This year’s Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Awards results have been announced, with a record-breaking 155 gold and silver medals awarded.
Over the course of the competition, a grand total of 253 medals were awarded, with several breweries collecting awards across a range of categories. Engaging the most experienced and respected judges in the industry, the competition encourages and rewards excellence in the brewing industry.
Northern Beaches based brewery 4 Pines Brewing Co were this year’s standout winners, taking home 22 medals including six gold and six silver. 4 Pines Brewing Co claimed the Champion Packaged Beer Trophy for their Japanese Style Lager, while being awarded both Champion Draught Beer and Best NSW Beer for their Extra Special Bitter.
Blue Mountains brewery Mountain Culture Beer Co also performed well, picking up an impressive haul of 18 medals in addition to being crowned Champion Experimental or Speciality Beer for their New England Oat Cream IPA, Hill People.
In the cider category, Small Acres Cyder Pink Landy took home Champion Cider, among other medals including two gold and one silver. Ian Kingham, Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show Chair of Judges, commented on the exceptional quality of this year’s entrants.
“The Sydney Royal Show is one of the toughest beer and cider competitions in Australia, and yet we have seen an outstanding quality of entries this year that have been more than deserving of the high-level of medals awarded.”
“Over the past decade, the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider show has seen a steady increase of entries and a steady increase in medals, which I believe is reflective of the growth and quality of the Australian beer and cider industry. Back in 2013, we were handing out one gold medal, 10 years later we’ve awarded 42 gold medals – it’s a completely different game now.”
“Some of the standout classes included stout, which was a particularly strong category this year, with every entry achieving either gold, silver, or bronze status. Equally impressive is the diversity of the location, we have medal winners in six of the eight states and territories, and twenty-seven per cent of exhibits are from regional areas.”
Final standouts included Sydney Brewery, which picked up 19 medals from 19 entries, and Esker Beer Co., which claimed 12 medals from 12 entries.
Welcoming judges with a range of industry experience and backgrounds, the competition boasted a diverse judging panel. Among the judges were brewers, media personnel, sensory experts, and those with commercial experience and skill.
All exhibits in the competition are judged blind, awarding gold, silver and bronze medals according to a points-based merit system.
“There was an incredible array of experience on the judging floor this year, including a world beer judge, previous Chair of Judges, and even some of Australia’s best distillers,” added Kingham. “The judging process is meticulous, and judges must have a qualification or track record of high sensory taste to be considered for the panel, so you are really getting the best of the best in the industry.”
The full list of results can be found here.