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

BRONZEBOATROCKER BREWING COMPANYHOPPBIER BEER GARDEN PILSNER

BRONZEMOO BREW PTY LTDPILSNER

CLASS: 2 Golden Lagers – Australian Style

BRONZEMALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTDJAMES SQUIRE SUNDOWN LAGER

BRONZEMCLAREN VALE BEER COMPANYVALE DRY

CLASS: 3 Golden Lagers – International Style

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYBIG HELGA

BRONZE4 PINES BREWING COMPANYKOLSCH

CLASS: 5 Dark Lagers

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYDOGBOLTER

SILVERHUNTER BEER CO.HUNTER BOCK

CLASS: 6 Pale/Golden Ales

BRONZEMALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTDKOSCIUSZKO PALE ALE

SILVERENDEAVOUR BEVERAGES PTY LTDENDEAVOUR TRUE VINTAGE RESERVE PALE ALE 2010

BRONZEMCLAREN VALE BEER COMPANYVALE ALE

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYFAT YAK

BRONZEMURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CONIRVANA PALE ALE

BRONZEBOATROCKER BREWING COMPANYALPHA QUEEN HIGHLY HOPPED ALE

GOLDMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYALPHA PALE ALE

BRONZEMALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTDJAMES SQUIRE INDIA PALE ALE

BRONZEREDOAKI P A

CLASS: 7 Amber and Dark Ales

SILVERMOO BREW PTY LTDDARK ALE

BRONZEENDEAVOUR BEVERAGES PTY LTDENDEAVOUR TRUE VINTAGE RESERVE AMBER ALE 2010

CLASS: 8 Stouts and Porters

BRONZE4 PINES BREWING COMPANYSTOUT

BRONZEBREWBOYSACE OF SPADES

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYLONGSHOT

GOLDNAIL BREWING AUSTRALIANAIL STOUT

BRONZEMURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING COWILD THING IMPERIAL STOUT 2010

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

SILVERMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYREDBACK

BRONZE43THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTDWICKED ELF WITBIER

BRONZE44MOO BREW PTY LTDHEFEWEIZEN ()

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

SILVERBREWBOYSSEEING DOUBLE

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

SILVERMALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTDMAD BREWERS SCRIBBLY GUM LAGER

BRONZETHE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTDMAD ABBOT DUBBEL

SILVERMALT SHOVEL BREWERY PTY LTDNEW NORCIA ABBEY ALE

BRONZEMURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING COPUNK MONK

BRONZEREDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062BALTIC PORTER

BRONZETHE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTDMAD ABBOT TRIPEL

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

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYBEEZ NEEZ

SILVERHUNTER BEER CO.CHRISTMAS BEER

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

BRONZEREDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062BITTER

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

WinnerMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY DANDENONG SOUTH VIC 3175ALPHA PALE ALE

DRAUGHT BEER

CLASS: 15 Golden Lagers – Australian Style

BRONZEMCLAREN VALE BEER COMPANYVALE DRY

CLASS: 16 Golden Lagers – International Style

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYBIG HELGA

SILVER4 PINES BREWING COMPANYKOLSCH

CLASS: 17 Golden Lagers – Other Style

SILVERREDOAKSUMMER LAGER

CLASS: 18 Dark Lagers

SILVERMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYDOGBOLTER

GOLDREDOAKOKTOBERFEST

CLASS: 19 Pale/Golden Ales

GOLDMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYALPHA PALE ALE

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYFAT YAK

SILVERMURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING CONIRVANA PALE ALE

BRONZE4 PINES BREWING COMPANYPALE ALE

BRONZETHE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTDWICKED ELF PALE ALE

SILVERTHE OLD BREWERYANGUS PALE ALE

BRONZEREDOAKI P A

CLASS: 20 Amber and Dark Ales

BRONZETHE OLD BREWERYMOUNTS BAY BROWN ALE

SILVERPADDY’S BREWERYOLD REGRET

CLASS: 21 Stouts and Porters

BRONZEPADDY’S BREWERYPADDY’S PORTER

BRONZE4 PINES BREWING COMPANYSTOUT

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

BRONZEMURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING COWHALE ALE

SILVERMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYRED BACK ORIGINAL

SILVERMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYREDBACK PALE

BRONZETHE OLD BREWERYHERITAGE WHEAT BEER

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

SILVER904 PINES BREWING COMPANYWEE HEAVY

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

BRONZEPADDY’S BREWERYTHE FAT ARSED BASTARD

SILVERMURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING COICON 2IPA

BRONZEMURRAY’S CRAFT BREWING COGRAND CRU

BRONZETHE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PTY LTDMAD ABBOT TRIPEL

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

BRONZEMATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANYBEEZ NEEZ

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

WinnerREDOAKOKTOBERFEST

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