Beehive Cheese Earns Seven Awards Across Two Premier International Competitions

UINTAH, Utah – Beehive Cheese, the Utah-based brand known for its rubbed-rind cheddars, announced today that it has won seven awards this summer across two of the world’s most respected cheese competitions: the American Cheese Society (ACS) Awards and the International Cheese and Dairy Awards (ICDA).

American Cheese Society Awards

Beehive earned five awards at this year’s ACS competition, including a first-place win for its signature Barely Buzzed. Results were announced during the awards ceremony at the ‘Stitched Together by Cheese’ Annual Conference, held at the Kentucky International Convention Center. This year’s competition drew more than 1,600 entries from over 200 creameries across the Americas.

Beehive’s 2026 ACS winners:

• Pour Me A Slice – 3rd Place, Cheeses Marinated in Liquids and Ingredients, cow’s milk
• Barely Buzzed – 1st Place, Rubbed-Rind Cheese with added flavor ingredients rubbed or applied on the exterior surface of the cheese only, all milks
• Barely Buzzed – 1st Place, Rubbed-Rind Cheese with added flavor ingredients rubbed or applied on the exterior surface of the cheese only, all milks
• Big John’s Cajun – 2nd Place, Rubbed-Rind Cheese with added flavor ingredients rubbed or applied on the exterior surface of the cheese only, all milks
• Red Butte Hatch Chile – 2nd Place, Cheddar with hot pepper (capsaicin)/spicy flavor added (intended hot), all milks
• Hatch Chile Curds – 3rd Place, Cheese Curds with savory predominant flavor, all milks

International Cheese and Dairy Awards

Beehive also brought home two medals from the 2026 International Cheese and Dairy Awards, held June 24 and 25 in the United Kingdom. Now in its 129th year, the ICDA is the world’s largest and oldest dairy competition. Established in 1897, it evaluates entries on appearance, aroma, texture, and taste across roughly 50 classes covering categories from traditional cheeses to cheese spreads and cheese pairings. This year’s event received more than 4,500 entries from over 20 countries.

Beehive’s 2026 ICDA winners:

●      Barely Buzzed – Gold, Cheese: Any variety that contains Savory Additives, Hard Cheese other than Cheddar

●      Red Butte Hatch Chile – Bronze, Cheese: Any variety that contains Savory Additives, any other savory additive, Cheddar

“Barely Buzzed blazed a path for the rubbed-rind category twenty years ago, and we’re proud that it’s still recognized as best in class today. Red Butte Hatch Chile has become a leader in one of the deepest, most competitive categories out there, and it’s no surprise, since it’s our second most popular cheese with cheese lovers.” – Katie Schall, Director of Marketing, Beehive Cheese

About Beehive Chees

Founded in 2005 near Ogden, UT by Pat Ford and Tim Welsh, Beehive Cheese is a family-run creamery known for award-winning rubbed-rind cheddars, including the multi-award-winning Barely Buzzed, Seahive, and Red Butte Hatch Chile. With more than 170 awards to date, Beehive partners with regional dairies, valuing quality milk, craftsmanship, and community, and earned B Corp™ certification in 2022. After 21 years, Beehive remains true to its roots: approachable, pioneering cheddar.