH RIND OR EXTERNAL COATING Defined as a fully developed rind growth different from the naturally occurring blue (Stilton-Style, Bleu de Gex, Bingham Hill Rustic Blue, etc.). The rind can include white mold (soft ripened mold/penicillium candidum; Cambozola, etc.) External Coatings include non-mold coatings such as nettles, ash, herbs, leaves, spices, crust, cloth, oils, etc. FK: Blue-veined with a rind or external coating – made from cow’s milk FL: Blue-veined with a rind or external coating – made from goat’s milk FM: Blue-veined with a rind or external coating – made from sheep’s or mixed milks

EXTERNAL BLUE –MOLDED/RINDED CHEESES Cheeses having NO INTERNAL BLUE VEINING but which DO have a rind, covering or crust made of BLUE MOLD which is completely different and separate from the cheese paste (Hubbardston Blue, Montbriac, etc.) FE: External Blue molded cheeses – all milks

2012 ACS Categories - Final Page 2 Revised 2/17/2012 G. HISPANIC & PORTUGUESE STYLE CHEESES Cheeses based on the recipes of the Azorean, Brazilian, Central American, Colombian, Cuban, Guatemalan, Hispanic, Latino, Mexican and Portuguese communities. GA: Ripened category (Cotija, Flamingo Bolla, Freir, Queso Prato, Queso Anejo, Chihuahua, etc.) – all milks GC: Fresh Unripened category (Queso Blanco, including Queso de Puna and Campesino, Queijo Blanco, Acoreano, Quesadilla, Queso Crema, Queso Andino) – all milks GF: Flavor Added - spices, herbs, seasoning, fruits (Queso Enchilado, Queso de Apoya, Queso d’Autin) – all milks

H. ITALIAN TYPE CHEESES Excluded: Mascarpone and Ricotta HP: types (Provolone, Caciocavallo) – all milks HA: Grating types (Reggianito, Sardo, Domestic Parmesan) – all milks Romano made only from cow’s or goat’s milk and not from sheep’s milk HM: Mozzarella types (Brick, Scamorza, String Cheese) – all milks HY: Fresh Mozzarella – 8 oz. or More (Balls or Shapes) – all milks HZ: Fresh Mozzarella – Under 8 oz. (Ovalini, Bocconcini, Ciliegine sizes) – all milks PLEASE NOTE: Fresh Mozzarella is NOT defined by size. Please enter only one size of your fresh mozzarella per category. HB: Burrata – Fresh mozzarella encasing a distinctly separate, softer curd and cream, or other soft cheese, core – all milks

I. FETA CHEESES IC: Feta – made from cow's milk IG: Feta – made from goat's milk IS: Feta – made from sheep's milk or mixed milks IF: Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasoning, fruits – all milks

J. LOW FAT / LOW SALT CHEESES JL: Fat Free and Low Fat cheeses – Limited to cheeses with 3 grams or less total fat per serving size – all milks JR: Light/Lite and Reduced Fat cheeses – Limited to cheeses with 25 – 50% reduction of fat per serving size when 50% of calories in the serving size come from fat – all milks JF: Flavor Added - spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks

Nutritional Information qualifying cheese as a dietary type cheese must accompany each cheese entry! Each cheese entry must be labeled with one of the following terms: Fat-Free: less than 0.5 grams fat per labeled serving size & no added fat or oil Low Fat: maximum 3 grams total fat per serving for serving size if serving size is more than 30 grams or 2 tablespoons; and 3 grams of fat or less per 50 grams of product if serving size is less than 30 grams less than 2 tablespoons. Light or Lite: if less than 50% of calories come from fat the cheese label must show a 33.3% reduction of calories than referenced amount or 50% reduction in fat. If more than 50% of calories come from fat, the cheese labels must show a minimum of 50% reduction of fat per referenced amount. Reduced Fat: minimum 25% reduction in total fat per referenced amount. Source: U.S Nutrition Labeling & Education Act - Nov., 1990

K. FLAVORED CHEESES Entries are limited to cheeses NOT included in Categories with "Flavor Added" Subcategories (B, D, E, G, I, J, M, N, O, P, Q, R and S) KC: Cheeses flavored with all peppers (chipotle, jalapeno, chili, etc.) – all milks KF: Cheeses flavored with herbs, fruits, vegetables, truffles, flowers, syrups – all milks KP: Cheeses flavored with crushed or whole peppercorns, savory spices, and other savory seasonings, including protein – all milks KH: Flavor Added Havarti – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks KJ: Flavor Added Monterey Jack – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks

2012 ACS Categories - Final Page 3 Revised 2/17/2012

L. SMOKED CHEESES Information about the smoke source (i.e. natural and/or smoke flavorings) must accompany each cheese entry. LC: Open Category – made from cow's milk LG: Open Category – made from goat's milk, sheep's milk or mixed milks LM: Smoked Italian Styles (Mozzarella, Scamorza, Bocconcini, Ovalini, etc.) – all milks LD: Smoked Cheddars – all milks

