The Sydney Royal Beer Show competition has again shown itself to be one of the toughest in the country handing out just four gold medals in results announced yesterday.

Matilda Bay, Nail Brewing and Redoak Boutique Brewery were the only breweries to pick up the top award in the competition with Matilda Bay’s Alpha Pale Ale being named Champion Bottled Beer. Alpha also won gold in the draught category. Redoak’s Oktoberfest Lager was named Champion Draught Beer while Western Australia’s Nail Brewing collected another gold medal for its Nail Stout.

The tough approach to judging b the Sydney competition draws praise and scorn in equal measure from brewers and contributes both to the smaller number of entries compared to other competitions as well as the esteem in which medals are held. For two of its first three years no gold medals were awarded.

The small judging panel consists of highly regarded industry experts including brewers Brad Rogers, Brendan Varis and Willie Simpson. A unique hallmark of this awards is that judges are not able to enter their own beers which, considering the calibre of the brewers on the judging panel, is a significant commitment to the awards. Head Judge Brad Rogers says this approach shows how strongly the judges feel about establishing the credibility of the competition.

“The Sydney competition has a smaller number of entries, but we don’t want to be as big as the AIBA,” Brad said.

“We aim to create a judging system that means if you collect a medal in Sydney, whether gold, silver or bronze, is to have made a very good beer.”

Alpha’s win is the second time the beer has taken out a champion’s gong, collecting the trophy for Champion Beer at the 2008 competition. It marks yet another major win for the CUB-owned craft label, which was named Grand Champion Brewery at the 2008 Australian International Beer Awards. Matilda Bay also collected silver medals for Dogbolter and Redback and bronze medals for Fat Yak, Big Helga, Longshot and Beez Neez.

Nail Brewing’s gold medal continues its run of success for Nail Stout, which was the first was first to win gold at the SRBS. Nail Stout has also won best WA beer at the 2008 Perth Royal Beer Show where it has also won best stout three times.

Redoak’s Oktoberfest is also a multiple gold medal winner, having been awarded a gold medal at last years Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show.

2011 BEER COMPETITION RESULTS

BOTTLED BEER

CLASS: 1 Golden Lagers – Pilsner Style

BRONZE
BOATROCKER BREWING COMPANY
HOPPBIER BEER GARDEN PILSNER

BRONZE
MOO BREW PTY LTD
PILSNER

CLASS: 2 Golden Lagers – Australian Style

BRONZE
MALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTD
JAMES SQUIRE SUNDOWN LAGER

BRONZE
MCLAREN VALE BEER COMPANY
VALE DRY

CLASS: 3 Golden Lagers – International Style

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
BIG HELGA

BRONZE
4 PINES BREWING COMPANY
KOLSCH

CLASS: 5 Dark Lagers

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
DOGBOLTER

SILVER
HUNTER BEER CO.
HUNTER BOCK

CLASS: 6 Pale/Golden Ales

BRONZE
MALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTD
KOSCIUSZKO PALE ALE

SILVER
ENDEAVOUR BEVERAGES PTY LTD
ENDEAVOUR TRUE VINTAGE RESERVE PALE ALE 2010

BRONZE
MCLAREN VALE BEER COMPANY
VALE ALE

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
FAT YAK

BRONZE
MURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CO
NIRVANA PALE ALE

BRONZE
BOATROCKER BREWING COMPANY
ALPHA QUEEN HIGHLY HOPPED ALE

GOLD
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
ALPHA PALE ALE

BRONZE
MALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTD
JAMES SQUIRE INDIA PALE ALE

BRONZE
REDOAK
I P A

CLASS: 7 Amber and Dark Ales

SILVER
MOO BREW PTY LTD
DARK ALE

BRONZE
ENDEAVOUR BEVERAGES PTY LTD
ENDEAVOUR TRUE VINTAGE RESERVE AMBER ALE 2010

CLASS: 8 Stouts and Porters

BRONZE
4 PINES BREWING COMPANY
STOUT

BRONZE
BREWBOYS
ACE OF SPADES

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
LONGSHOT

GOLD
NAIL BREWING AUSTRALIA
NAIL STOUT

BRONZE
MURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CO
WILD THING IMPERIAL STOUT 2010

CLASS: 9 Wheat Beers. Minimum wheat content 30%.

