Australia’s finest beers and ciders have once again been tasted and scored by Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) for the 2025 Sydney Royal Beer and Cider Show, with Sunday Road Brewing taking home the top prize.
Sunday Road’s Après Ski Bavarian Hefe Wheat Beer impressed the judges, who awarded the beer Champion Wheat or Other Grain, and Best NSW Beer or Cider, before giving it the coveted Best Beer or Cider of Show.
Speaking about the win on social media, the Sunday Road team said: “Such an honour. Our Après Ski Hefeweizen took Best Beer or Cider of Show at the 2025 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show — plus Champion Wheat/Other Grain and Best NSW Beer.
“Cotton-soft banana, a hush of baking spice, clean finish. Brewed for the long way home. Coming up against 224 beers from across Australia, we’re beyond proud to have Après Ski named number one.”
Chair of Judges, Ian Kingham, said that overall judges awarded 80 gold, 69 silver and 36 bronze medals, which highlights the outstanding craftmanship and innovation that underpins Australia’s beer and cider industry.
“It was another strong year for Australian beers and ciders”, said Kingham.
“The consistency and balance across the classes showcased not only the exceptionally high standard, but the incredible diversity we have in this country. Several of the top awards were decided by split judging panels, which is a testament to just how competitive this year’s Show was.
“The Best Beer of Show was a clear standout. It’s a beautifully balanced cloudy pale Hefeweizen, delivering classic notes of banana and clove that highlight its finesse and drinkability, making it a thoroughly deserving winner”.
Another first-time Champion winning brewery this year was Coastal Brewing Company, which claimed Champion Lager and Champion Pale Ale for its Coomba Czech Dark Lager and Hearts Points NEPA respectively.
Owner and Head Brewer David Black said: “We are delighted to receive recognition from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW through these awards. We are thrilled that a small independent regional brewery can be recognised at the highest level for the quality of our beers.”
Brewer James Woodland added: “We are a small team and we pride ourselves on producing quality beers across a wide range of styles. At The Coastal Brewing Company we want everyone to enjoy Australian owned and produced beer, whatever style of beer they prefer.”
The overall high quality of entrants in the cider category also impressed the judges this year. Last year’s Champion Cider winner Flying Brick Cider Co emerged as Champion once again with its standout Flying Brick Cider Co MC, while its Original Cider was also recognised for its excellent quality, receiving the prestigious Chair of Judges Annual Prize.
“There were several gold-medal winning ciders this year that represented the top tier of quality, with a neck and neck battle for the Champion title”, Kingham said.
“While the eventual champion product exhibited a rich traditional apple character with layered complexity and a dry, structured finish, the runner-up delivered remarkable flavour depth and a beautifully balanced combination of sweetness and acidity. Both were worthy of recognition which made this an easy choice for the Chair of Judges award”.
One of this year’s strongest categories was Pale Ale, with 88 per cent of entries receiving a medal, and it was a similar story for the low and no-alcohol category, with a record 91 per cent of entries being awarded a medal. Heaps Normal claimed the Champion Reduced or No-Alcohol Beer for its Jazz Stout.
Kingham said: “Dark beers delivered some standout entries in this year’s competition, and it was exciting to see a Stout take out the top spot in the non-alcoholic category.
“The reduced and no alcohol categories have shown remarkable progress in both quality and innovation in recent years, largely driven by consumer demand. To have 91% of entries reaching medal standard is a clear sign that this category is a vital part of the industry’s future, and fantastic news for consumers seeking flavourful, low-alcohol options.”
This year was Kingham’s fourth and final year as Chair of Judges, with the RAS thanking Kingham for his unwavering dedication, commitment and enthusiasm over the years and his contributions to the Show’s growth and success.
