FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Briar Rose Creamery Founders Sarah Marcus and Jim Hoffman Announce Retirement After 16 Years of Award-Winning Cheesemaking
DUNDEE, OR – April 10, 2026 – Briar Rose Creamery, the celebrated artisan cheese producer nestled in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, today announced the upcoming retirement of its founders and owners, Sarah Marcus and Jim Hoffman. After an extraordinary 16-year journey of crafting exceptional, nationally recognized cheeses, the duo is stepping away from the vats to begin their next chapter.
Founded in 2010 as a goat cheese producer, Briar Rose Creamery was born out of Marcus’s passion for traditional cheesemaking and a desire to highlight the rich agricultural terroir of the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, the creamery's repertoire evolved—including a period of crafting beautiful sheep's milk cheeses—before transitioning to focus exclusively on the exquisite cow's milk cheeses they are famous for today. Together with Hoffman’s operational leadership, the creamery quickly became a cornerstone of Oregon’s culinary landscape and elevated the state’s status on the artisan cheese map.
"When we started Briar Rose in 2010, our dream was simply to make delicious, honest cheese that reflected the beauty of our region," said Sarah Marcus, Founder and Head Cheesemaker. "We never could have imagined the incredible support we would receive from our community, our dedicated dairy farmers, the talented chefs who championed our products, enthusiastic cheesemongers, distributors, and customers. It has been the honor of a lifetime. While it is bittersweet to close this chapter, Jim and I are so proud of what we've built and are ready to finally enjoy a little rest."
A Legacy of Excellence & National Recognition
Over the past decade and a half, Briar Rose Creamery has established a legacy of excellence, earning a staggering collection of top-tier industry awards. Their dedication to quality, ethical sourcing, and meticulous aging processes has been recognized with numerous ribbons at the American Cheese Society (ACS) Awards—including Gold for their Feta-style Fata Morgana, Fresh Fromage Blanc, and Butterbloom, and First Place honors for the historic washed-rind goat cheese, Lorelei. The creamery has also been a frequent winner at the Good Food Awards and has consistently placed among the world's elite at the World Cheese Awards.
Beyond the judge's table, Briar Rose’s cheeses have captured the attention of the national press, earning features and accolades in prestigious publications such as Food & Wine Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Culture magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, the Oregonian, Sunset Magazine, and AAA's Via Magazine.
Briar Rose Creamery will be ceasing production at the end of April and releasing a final, limited run of their most iconic cow's milk cheeses: Fromage Blanc, Butterbloom, Butterbaby, Fata Morgana, and Damona. The creamery will officially close once all cheese is sold. These final batches will be available at their Dundee tasting room, through their distributors until they sell out, and at select cheese counters, retailers, restaurants, and wineries around Oregon, Washington, California, and select shops across the US.
"We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has shared a wheel or a wedge of our cheese over the years," added Jim Hoffman. "You made this incredible journey possible."
About Briar Rose Creamery
Founded in 2010 by Sarah Marcus and Jim Hoffman, Briar Rose Creamery is an award-winning artisanal cheesemaking facility located in Dundee, Oregon. Specializing in handcrafted, small-batch cow's milk cheeses—and historically celebrated for their goat and sheep's milk creations.
—Briar Rose has spent 16 years celebrating old-world techniques and the Pacific Northwest's rich agricultural heritage.
Media Contact:
Sarah Marcus & Jim Hoffman
Founders & Owners,
Briar Rose Creamery
503-538-4848
PO Box 34, Dundee, Oregon 97115
Frequently Asked Questions: Briar Rose Creamery Retirement
When is the last day to buy Briar Rose cheese?
We are ceasing production at the end of April and will close once all cheese is sold. We anticipate our final aging batches will last through May 2026, but we encourage you to stock up early!
Where can I buy the final batches?
Briar Rose Creamery's cheese is available at our Dundee Farm Store (open Friday & Saturday, 12-5 pm) and through our distributors until they sell out. You can also find our cheeses at select cheese counters, retailers, restaurants, and wineries around Oregon, Washington, California, and select shops across the US, while supplies last.
Do you ship cheese nationwide?
Briar Rose Creamery does not ship cheese directly. However, we encourage you to reach out to our wonderful retail partners, such as Venissimo Cheese in Southern California, who carry our products and may be able to ship directly to you.
What will happen to the creamery space and the farm?
Everything is for sale! This includes our home, the beautiful 12-acre property, tractor, and the complete contents of the creamery—essentially everything one needs to step in and run a fully functioning cheesemaking, ice cream, or other food operation. Jim and Sarah are downsizing as they move forward into their new adventures and are excited to see who will become the next stewards of this special property.
Will another cheesemaker be taking over your recipes?
The recipes are also for sale. If we cannot find a buyer, we will retire these cheeses, too. We are deeply grateful to have shared these unique flavors with you for the past 16 years.