The winners of the inaugural Sydney Royal Distilled Spirit Show and the 2024 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show were announced last night during an awards ceremony in Sydney.
A total of 25 trophies were awarded across both events, including 14 for spirits and 11 for beer and cider. Notably, nine new trophies were introduced as part of the revamped award structure for beer and cider.
St Agnes Distillery took home the inaugural Best Distilled Spirit of Show for its St Agnes XO Grand Reserve. Meanwhile, Esker Beer Co. won the prestigious Champion Beer or Cider trophy for its Esker Citrus Gose. This beer also secured two additional trophies for Best NSW Beer or Cider and Champion Fruit or Sour. Esker Beer Co. further won a fourth trophy for its Esker West Coast IPA, named Champion Indian Pale Ale.
Ian Kingham, Chair of the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show, praised Esker Beer Co. for its impressive performance following a rebrand in 2022, noting that the brewery’s efforts have led to four champion titles and numerous medals.
From the 270 entrants in the Sydney Royal Distilled Spirit Show, an impressive 88 percent received medals, showcasing a strong presence from regional producers. Stuart Gregor, Chair of Judges, expressed satisfaction with the show’s variety, mentioning standout winners like a rum from Canberra and a gin from Yamba, which both emerged as category champions.
The Champion Traditional Gin award went to Yamba Distilling Co. for its Duke – Dry Gin, while the Champion Contemporary Gin trophy was awarded to Pants Off Distillery for its Antz Pants Gin. Lord Howe Island Distilling Co.’s Wolfe Rock Gin was named Champion Other Gin.
Act of Treason, an Australian agave spirit, claimed the inaugural Best Alternative Spirit trophy for its Reposado, which is produced from agave grown in Northern Queensland. Trent Fraser, CEO of Top Shelf International, emphasized the spirit’s growing popularity.
Other notable winners included Amber Lane Distillery, awarded Champion Single Malt Whisky for its Alchemical Series: Water, and Manly Spirits Co., which received both Champion Vodka and Champion NSW Distilled Spirit for its Grape & Grain vodka.
In the 2024 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show, entries came from 206 exhibits across Australia, with 83 percent earning medals. For the first time, a trophy for Champion Reduced or No Alcohol Beer or Cider was awarded to Hiatus Beers for its Non-Alcoholic Pacific Ale.
Other winners included Philter Brewing’s XPA, named Champion Pale Ale, and White Bay Brewery’s Czech Pilsner, which took the Champion Lager award. Dark beers were also highlighted, with Reckless Brewing Co. winning two trophies for Champion Amber or Dark Ale and Champion Experimental or Specialty Beer.
The cider category shone brightly this year, with Flying Brick Cider Co. awarded Champion Cider for its MC Cider. Kingham remarked that the cider entries were among the strongest ever, praising their world-class quality.
Kingham also emphasized the significance of the new champion trophies, which reflect current trends in the Australian brewing industry. He encouraged consumers to explore the results and try the champion winners as well as the gold, silver, and bronze medalists.
This year’s judging panel consisted of 20 experts from the Australian beer and cider industry, ensuring comprehensive and constructive feedback for exhibitors.
