AWARDS: The Royal Qld Food & Wine Show Beer Awards

It was an odd mix of industry folk, corporate suits, craft brewers, and food bloggers who attended the awards ceremony for the 2012 Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show Beer & Cider Awards today at the RNA Showgrounds. But if there was one thing they all had in common, it was a love for good beer. Read on for a round-up of local winners...

LOCAL WINNERS

Local Queensland brewers Four Hearts, Bacchus, and Burleigh Brewing Company all picked up a swag of medals across a broad range of categories, and even Blue Sky Brewery from Cairns managed to snag one. 

The only gold medal to be won by a Queensland brewer was for Burleigh Brewing Company's latest special release Fig Jam IPA. Having bought my local bottleshop completely out of this limted release brew, I can say that it was most definitely a deserving win. 

Congratulations to you all.

Four Hearts Brewing Company (Ipswich)

Class 7: Pale Ale - American

Bronze - 4 Degrees Pale Ale

Class 13: Wheat Beers

Bronze - 4 Degrees Summer Wheat

Bacchus Brewing Company (Brisbane)

Class 9: Golden Ales

Silver - Queensland Ale

Class 13: Wheat Beers

Silver - Bacchus Heneweizen

Class 15: Any other Hybrid/Flavour Beer

Silver - White Choc Pilsner

Bronze - Rum Baltic Porter

Burleigh Brewing Company (Burleigh Heads)

Class 1: Golden Lagers - Pilsner Style

Bronze - Duke Premium Lager

Class 7: Pale Ale - American

Bronze - 28 Pale Ale

Class 8: Pale Ale - Any other style

Gold - Fig Jam IPA

Class 13 - Wheat Beers

Silver - Hef

Blue Sky Brewery (Cairns)

Class 9: Golden Ales

Bronze - J Bitter

CHAMPION WINNERS

The winners of the Champion awards are a bit of a mixed bag. It seems a little strange for VB to win Champion QLD Beer of Show, but then I find it strange that anyone who has a sense of taste actually still drinks it. Matilda Bay is owned by Carlton & United, but their Dogbolter is a decent drop. And William Bull is the beer brewing arm of De Bortoli wines. Like I said, a bit of a mixed bag. Still, congratulations to all.

Grand Champion Beer of Show

William Bull Brewery - Williams Limited Release India Pale Ale

Cryermalt Champion Queensland Beer of Show

Carlton & United Breweries - Victoria Bitter

Champion Lager of Show

Matilda Bay Brewing Company - Dogbolter

Lancer Beverage Systems Champion Ale of Show

William Bull Brewery - Williams Limited Release India Pale Ale

Champion Cider of Show

D J & R M Sutton - Suttons Dry

Check out the Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show website for the complete list of winners.