SILVER
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
REDBACK

BRONZE
43
THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD
WICKED ELF WITBIER

BRONZE
44
MOO BREW PTY LTD
HEFEWEIZEN ()

CLASS: 10 Strong Beers – English/Scottish. Minimum alcohol content 6%.

SILVER
BREWBOYS
SEEING DOUBLE

CLASS: 11 Strong Beers – Other. Minimum alcohol content 6%.

SILVER
MALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTD
MAD BREWERS SCRIBBLY GUM LAGER

BRONZE
THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD
MAD ABBOT DUBBEL

SILVER
MALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTD
NEW NORCIA ABBEY ALE

BRONZE
MURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CO
PUNK MONK

BRONZE
REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
BALTIC PORTER

BRONZE
THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD
MAD ABBOT TRIPEL

CLASS: 12 Other / Specialty Beers. Minimum grain content 30%.

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
BEEZ NEEZ

SILVER
HUNTER BEER CO.
CHRISTMAS BEER

CLASS: 13 Reduced Alcohol Beer (Alcohol content not less than 1.15% and not greater than 3.5% v/v)

BRONZE
REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
BITTER

FINE FOOD – BEER COMPETITION BOTTLED BEER
CLASS: S001 CHAMPION BOTTLED BEER (Classes 1 – 13)

Winner
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY DANDENONG SOUTH VIC 3175
ALPHA PALE ALE

DRAUGHT BEER

CLASS: 15 Golden Lagers – Australian Style

BRONZE
MCLAREN VALE BEER COMPANY
VALE DRY

CLASS: 16 Golden Lagers – International Style

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
BIG HELGA

SILVER
4 PINES BREWING COMPANY
KOLSCH

CLASS: 17 Golden Lagers – Other Style

SILVER
REDOAK
SUMMER LAGER

CLASS: 18 Dark Lagers

SILVER
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
DOGBOLTER

GOLD
REDOAK
OKTOBERFEST

CLASS: 19 Pale/Golden Ales

GOLD
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
ALPHA PALE ALE

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
FAT YAK

SILVER
MURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CO
NIRVANA PALE ALE

BRONZE
4 PINES BREWING COMPANY
PALE ALE

BRONZE
THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD
WICKED ELF PALE ALE

SILVER
THE OLD BREWERY
ANGUS PALE ALE

BRONZE
REDOAK
I P A

CLASS: 20 Amber and Dark Ales

BRONZE
THE OLD BREWERY
MOUNTS BAY BROWN ALE

SILVER
PADDY’S BREWERY
OLD REGRET

CLASS: 21 Stouts and Porters

BRONZE
PADDY’S BREWERY
PADDY’S PORTER

BRONZE
4 PINES BREWING COMPANY
STOUT

CLASS: 22 Wheat Beers. Minimum wheat content 30%.

BRONZE
MURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CO
WHALE ALE

SILVER
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
RED BACK ORIGINAL

SILVER
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
REDBACK PALE

BRONZE
THE OLD BREWERY
HERITAGE WHEAT BEER

CLASS: 23 Strong Beers – English/Scottish. Minimum alcohol content 6%.

SILVER
90
4 PINES BREWING COMPANY
WEE HEAVY

CLASS: 24 Strong Beers – Other. Minimum alcohol content 6%.

BRONZE
PADDY’S BREWERY
THE FAT ARSED BASTARD

SILVER
MURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CO
ICON 2IPA

BRONZE
MURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CO
GRAND CRU

BRONZE
THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD
MAD ABBOT TRIPEL

CLASS: 25 Other / Specialty Beers. Minimum grain content 30%.

BRONZE
MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY
BEEZ NEEZ

FINE FOOD – BEER COMPETITION DRAUGHT BEER
CLASS: S002 CHAMPION DRAUGHT BEER (Classes 14 – 26)

Winner
REDOAK
OKTOBERFEST

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