Local brew tops Queensland Beer Competition
The Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show is set to stimulate the taste buds of a nation of beer drinkers with the results of their first ever Beer Competition on 21 October 2010, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the quality of Australian brewing for the industry, and a trustworthy purchasing guide for consumers through gold, silver and bronze RNA medals.
The Gold Coast’s Burleigh Brewing Company was the big winner, taking out the rubberstampbeer.com.au trophy for Champion Beer of Show, and the Drinx trophy for Champion Queensland Beer of Show. Other gold medal winners include Murray’s Craft Brewing Co New World Pilsner; Carlton & United Breweries (Yatala) Carlton Dry; Redoak Oktoberfest; Matilda Bay Brewing Co Fat Yak Pale Ale; and Murray’s Craft Brewing Co Wild Thing Imperial Stout.
Brennan Fielding the BBC brewer and owner was on hand to accept the trophies, “I’m very thankful to everyone who was involved – but I wasn’t part of the judging panel! I was hoping that maybe one of the beers we entered was worthy of a gold medal, but it was completely beyond my expectations that the best Queensland beer was also the best beer in show, so to win it is just awesome.”
Chief Judge Ian Chant lead the two judging panels and helped introduce the awards presentation, “We had a great result from this competition because it provided a fantastic opportunity for Australian brewers. The quality of exhibits was superb, and tremendous enthusiasm was show by the judges and everyone involved. It’s great to see a local guy win, its fantastic the way you can’t predict the result. We’re expecting even better things next year, as we’ve had so much
interest and support for this year’s competition.”
The drinking public will be able to get a taste of the action with a Judge’s Selection six-pack available in store and online through Drinx retail outlets; meanwhile a lucky few were able to attend the delicious post-judging Masterclass hosted by a panel of show judges. The Masterclass featured a selection of outstanding beers in each category, with matching food from RQF&WS Beer Competition judge Frank Correnti’s Scales and Ales Restaurant, followed by a tasting of the Show’s top-pointed brews.
Lead by Master Brewer Ian Chant and the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show Chairman of Judges for Food Competitions Russell Smith, the judging panel included a Brisbane resident who was selected to be a guest at the judging of the RQF&WS Beer Competition as the winner in a consumer based competition. Judges included brewers
Otto Haag and Brennan Fielding, free range beer expert Matt Kirkegaard, ex-journo and beer-lover Bernie Pramberg, Bernie Power of Power’s Brewing fame and senior journalist and beer writer for the Courier Mail, Rory Gibson.
The Royal Queensland Show is run under the auspices of the state’s Royal National Agriculture and Industrial Association of Queensland or the RNA in the Bowen Hills Showgrounds. In 2009 they placed their existing food and beverage competitions under a new Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show banner and instigated both a comprehensive review of judging processes and consistent standards for the prestigious displayable medals.
I tried my first batch a week ago and it actually is not that hard. Reading the instructions can make it sound intimidating but just start and it all falls into place. Plus when you go to buy the ingredients from a beer supply store they are super helpful and can answer any questions you may have, some even have the facilities to brew beer at the store for some extra money…