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

[adrotate group=”1″]