For the second year running and the third time in four years, Sunshine Coast husband and wife brewers Shaz and Matt Wilson from Moffat Beach Brewing Co have produced the beer judged Australia’s finest at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
Their Moff’s Summer Ale first won the prestigious crown in 2020 and again in 2023 and today their Trilogy Best Coast IPA was crowned the best of the best at the RNA’s Royal Queensland Beer Awards.
Named the Grand Champion Beer of Show, Trilogy Best Coast IPA can lay claim to being Australia’s best, along with the brewery picking up a $5,000 Lion bursary and further opportunities to be showcased during Queensland’s largest event – the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).
Judge Steve Henderson said it was a fresh, aromatic, hoppy IPA which perfectly suited the Queensland climate.
“The Grand Champion beer had to go through three rounds of judging and it came out on top each time. The Trilogy Best Coast IPA truly is the best of the best,’’ Mr Henderson said.
“Moffat Beach Brewing Co has demonstrated in this competition they can make a good beer, year after year.
“The fact they won Grand Champion in 2020 and 2023 and have backed it up again this year, shows they’re a high-quality brewery consistently outperforming the rest of the industry.”
The Grand Champion trophy was just one of four awards for the Sunshine Coast couple who also picked up Best Queensland Beer, Best Session Beer and Best Small to Medium Brewery.
It was fierce competition in this year’s Royal Queensland Beer Awards, with more than 600 entries from 87 breweries entered across 18 categories including two new trophies for 2024 – for Best Contract Brewer and for Best Artistic Label.
A team of 48 experienced brewers, sensory experts and industry figures judged the brews over two days this week.
Mr Henderson said the quality of beers entered into the country’s first beer competition of the calendar year had increased.
“There was a marked improvement in the standard of beers this year,” he said.
“There was less incidence of faults such as oxidation and diacetyl which demonstrates the brewers are now focused more than ever on beer quality.
“We also saw brewers willing to step out of their comfort zone and brew a beer not often made for the Australian market – the world class German Hefeweizen style,” he said.
The Royal Queensland Beer Awards also recognises up and coming brewers, through The Star Brisbane Emerging Queensland Brewer category.
Daniel Thomsen from Slipstream Brewing Company in Brisbane claimed the award and will now have his beers sold at a vast array of The Star outlets across southeast Queensland.
RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said the Royal Queensland Awards showcase Australia’s best.
“As one of the most prestigious food, wine and beer awards in Australia, the Royal Queensland Awards is dedicated to unearthing the nation’s top food, beer, distilled spirits and wine products each year,” Mr Christou said.
“Our awards date back to 1876, and the RNA continues to give Australian brewers a platform to shine, be judged against their peers and get great consumer market exposure.”
