Vale Brewing enjoyed another successful year at the 2021 Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards, going back-to-back as Champion Large Brewery and claiming two more trophies for the Phat Mongrel stout (pictured above) released under their offshoot label Fox Hat. The American style oatmeal stout was named Most Outstanding Beer in Show after also taking out the Champion Porter or Stout title.

Another SA brewery, Barossa Valley Brewing, took out the Champion Small Brewery trophy, while in this era of hoppy, hazy and fruity, the awards proved to be a great one for darker beers.

Pirate Life won the Champion Lager trophy for their Dark Lager while near neighbours Big Shed took out the Champion Alternative Grain Beer/Speciality class with their Mega Bare Bones Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Best new Exhibit went to Melbourne's Stomping Ground for their serial award-winning Bunker Porter too.

Elsewhere, McLaren Vale’s Swell Brewing claimed the Champion Reduced Alcohol Beer title for their Small Swell as WA's Otherside Brewing Co's Anthem IPA was named Champion Ale.

The awards, run by the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of South Australia, attracted 299 entries from producers of all sizes across Australia, which were judged blind by expert industry panels.

Beer and Cider competition chair of beer judges Stephen Nelsen said: “This year we noted that the sour beers were more balanced and the barrel characteristics more harmonised – it was also exciting to see all manner of fruits and micro-organisms being experimented with.

“Pilsners were well represented, and I foresee a return to lager styles in the near future, led by the darker and European variants. The number of ales also forged ahead, especially American-style pale ales and all manner of things called 'IPA’.”

In the Cider class, Barossa Valley Cider Company won Best Cider in Show and Best South Australian Cider Exhibit trophies with their Squashed Apple Cider, while Hills Cider Company won Best Perry in Show with their Hills Cider Pear.

NB Due to SA's COVID lockdown, there was no physical awards ceremony for our SA team to attend so this article is based upon a release from the organisers.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

MAJOR AWARDS

THE BINTANI AUSTRALIA TROPHY for CHAMPION SMALL BREWERY

Barossa Valley Brewing

THE FASSINA LIQUOR TROPHY for CHAMPION LARGE BREWERY

Vale Brewing

THE ORORA GROUP TROPHY for MOST OUTSTANDING BEER IN SHOW

Vale Brewing – Fox Hat Phat Mongrel

OTHER BEER AWARDS

THE CCL LABEL TROPHY for CHAMPION REDUCED ALCOHOL BEER

Swell Brewing – Small Swell

THE SIP’N SAVE TROPHY for CHAMPION LAGER

Pirate Life – Dark Larger

THE BOC TROPHY for CHAMPION ALE

Otherside Brewing Co – Anthem IPA

THE ANDALE TROPHY for CHAMPION PORTER OR STOUT

Vale Brewing – Fox Hat Phat Mongrel

THE ECOLAB TROPHY for CHAMPION ALTERNATIVE GRAIN BEER/SPECIALTY

Big Shed Brewing Concern – Mega Bare Bones Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

THE SIMON FAHEY TROPHY for BEST NEW EXHIBIT

Stomping Ground Brewing Co – Bunker Porter

CIDER AWARDS

THE CCL LABEL SOLUTIONS TROPHY FOR BEST CIDER IN SHOW

The Barossa Valley Cider Company – Squashed Apple Cider

THE ASHTON VALLEY FRESH TROPHY for BEST PERRY IN SHOW

Hills Cider Company – Hills Cider Pear

THE WINEQUIP TROPHY for BEST SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CIDER EXHIBIT

The Barossa Valley Cider Company – Squashed Apple Cider 

Details of the award winning beers and ciders can be found here.