Australian brewers entering the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Beer Awards will have the chance to showcase their products at a new beer festival in Brisbane.

Entries opened today, with the competition crowning Australia’s best beer and offering award-winners educational bursaries of up to $10,000.

The RQFWS will hold its first Royal Queensland Beer Festival on Saturday 7 March 2020, just three days after the awards ceremony on Wednesday 4.

RQFWS Beer Advisory Group member and judge Steve Henderson said it was exciting to have a public facing beer festival held in conjunction with the competition for the very first time.

“For the brewers, it’s a chance to showcase their beers and medal-winning achievements to consumers in the same week the results are announced,” he said.

“The festival is a great incentive to enter, and I would expect to see an increase in entries in the competition’s second year since being revitalised.”

The competition will again offer two educational bursaries, with $10,000 awarded to the winner of the Desalinated Water Feature Category presented by The Queensland Water Industry Alliance, and $5,000 to the winner of the Grand Champion beer.

Mr Henderson said 20 southeast Queensland breweries would compete in the feature category, with a new trophy award on offer this year.

“We’ve introduced the People’s Choice (Drinkability) Award presented by The Queensland Water Industry Alliance, with the beers made from desalinated water to be judged on taste, not style,” he said.

“The judges will select the finalists, with Royal Queensland Beer Festival attendees then casting their votes to determine the winner.”

The judging panel will consist of brewers, beer writers and industry figures, with the awards offering a comprehensive snapshot of the quality of Australian brewing and a trustworthy guide for consumers.

“By having their products judged by a team of industry peers and professionals, breweries will receive objective feedback and have the chance to boost their brand,” Mr Henderson said.

Entries for the RQFWS Beer Awards close on Friday 31 January 2020. Tickets to the Royal Queensland Beer Festival will also go on sale in January.

To enter go to www.rqfws.com.au

ENTRIES CLOSE – FRIDAY 31 JANUARY

JUDGING – MONDAY 2 to TUESDAY 3 MARCH

AWARDS PRESENTATION – WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH

BEER FESTIVAL – SATURDAY 7 MARCH

Don’t forget to follow us on social media @rqfws