We are extremely proud to announce that our very own Beacon Blue won Best British Blue Cheese in the inaugural Virtual Cheese Awards 2020. Our creamy blue goats cheese also came third in the grand final, securing its place as one of the premier cheeses in the U.K.
More than 300 cheeses had been considered for awards. These had been whittled down to the final 30 across a number of categories, which for the first time ever were judged live online - and watched by more than 3,000 people!
The not for profit Virtual Cheese Awards were founded by Sarah de Wit and Nigel Pooley, with the aim to demystify and celebrate British cheese and its producers in a time of great need. The online contest was created after the Covid-19 pandemic meant the usual British cheese awards were cancelled.
In response to the success of Beacon Blue, Matthew Hall, 4th generation cheesemaker and owner said, "It's a cheese that's often missed by people. It's a goats' cheese milked from the family herd, just down the road from the dairy. It's a very unique product with being a blue cheese and a goats' cheese - that's what makes it so special.”
"It is silky and sweet like a goats' cheese and peppery tangy from a blue cheese. It's a favourite cheese of our cheesemaker and grader - people who really know their cheeses. It's quite hard to come by a goats' cheese and a blue cheese, both are complicated products to make in their own right. When you try and combine them it becomes difficult.”
Read more here: