Winners of the 2024 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show have been announced, with Esker Beer Co. scooping the coveted Best Beer or Cider of Show trophy for its Esker Citrus Gose.
The winners were unveiled on Tuesday 17 September at an awards ceremony held in Sydney, with a total of 11 champion trophies, including nine new trophies introduced under the revamped award structure.
Not only was Esker Citrus Gose named Australia’s best beer, it collected two additional trophies for Best NSW Beer or Cider and Champion Fruit or Sour. The brewery secured a fourth trophy for its Esker West Coast IPA, which was awarded Champion Indian Pale Ale.
Ian Kingham, Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show Chair, commented on the impressive quality of entries at the show this year, congratulating each of the entrants.
“This year’s competition has shown us that despite such a difficult time for the Australian beer industry our brewers are still producing world-class products and are doing so from all areas of the country
“From regional areas like Bathurst and Geelong to city hubs in Sydney and Melbourne, the quality of beers and ciders being entered is phenomenal, and that is reflected not only in the champion winners announced tonight but also in the high percentage of medals awarded across the competition.
“I was particularly impressed with Esker Beer Co. Following a rebrand and redirection in 2022, the Hills Shire brewery has not only won four champions and a plethora of gold and silver medals, but they have taken home the top award with the Esker Citrus Gose really impressing our judges,” he stated.
For the first time, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW awarded a Champion Reduced or No Alcohol Beer or Cider trophy to reflect the evolving preferences of consumers, which Hiatus Beers won with its Non-Alcoholic Pacific Ale.
Other beers recognised at the show include Philter Brewing’s XPA, awarded Champion Pale Ale, and White Bay Brewery’s Czech Pilsner, which was the recipient of the Champion Lager trophy.
Darker beers also had their moment, with Reckless Brewing Co scooping two trophies, Champion Amber or Dark Ale and Champion Experimental or Specialty Beer for BX Old and Baltic Porter respectively. Claiming the trophy for Champion Porter or Stout was 4 Pines Brewing Company’s Nitro Stout.
Another standout category was cider, with Flying Brick Cider Co awarded Champion Cider for its Flying Brick Cider Co MC Cider.
Kingham added: “For me, it was the strongest it has ever been, and the four ciders presented for the championship trophy are all world-class ciders that should be recognised for that level of excellence.”
Entries for the 2024 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show were received from a total of 206 exhibits across Australia, 83 per cent of which scored either a gold, silver or bronze medal.
Speaking about the decision to introduce nine new champion trophies, as a means of better reflecting trends in the Australian brewing industry, Kingham said: “I think what has come out of that is a very deserving range of champion winners who are producing quality products that can be enjoyed by a wide demographic.
“I encourage consumers to have a look at the results, try some of the champion winners but also explore our gold, silver and bronze medal winners, as I have no doubt there is a beer or cider for everyone to enjoy.”
This year’s judging panel comprised 20 experts from across the Australian beer and cider industry, including senior judge and Toohey’s Brewery team leader Tom Davies, who began as a steward in 2017 and was recognised for his dedication to the competition with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Youth Medal.
Kingham said: “The team of judges we had on board this year was fantastic. We were lucky enough to welcome experts ranging from brewers and industry media to sensory teams and technical industry professionals, who come from both large and independent breweries, to ensure we were providing the best possible feedback to exhibitors.”
The full list of 2024 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show Champions and medal winners can be found at www.rasnsw.com.au.
