For the second year running, Sunshine Coast brewery Moffat Beach Brewing Co has taken out the top spot at the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) Royal Queensland Beer Awards.
Husband and wife brewers Shaz and Matt Wilson first won the Grand Champion Beer of Show in 2020, and again in 2023 with their Moff’s Summer Ale, and this year, their Trilogy Best Coast IPA claimed the title once again at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
Upon receiving the award, Matt told Beer & Brewer: “It’s hard enough to win one trophy at beer awards, let alone taking out the Grand Champion Beer award, and to do it for the third time at these awards is something that we are immensely proud of. We put a lot of effort into this beer and all of the brewery team were overjoyed with the result.”
Matt also took the time to thank the RNA for this year’s competition, saying that the organisation does a great job of promoting participating breweries, in addition to the substantial prize which sees Moffat Beach Brewing Co walk away with a $5,000 Lion bursary and further opportunities to be showcased during the Royal Queensland Show.
Speaking about the Trilogy Best Coast IPA, judge Steven Henderson said it was a fresh, aromatic, hoppy IPA which perfectly suits 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,” he says.
“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, ad have backed it up again this year, shows they’re a high-quality brewery consistently outperforming the rest of the industry.”
Being the third time that Moffat Beach Brewing Co has claimed the prestigious title, Matt explained how the brewery continues to produce high-scoring beers so consistently.
“People often ask me what the secret sauce is, but I honestly just make sure that we send in the freshest beer possible, and that the beers are entered in the correct category. We also make sure that we send in beers that are free of any technical faults and are in the best shape that they can possibly be in.
“Recipe development also plays a critical role in this process, and we use the best quality and freshest ingredients that we can,” he continues.
“We don’t brew specifically for awards, we generally enter our core range beers and whatever special release beers are slated in for production at the time of the awards, but we do make sure that we use fresh ingredients for those brews and make sure that the beers coming off the production line are in tip top condition.”
As well as using the freshest ingredients, Moffat Beach Brewing Co has an uncompromising commitment to quality, which Matt says is underpinned by an amazing brewhouse team.
“Our brew team is first class, and our sales and marketing teams also keep us accountable if they think a particular product isn’t up to scratch. I also have a deep love for beer and brewing, it helps to do something well and produce a quality product when you enjoy what you’re doing.”
In this year’s Royal Queensland Beer Awards, more than 600 entries were received from 87 breweries, spanning 18 different categories, along with the introduction of two inaugural trophies, Best Contract Brewer and Best Artistic Label.
The judging panel consisted of 48 experienced brewers, sensory experts, and industry figures, with judging taking place over two days. Reflecting on the lineup before the judging panel, Henderson noted the exceptional quality of this year’s entries.
“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.”
New and emerging brewers were also recognised at the awards, where Daniel Thomsen of Slipstream Brewing Company was the recipient of the Emerging Queensland Brewer award and will now have his beers sold at several The Star outlets throughout southeast Queensland.
Wrapping up another successful year, RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said: “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 year after year.
“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.”