Ballistic Beer Co, Bacchus Brewing Company get top awards

Raise your glass and let’s hear three cheers for the craft breweries which came up trumps at today’s Beer Awards in Brisbane.

Ballistic Beer Co, based at Salisbury and West End, is celebrating a huge win at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Beer Awards at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Raise your glass and let’s hear three cheers for a Brisbane craft brewery which came up trumps at the Beer Awards.

Ballistic Beer Co, which is based in Salisbury and West End, has added another feather to its dark blue trucker cap, after only two years in business, scoring more than 10 awards at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Beer Awards today.

FULL LIST: CHECK OUT THE WINNERS BELOW

Ballistic Beer Co, based at Salisbury and West End, is celebrating a win at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Beer Awards at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Head brewer Lachy Crother perfectly executes his no risk, no gain brewing attitude with precision and his Oaked XPA beer has proved to be “liquid gold” with it crowned the Champion Hybrid Beer.

“We’re super stoked to win anything at these awards ceremonies but to win a trophy is humbling,” a Ballistic Beer Co spokesman said.

“This is the first time we’ve entered this beer in an awards so to win a trophy blows my mind.”

Oaked XPA showcases a “truly harmonious relationship between citra and American oak”.

Tasting notes include citrus and vanilla

Ballistic’s Oaked XPA has scored a trophy at the Beer Awards.

Meanwhile a Belgian Mocha Stout by Bacchus Brewing Company won Champion Beer using desalinated water, supported by Seqwater, picking up a $10,000 education bursary.

The brewing company, based in Capalaba, beat 36 other entries with their rich coffee stout balanced with chocolate.

Mr Henderson said he was surprised to see four of the 14 gold medals awarded to desalinated beers.

“It’s very unusual for brewers to use desalinated water, so to have four gold medals among the desalinated entries is impressive and really says something about how important water is in brewing.”

Ross Kendrick from Bacchus Brewing Co. Picture: Tim Marsden

A total of 344 beers from 48 breweries were entered in the competition, with the judges impressed by the quality.

“Most entries came from southeast Queensland and the overall standard was high,” RQFWS Beer Advisory Group member and judge Steve Henderson said.

“This speaks highly of the local brewing scene and shows how far it has come since the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show last held this competition five years ago.”

Below are the 2019 Trophy winners. The full results catalogue is now available by clicking here.

2019 trophy award winners

Champion hybrid beer: Oaked XPA (draught), Ballistic Beer Company

Champion pale ale supported by Barrett Burston: Malting

Hornet IPA (draught) — Black Hops Brewing

Champion lager: Lovedale Lager (draught), Sydney Brewery

Champion India pale ale supported by FDB Commercial Interior: Code Red (packaged) — Black Hops Brewing

Champion European-style ale: Kristal Weizen (draught), White Lies Brewing Company

Champion session beer: Balter Captain Sensible (packaged), Balter Brewing

Champion strong beer: Burleigh Bock (draught), Burleigh Brewing Company

Champion mixed culture beer: Raspberry Sour (draught) — White Lies Brewing Company

Champion beer utilising desalinated water supported by seqwater: Belgian mocha stout (draught), Bacchus Brewing Company

Champion Queensland Brewery supported by Cryer Malt: Black Hops Brewing

Champion brewery: Black Hops Brewing

Grand champion beer (Australia’s best beer): Burleighbock (draught), Burleigh Brewing Company