Adelaide Hills independent brewery Lobethal Bierhaus has won an impressive three trophies in the standout performance at the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards.
In the events 10th anniversary, Lobethal Bierhaus’ Irish Red Ale was awarded Champion Ale and Most Outstanding Beer in Show while the family-owned brewery, that was founded in 2007, also won Champion Small Brewery.
The Irish Red Ale (5%) is a malt driven easy drinker in the traditional style that uses English Maris Otter Ale Malt, English Fuggles, EKG & Challenger Hops and Irish Ale Yeasts.
Other key winners announced on December 2nd were Vale Brewing, who were named Champion Large Brewery, while Coopers Brewery took home both the Champion Reduced Alcohol Beer and Champion Porter or Stout with their Coopers Mild Ale and Coopers Best Extra Stout respectively.
Other local brewers finding success included Pikes Beer Company with their Raspberry Berliner Weisse (Champion Specialty Beer) and first-time entrant Bond Store Wallaroo awarded Best New Exhibit for their Bond Store Lager. James Boag’s Premium Lager won Champion Lager, Daylesford Cider won Best Cider in Show and the Best South Australian Cider exhibit was awarded to The Hills Cider Company Apple Cider.
These awards were one of the few beer and cider competitions that proceeded in 2020 due to limitations caused by COVID-19 and Chair of Judges Stephen Nelsen said that fact was of particular importance to the industry.
“This year’s awards attracted 254 entries from 45 brewers of all sizes from across Australia and New Zealand, with all entries judged blind by an expert industry panel,” he said.
2020 RABCA WINNERS
CHAMPION REDUCED ALCOHOL BEER – Coopers Mild Ale
CHAMPION LAGER – James Boag’s Premium Lager
CHAMPION ALE – Lobethal Bierhaus Irish Red Ale
CHAMPION PORTER/STOUT – Coopers Best Extra Stout
CHAMPION SPECIALTY BEER – Pikes Beer Company Raspberry Berliner Weisse
BEST CIDER IN SHOW – Daylesford Cider Session Cider
BEST NEW EXHIBIT – Bond Store Wallaroo Bond Store Lager
BEST SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CIDER EXHIBIT – The Hills Cider Company Hills Cider Apple
CHAMPION SMALL BREWERY (less than 2,500 hltr per annum) – Lobethal Bierhaus
CHAMPION LARGE BREWERY (greater than 2,500 hltrs per annum) – Vale Brewing
MOST OUTSTANDING BEER IN SHOW – Lobethal Bierhaus Irish Red Ale