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An Adelaide Hills micro-brewery has beaten the big guys to win the Most Outstanding Beer in Show trophy at the 2022 Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards (RABCA), presented tonight (July 15) at Beer and Barbecue Festival at the Adelaide Showground.

Balhannah’s Left Barrel Brewing won the title, awarded to the entry with the most points overall, for their German-style lager, Bob’s Ya Dunkel, also taking home the Champion Lager trophy.

Western Australian brewery Nowhereman Brewing Co won the Champion Small Brewery trophy, as well as the Champion Porter or Stout trophy with their Alpharon Stout. South Australia’s Vale Brewing won Champion Large Brewery, as well as the Champion Ale title.

Chair of beer judges Stephen Nelsen said the Awards, run by the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of South Australia, recognise achievements in quality, consistency and innovation from Australia’s ever-growing brewing and cider industries.

“This year’s awards attracted 347 entries from breweries across Australia,” Mr Nelsen said. “The return of interstate judges this year has been a boon for the competition, with all beers judged blind by the same panel demonstrating the competition’s commitment to fairness and consistency.

“By far the most entered category was pale ales with more than 80 submissions. There were some great examples of both the traditional, direr products, versus the rising numbers of hop-forward fruity and less bitter offerings to suit the younger market, with both types excelling.

“Mid-strength, reduced alcohol, and booze-less entries are swelling in volume and range, and some of the ales using novel hops were truly sessionable.

“Specialties, including wheat beers, sours, flavoured beers and barrel aging are all really improving in quality and craftsmanship. As predicted, lagers, and in particular darker varieties, gained popularity and earned gold medals.”

Other South Australian breweries to receive recognition included Kick Back Brewing, who won the Champion Reduced Alcohol Beer trophy for their Mid Coast exhibit, and Swell Brewing Company’s Getting Barrelled which was named Champion Alternative Grain Beer/Specialty. They were joined by Brightstar Brewing’s Schwarzbier, which was the highest scoring exhibit from an entrant in their first year of competing. Another Western

Australian producer, Otherside Brewing, won the Champion IPA trophy for their Hazy Double.

In the Cider classes, Hills Cider Company’s Apple Cider won the Best Cider in Show trophy, as well as the Best South Australian Cider Exhibit. They were joined by Barossa Valley Cider Company who won Best Perry in Show.

Chief cider judge Warwick Billings said cider-makers continued to evolve in recent years, resulting in a maturity in production techniques and an increase in the number of very good ciders which was reflected in the medal count.

“In particular, we noticed an increasing level of finesse in the fruit ciders this year, which was welcomed by judges,” Warwick said.

“Cider has grown in popularity and diversity and we are seeing this reflected in the standard of entries into the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards.”

The Beer and Barbecue Festival runs from July 15 to 17 at the Adelaide Showground. For details visit https://beerbbqfest.com.au/

2022 ROYAL ADELAIDE BEER AND CIDER AWARDS

…WINNERS…

BEER AWARDS

THE CCL LABEL TROPHY for CHAMPION REDUCED ALCOHOL BEER

Sponsored by CCL Label

Winner: Kick Back Brewing – Aldinga

Exhibit: Mid Coast

THE SIP’N SAVE TROPHY for CHAMPION LAGER

Sponsored by Sip’n Save

Winner: Left Barrel Brewing – Balhannah

Exhibit: Bob’s Ya Dunkel

THE BOC TROPHY for CHAMPION ALE

Sponsored by BOC Ltd.

Winner: Vale Brewing

Exhibit: Vale IPA – McLaren Vale

THE HOP PRODCUTS AUSTRALIA TROPHY for CHAMPION IPA

Sponsored by Hop Products Australia

Winner: Otherside Brewing Co – WA

Exhibit: Hazy Double

THE ANDALE MICRO MATIC TROPHY for CHAMPION PORTER OR STOUT

Sponsored by Andale Micro Matic

Winner: Nowhereman Brewing Co – WA

Exhibit: Alpharon Stout

THE ECOLAB TROPHY for CHAMPION ALTERNATIVE GRAIN BEER/SPECIALTY

Sponsored by Ecolab

Winner: Swell Brewing Company Co Pty Ltd – McLaren Vale

Exhibit: Getting Barrelled

Highest scoring exhibit from an exhibitor in their first year of exhibiting.

Sponsored by Simon Fahey

Winner: Brightstar Brewing – Hindmarsh

Exhibit: Schwarzbier

MAJOR AWARDS

THE BINTANI AUSTRALIA TROPHY for CHAMPION SMALL BREWERY

(Brewery must produce less than 250,000 litres per annum)

Awarded to the highest scoring small brewery (from the average of the four top scoring exhibits entered).

Sponsored by Bintani Australia

Winner: Nowhereman Brewing Co – WA

THE FASSINA LIQUOR TROPHY for CHAMPION LARGE BREWERY

(250,000 litres or greater per annum)

Awarded to the highest scoring large brewery (from the average of the four top scoring exhibits entered)

Sponsored by Fassina Liquor

Winner: Vale Brewing – McLaren Vale

THE ORORA GROUP TROPHY for MOST OUTSTANDING BEER IN SHOW

Awarded to the highest scoring exhibit overall.

Sponsored by Orora Group

Winner: Left Barrel Brewing – Balhannah

Exhibit: Bob’s Ya Dunkel

CIDER AWARDS

THE CCL LABEL TROPHY for BEST CIDER IN SHOW

Sponsored by CCL Label

Winner: Hills Cider Company

Exhibit: Apple

THE ASHTON VALLEY FRESH TROPHY for BEST PERRY IN SHOW

Sponsored by Ashton Valley Fresh

Winner: The Barossa Valley Cider Company Pty Ltd

Exhibit: Squashed Pear Cider

THE WINEQUIP TROPHY for BEST SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CIDER EXHIBIT

To be eligible for this trophy Cider or Perry must have been fermented in South Australia using at least 90% South Australian Fruit.

Sponsored by Winequip Adelaide

Winner: Hills Cider Company

Exhibit: Apple