This weekend just passed, the Adelaide Wayville Showground played host to the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards as part of the opening of the Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival; a three day BBQ party showcasing the best local and international beer and cider, as well as some of SA’s top restaurants and chef’s cooking up a fiery storm of BBQ inspired eats.
We were treated to an exclusive arena of live music, quality beer, cider and wine to kick off the battle of the breweries. Reintroduced as part of the Royal Adelaide Show in 2011 after a long 80 year hiatus, the awards returned to provide an opportunity for small breweries to face off against their larger counterparts, whilst also aiming to highlight the importance of Australia’s $7 billion beer industry.
A vast mix of familiar breweries were on show, such as Pony Brewery, Pirate Life Brewing, SA’s iconic Coopers Brewery, The Barossa Valley Cider Company, Vale Brewery and more. Following the awards, medal winners supplied us with a sample taste of their award-winning beer and cider.
To accompany the cold ones, guests were spoilt for choice with a mouth-watering array of warm BBQ style canapes that were ideal for the icy cold weather that had us huddling under the cosy outdoor heaters. From sliders, pork and fennel meat balls and fried vegetarian delights, these scrumptious gems went down a treat.
Congratulations to this years winners:
Champion Style Lager – Coopers Brewery
Champion Pilsner – Pony Brewery, Achtung Helles
Champion India Pale Ale – Pirate Life Brewing, Pirate Life IPA
Champion Traditional Style Pale Ale – Coopers Brewery, Coopers Sparkling Ale
Champion Other Ale – Smiling Samoyed Brewery, Smiling Samoyed Dark Ale
Champion Wheat Beer – Goodieson Brewery, Goodieson Wheat Beer
Best Perry in Show – The Barossa Valley Cider Company, Squashed Pear Cider
Champion American Style Pale Ale – Pirate Life Brewing, Pirate Life Pale Ale
Champion Stout Beer – West End Brewery, Southwark Old Stout
Champion Porter Beer – Goodieson Brewery, Goodieson Brown Ale
Champion Hybrid Beer – Woolshed Brewery, Judas the Dark
Champion Reduced Alcohol Beer – Coopers Brewery, Coopers Premium Light
Champion Other Lager – Vale Brewing, Vale Amber
Best Cider in Show – The Hills Cider Company, Apple Solera Series
Chief Judge’s Award for Best New Exhibit – Pirate Life Brewing, Pirate Life IPA
Champion Small Brewery – Goodieson Brewery
Champion Medium Brewery – Modus Operandi Brewing
Champion Large Brewery – Pirate Life Brewing
Best South Australian Cider Exhibit – The Hills Cider Company, Apple Solera Series
Champion South Australian Beer Exhibit – Smiling Samoyed Brewery, Smiling Samoyed Dark Ale
Most Outstanding Beer in Show – Smiling Samoyed Brewery, Smiling Samoyed Dark Ale