M. FARMSTEAD CHEESES Limited to cheeses and fermented milk products produced with: • Milk from herds on the farm where the cheese is produced • Care and attention given to the purity, quality, and flavor of the milk • Production primarily accomplished by hand • Natural ripening with emphasis on development of characteristic flavor and texture, without the use of shortcuts and techniques to increase yield and shelf life at the expense of quality • Respect for the traditions and history of cheese making regardless of the size of the production MA: Open Category – Soft – all milks Aged up to 60 days – Over 50% Moisture (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert etc.) MC: Open Category – Semisoft – made from cow’s milk Aged over 60 days – Between 39 and 50% Moisture (Colby to Muenster, etc.) ME: Open Category – Hard – made from cow’s milk Aged over 60 days – Less than 39% Moisture (Parmesan to Cheddar, etc.) MG: Open Category – Aged over 60 days – made from goat’s milk MS: Open Category – Aged over 60 days – made from sheep’s or mixed milks MF: Open Category for all cheeses with Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks

N. FRESH GOAT’S MILK CHEESES NO: Fresh Goat Rindless (black ash coating permitted) Extruded shape, goat logs, goat cheese in cylinders, buche style, etc. Fresh goat cheese in containers, cups, tubs, cryovac bags NS: Fresh Goat Cheese – Hand shaped, formed or molded into pyramid, disc, drum, crottin, basket or other shape

FRESH GOAT’S MILK CHEESES – Flavor Added NF: Flavor Added – Floral Cheeses flavored with floral, fruits, liquors, citrus, berries, cacao NH: Flavor Added – Herbal Cheeses flavored with herbs, extracts, truffles, truffle oil NP: Flavor Added – Peppers / Spice Cheeses flavored with peppers (sweet or savory, jalapenos, chipotles, etc.), mustards, olives, wasabi, onion, garlic, spices

O. FRESH SHEEP'S MILK CHEESES Open to all shapes and styles of rindless, unaged, fresh sheep’s milk cheeses OO: Open Category OF: Flavor Added - spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits

P. MARINATED CHEESES Entries must identify the type of marinade (Olive oil, safflower oil, vinegar, wine, spirits and liqueur, etc., including additional ingredients) PC: Open Category marinated in liquids and ingredients – made from cow's milk PG: Open Category marinated in liquids and ingredients – made from goat's milk PS: Open Category marinated in liquids and ingredients – made from sheep's or mixed milks

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Q. CULTURED MILK PRODUCTS Limited to Yogurt, Crème Fraiche, Kefir, Labne, etc. Cultured products made with added oil belong in Category "P" QC: Cultured Products – made from cow's milk QG: Cultured Products – made from goat's milk QS: Cultured Products – made from sheep's or mixed milks QA: Cultured Products – Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks QF: Limited to Crème Fraiche products – made from cow’s milk QY: Yogurts – Plain with NO additional ingredients – made from cow’s milk QD: Yogurts – Plain with NO additional ingredients – made from goat’s milk QE: Yogurts – Plain with NO additional ingredients – made from sheep’s milk QQ: Yogurts – Flavor Added – includes sugar, syrup, honey, agave, sweeteners, vanilla, fruit, etc. – all milks

R. BUTTERS Whey Butter, Salted Butter, Sweet Butter, Cultured Butter, etc. RC: Salted Butter with or without cultures – made from cow's milk RO: Unsalted Butter with or without cultures – made from cow’s milk RM: Butter with or without cultures – made from goat's, sheep's or mixed milks RF: Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks

S. CHEESE SPREADS Spreads produced by grinding and mixing, without the aid of heat and/or emulsifying salts, one or more natural cheeses. Cold pack cheese and cheese food, unflavored – Maximum Moisture 44% SC: Open Category COLD PACK STYLE – all milks SF: Cold pack cheese food and cheese spreads – Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – Maximum Moisture 44% - all milks SA: Open Category Spreads with Flavors using a base with moisture higher than 44% (Fromage Blanc, Quark, Labne, Tzatziki, Yogurt, Fromage Frais, Impastata, Cream Cheese, etc.) – all milks

T. AGED SHEEP'S MILK CHEESES Caciotta, Romano, Manchego, Table Cheeses, etc. TO: Open Category

U. AGED GOAT'S MILK CHEESES Taupiniere, Rinded Logs & Pyramid Types, etc. UG: Open Category

V. WASHED RIND CHEESES Limburger, Pont L’Eveque, Chimay, Schloss, Liederkranz-styles*, etc. Cheeses with a rind or crust washed in salted brine, whey, beer, wine, other alcohol, or grape lees that exhibit an obvious smeared or sticky rind and/or crust. Excluded: All Washed Curd Cheeses VC: Open Category – made from cow's milk VG: Open Category – made from goat's milk VS: Open Category – made from sheep's or mixed milks VA: Cheeses aged more than 90 days with up to 44% moisture – all milks Examples - Raclette, Swiss Appenzeller or Vignerons-style

*Liederkranz is a registered trademark of DCI Cheese Company. **Oka is a registered trademark of Agropur.

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