Brisbane, Australia – The Royal Queensland Beer Awards, held at the Brisbane Showgrounds this week, saw a host of local brewers shine, with Slipstream Brewing Company taking home the prestigious Grand Champion Beer award for the first time. The Yeerongpilly-based brewery also claimed the title of The Star Entertainment Group Best Queensland Beer for its Classic Saison, a traditional Belgian and French-style beer. The victory earned Slipstream a $5,000 Lion bursary.
Saison, known for its delicate balance of spicy phenolics and fruity esters with a dry finish, is often a challenging style to master. Judge Steve Henderson praised the brewery’s skill, noting that it was rare to see such a style win the top prize.
“It’s a phenomenal achievement for Slipstream, and a testament to the team’s expertise. Saison is an underrepresented style in the Australian beer market, so it’s wonderful to see it being celebrated,” Henderson said.
In addition to the Grand Champion award, this year’s competition introduced a new champion trophy for the best Ginger Beer, which was awarded to Aether Brewing from Northgate, Brisbane. Henderson commended the brewery for producing a world-class ginger beer using a quintessential Australian agricultural ingredient.
Local success continued with Felons Brewing Co’s Ben Malt, who was named the Emerging Queensland Brewer. This win grants Malt the opportunity to have his beers featured at The Star Brisbane.
The competition saw more than 530 entries from 67 Australian breweries, judged over two days by a panel of almost 50 industry experts. Henderson noted the continued improvement in the quality of entries, highlighting the competition’s importance in setting the stage for success in the brewing industry throughout the year.
“This is the first commercial beer competition of the year, and for the breweries that won medals, it sets them up for success in the months to come,” Henderson said. “The diversity of beer styles continues to grow, and the high standards of judging ensure that every entrant receives valuable feedback to refine their beers.”
The Royal Queensland Beer Awards serve as a celebration and platform for Australia’s top brewers, promoting industry recognition and product benchmarking.
Below are the full list of 2025 trophy winners:
Trophy Winners:
Champion Pale Ale (Supported by Yakima Chief Hops): Passenger Pale Ale – Moffat Beach Brewing Co.
Champion Amber Dark Ale: Scooter American Red Ale – Slipstream Brewing Company
Champion Porter-Stout: Glenness – No Eye Deer Brewing
Champion Hybrid Beer (Supported by Shoobridge Transport): Wilderness – Hiker Brewing Co.
Champion Lager (Supported by Barret Burston): Wanderlust – Hiker Brewing Co.
Champion India Pale Ale (Supported by Kegstar): IPA – Felons Brewing Co.
Champion European-Style Ale: Classic Saison – Slipstream Brewing Company
Champion Session Beer: EP Crisp – Beer Garden Brewery
Champion Strong Beer: Imperial St Peege – White Lies Brewing Company
Champion Mixed Culture Beer: Raspberry Sour – White Lies Brewing Company
Champion Ginger Beer (Supported by Buderim Ginger): Ginger Beerd – Aether Brewing
Champion Best New Brewery: Carbon 6 Brewing
The Star Brisbane Emerging Queensland Brewer: Ben Malt – Felons Brewing Co.
The Star Brisbane Best Queensland Beer: Classic Saison – Slipstream Brewing Company
Cryer Malt Champion Large Brewery: Stomping Ground Brewing Co.
HPA Champion Small/Medium Brewery: Slipstream Brewing Company
Champion Brewpub: White Lies Brewing Company
Best Artistic Beer Label: Biere De Garde – King River Brewing Co.
Best Contract Brewer: 27 South Brewing
Grand Champion Beer (Australia’s Best Beer): Classic Saison – Slipstream Brewing Company
The awards serve as a testament to the ongoing excellence and innovation within Australia’s thriving craft beer industry.
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