A couple of past winners enjoyed more success at their home city's annual beer awards. Sydney Brewery claimed Best NSW Beer for their Speak Easy Black IPA, which also took out Champion Draught Beer, thus maintaining a remarkable run of form at the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Awards.
Champion Packaged Beer went to another beer that's no stranger to awards success either. Wayward Brewing's Raspberry Berliner Weisse first picked up a major trophy back in May 2017 at the Australian International Beer Awards, when it was still called Sourpuss, and is a past winner of Champion Packaged Beer in Sydney too, claiming the title in 2019 as well as this year.
Chair of judges Ian Kingham said Sydney Brewery's black IPA stood out due to its "excellent use of malt and hops, lovely balance and a beer packed with flavour that is readily drinkable."
As for Wayward's winning entry, he said the beer was part of a growth in the number of fruit sours in the local market, adding: "Getting fresh raspberry fruit expression is difficult and balancing the acidity and sourness of this style is really difficult."
The other major trophy, for Champion Experimental or Specialty Beer, went to another familiar name from past awards. Australian Brewery, who last year won Champion Draught Beer for their Old Cattle Dog Dark Ale, took it out for their Reign Of Darkness Imperial Stout.
The 2022 awards also saw the introduction of four new categories, including those for no and low alcohol drinks, and featured a fifty-fifty gender split across its judges too, drawn from the worlds of brewing, winemaking, media and consulting.
No Champion Cider trophy was awarded, but The Barossa Valley Cider Company claimed Champion Perry for their Squashed Pear Cider.
Sydney Royal Winners 2022
Best NSW Beer
Sydney Brewery Speak Easy Black IPA
Champion Packaged Beer
Wayward Raspberry Berliner Weisse
Champion Experimental or Specialty Beer
Australian Brewery Reign Of Darkness
Champion Draught Beer
Sydney Brewery Speak Easy Black IPA
Champion Cider
Not awarded
Champion Perry
The Barossa Valley Cider Company – Squashed Pear Cider
Champion Bottle Conditioned Perry or Cider
Not awarded
