Stomping Ground Enjoy More Awards Success In Queensland

March 3, 2022, by Mick Wust

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Stomping Ground Enjoy More Awards Success In Queensland

After enjoying a spectacular evening at the 2021 Indies, where they scooped multiple trophies including Champion Large Brewery, Collingwood-based Stomping Ground claimed the big one in Queensland's annual beer awards too.

Their Czech Pilsner was named Grand Champion Beer, ahead of 570 entries, as the beer also took out Champion Lager at today's awards ceremony in Brisbane, which will see them receive a $5,000 Lion Bursary to invest into the business.

The judging and presentation were each pushed back 24 hours as a result of the floods, which also prevented some from attending. However, as the saying goes: the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show must go on. And the same applies to the associated beer awards.

Before presenting one of the trophies, Treasury Brisbane COO Kelvin Dodt took a moment to mention the events on everyone's minds.

“Some of you would have lost stock, some of you would have had equipment damaged, potentially worse…

“But today, while you’re here at the awards, try not to worry too much about the mud, the pesky insurance folk, or those really angry clouds outside. Today’s about celebrating the industry, and the fact that you’ve all played a part in making some fantastic beer.”

While there was still talk of the inundation of the past few days – and the local beer businesses affected by it – the awards did have the effect of taking everyone’s minds off the current disasters, if only for a small stretch at a time.

That was helped by the success of Queensland's breweries, who claimed 14 of the 17 trophies, as you can see below. Among the highlights for home state brewers was Ballistic's Coup de Grace taking out Champion Queensland Beer, while the Champion Brewery titles went to Black Hops (Large), Moffat Beach (Small / Medium), and Felons (Brewpub), with the Best New Brewery gong awarded to Hudson Brewing.

There was double success for Felons, whose staff this week formed a human chain to rescue someone from under debris as storms lashed the city. Jared Palu was awarded Treasury Brisbane’s Emerging Queensland Brewer trophy, winning a 12-month commercial contract to sell his brewery’s beer at Treasury Brisbane’s wide array of venues. 

It was another stunning awards for Moffat Beach too, with the serial award-winners picking up trophies for Moffs Summer Ale and Trilogy Best Coast IPA (both winners at last year's Indies too) as well as for their Passenger Pale Ale. As they kept being called back up, they become more animated and brought more team members on stage, culminating in a team selfie.

They weren't the only locals to see the same beer back up from The Indies either, as Revel's Neo Mexicanus Black IPA was named Champion Porter-Stout.

 

The Moffat Beach Brewing Co's successful outing culminated in an onstage team selfie.

 

Aside from Stomping Ground, the only other non-Queensland brewery to claim silverware was the rebooted Matilda Bay, now back under the stewardship of original founder Phil Sexton. Their iconic Dogbolter – these days a malt-driven "winter ale" – was judged the best Amber-Dark Ale. Look out for a story on their latest plans on Crafty on Monday too. Another beer with plenty of years under its belt, Burleigh's Hef, took out Champion European style ale.

RQFWS Beer Advisory Group member and judge Chris Sheehan said in a media release: “While the number of entries increased, so too did the quality and drinkability, making it a highly competitive experience for all entrants and difficult to judge.

“Pilsner is one of the lighter and cleaner styles of beer and Stomping Ground’s Czech Pilsner was flawless in the judges’ eyes.’’

He added: “All the Queensland breweries should be commended for brewing excellent products that appeal to broad audiences.”

A total of 570 beers from 76 breweries were entered in this year’s competition, an increase of 14 percent on 2021, with an even more impressive increase when it came to interstate entries, which were up 60 percent. 

RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said: “For 145 years, the RNA has given producers a platform to shine, be judged against their peers and get great consumer market exposure.

“We thank all those who have entered and continue to support our competitions after such challenging times for us all.’’


2022 TROPHY AWARD WINNERS

 

GRAND CHAMPION BEER SUPPORTED BY RALLINGS LABELS, STICKERS PACKAGING

  • Stomping Ground Brewing Co – Czech Pilsner

BEST QUEENSLAND BEER OF SHOW SUPPORTED BY TREASURY BRISBANE

  • Ballistic Beer Co – Coup de Grace

TREASURY BRISBANE BEST EMERGING QUEENSLAND BREWER AWARD

  • Jared Palu – Felons

CHAMPION BREWPUB

  • Felons

CHAMPION LARGE BREWERY SUPPORTED BY CRYER MALT AUSTRALIA

  • Black Hops Brewing

CHAMPION SMALL/MEDIUM BREWERY SUPPORTED BY HOP PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA

  • Moffat Beach Brewing Co

BEST NEW BREWERY SUPPORTED BY KONVOY KEGS

  • Hudson Brewing

CHAMPION MIXED CULTURE BEER

  • Brouhaha Brewery – Strawberry Rhubarb Sour

CHAMPION STRONG BEER SUPPORTED BY 13 CABS

  • Ballistic Beer Co – Sleep When You’re Dead: Trans Tasman IPA

CHAMPION SESSION BEER SUPPORTED BY YAKIMA CHIEF HOPS

  • Moffat Beach Brewing Co – Moffs Summer Ale

CHAMPION EUROPEAN-STYLE ALE SUPPORTED BY BREWS NEWS

  • Burleigh Brewing Company – Burleigh Hef

CHAMPION INDIA PALE ALE SUPPORTED BY HPA

  • Moffat Beach Brewing Co – Trilogy Best Coast IPA

CHAMPION LAGER SUPPORTED BY BARRETT BURSTON MALTING

  • Stomping Ground Brewing Co – Czech Pilsner

CHAMPION HYBRID BEER SUPPORTED BY SHOOBRIDGE TRANSPORT

  • Black Hops – Why Can’t IBU?

CHAMPION PORTER-STOUT SUPPORTED BY KONVOY KEGS

  • Revel Brewing – Neo Mexicanus Black IPA

CHAMPION AMBER-DARK ALE SUPPORTED BY 13CABS

  • Matilda Bay – Dogbolter Winter Ale

CHAMPION PALE ALE SUPPORTED BY YAKIMA CHIEF HOPS

  • Moffat Beach Brewing Co – Passenger Pale Ale

The full results catalogue is available here.

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