MOST Stock Journal readers would liken the Adelaide Showground to the home of livestock judging but it recently hosted the 2014 Royal Adelaide Beer Awards.
Craft brewery Barossa Valley Brewing won top honours for the most outstanding beer in show trophy with its India pale ale Canis Majoris.
The super-strong beer - with an alcohol level of 8 per cent - was also named champion India Pale Ale and champion SA exhibit.
Other trophy winners included WA's Nail Brewing, which took out the champion small brewery and publican's choice award - judged by a panel of Adelaide publicans - for its Nail Imperial porter.
Nail Brewing was also one of two winners in the champion porter class, sharing top honours with McLaren Vale's Goodieson Brewery for their brown ale.
SA favourite Coopers also performed well, winning the champion large brewery title, champion other ale for its Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale and champion stout for its Coopers Best Extra Stout.
The Chief Judges Award - for an exhibit which achieves the most improved score on the previous year - went to West End Brewery for its Hahn Superdry.
In 2014 cider was included in the show, with the champion perry (pear cider) trophy going to Flying Brick Cider Co, from Vic's Bellarine Peninsula.
The champion SA exhibit went to the Adelaide Hills' Sidewood Estate for Sidewood Apple Cider.
Chief beer judge Simon Fahey said the number of entries had increased substantially on 2013, with 152 entries over two days, with each entry judged in reference to specific beer-style guidelines.
"Of the total number of entries, 7 per cent received gold medals, 28pc silver, and 41pc received a bronze medal," Mr Fahey said.
Chief cider judge Warwick Billings said organisers were delighted to receive more than 50 entries in the cider show's first year.
Of those entered, 1.8pc received gold medals, 9pc silver and 30pc bronze.
"We look forward to the cider competition growing in future years," he said.
Paula Thompson
Stock Journal's markets editor.
Stock Journal's markets editor.
