Slipstream Brewing have won the Grand Champion Beer trophy at the Royal Queensland Awards Beer Competition, with the Brisbane brewery securing the title with their Classic Saison.

A total of 67 Australian breweries submitted more than 530 entries to the competition with head judge Steve "Hendo" Henderson saying the quality of beers had improved each year and that it was rare to see a saison come out on top. 

“Saison requires a delicate approach from the brewer to balance the spicy phenolics with the fruity esters and a nice dry finish, so to win Grand Champion with this style is phenomenal and shows just how skilled the Slipstream team is,” Hendo said.

Further details and the other champion trophy winners can be found below. 

Media Release: Brisbane brewery wins Australia’s best beer

A Brisbane brewery has claimed the title of Australia’s best beer at the Royal Queensland Awards Beer Competition supported by King Street at the Brisbane Showgrounds today.

Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly won the Grand Champion Beer and The Star Entertainment Group Best Queensland Beer titles for the first time with their Classic Saison, along with a $5,000 Lion bursary.

Judge Steve Henderson said it was rare to see a saison - a traditional beer originating from Belgium and Northern France - come out on top.

“Saison requires a delicate approach from the brewer to balance the spicy phenolics with the fruity esters and a nice dry finish, so to win Grand Champion with this style is phenomenal and shows just how skilled the Slipstream team is,” he said.

“It’s such a wonderful style of beer that’s really underrepresented in the Australian beer market.”

This year marked the introduction of a champion trophy for the best Ginger Beer supported by Buderim Ginger, with Aether Brewing from Northgate, Brisbane, winning for their Ginger Beerd product.

“Ginger is a quintessential Australian agricultural ingredient and the fact we have a local Brisbane craft brewery producing a world-class ginger beer is fantastic,” Mr Henderson said.

Brisbane’s Felons Brewing Co also shared in the city’s brewing success, with team member Ben Malt named The Star Brisbane Emerging Queensland Brewer. The rising brewer won the opportunity to have his beers sold at The Star Brisbane. 

More than 530 entries from 67 Australian breweries were received in this year’s competition, judged over two days this week by a panel of almost 50 industry experts.

Mr Henderson said the quality of the entries had continued to improve year on year.

“This is the first commercial beer competition of the calendar year and brewing a good beer for the Royal Queensland Awards really sets those breweries who won a medal up for success for the rest of the year,” he said.

“The beers have been phenomenal and the variety of styles being entered in the competition continues to grow.

“The standard of judging is incredibly high and every single entrant in this competition, whether they have taken home a medal or not, will receive valuable feedback to help refine their beers, which strengthens the industry as a whole.”

The Royal Queensland Beer Awards celebrate and promote the country’s top brewers, providing a platform for industry recognition and product benchmarking.

Below are the 2025 trophy winners. The full results catalogue is now available here.

TROPHY WINNERS

CHAMPION PALE ALE SUPPORTED BY YAKIMA CHIEF HOPS Passenger Pale Ale  – Moffat Beach Brewing Co

CHAMPION AMBER DARK ALE Scooter American Red Ale – Slipstream Brewing Company

CHAMPION PORTER-STOUT Glenness – No Eye Deer Brewing

CHAMPION HYBRID BEER Wilderness – Hiker Brewing Co

CHAMPION LAGER Wanderlust - Hiker Brewing Co

CHAMPION INDIA PALE ALE =IPA – Felons Brewing Co

CHAMPION EUROPEAN-STYLE ALE Classic Saison – Slipstream Brewing Company

CHAMPION SESSION BEER EP Crisp – Beer Garden Brewery

CHAMPION STRONG BEER Imperial St Peege – White Lies Brewing Company

CHAMPION MIXED CULTURE BEER Raspberry Sour – White Lies Brewing Company

CHAMPION GINGER BEER SUPPORTED BY BUDERIM GINGER Ginger Beerd - Aether Brewing

CHAMPION BEST NEW BREWERY Carbon 6 Brewing

THE STAR BRISBANE EMERGING QUEENSLAND BREWER Ben Malt – Felons Brewing Co

THE STAR BRISBANE BEST QUEENSLAND BEER Classic Saison - Slipstream Brewing Company

CRYER MALT CHAMPION LARGE BREWERY Stomping Ground Brewing Co

HPA CHAMPION SMALL/MEDIUM BREWERY Slipstream Brewing Company

CHAMPION BREWPUB White Lies Brewing Company

BEST ARTISTIC BEER LABEL Biere De Garde – King River Brewing Co

BEST CONTRACT BREWER 27 South Brewing

GRAND CHAMPION BEER Classic Saison - Slipstream Brewing Company