Awards pour in for new brewery

Scarborough Harbour Brewing, which opened just 11 months ago, has won 14 trophies at the Royal Queensland Beer Awards.

Best New Brewery and Best BrewPub titles, as well and four Gold and eight Bronze awards, are now at the Bird Opassage Pde venue.

It was a remarkable night for owners Guy and Sonia Schweitzer in their first awards against 663 entries from across Australia.

That was a 15 per cent increase on 2022, further testing the judging panel of 50 brewers, sensory experts and industry figures.

“To have only opened our business less than one year ago, this is a huge recognition for our own onsite brewed beers,” owner Sonia Schweitzer said.

“We are so proud of this early success and 2023 is looking bright for us."

Scarborough Harbour Brewing won Gold for Reef Point Lager (Tap), Reef Point Lager (Can), Brutal Brut IPA (Tap) and Sailors Strawberry Sour (Can).

Bronze for First Ave Pale Ale (Cans), Thirteen Hills XPA (Cans), Thirteen Hills XPA (Tap), The Rizz Rye Ale (Tap), The Bay WC IPA (Can), Hercules Hazy IPA (Tap), Hercules Hazy IPA (Can), Mariner Mid Strength (Can).

Best New Brewery 2023 and Champion BrewPub 2023 were awarded using a points system for winning Gold (3 points), Silver (2), Bronze (1) and Championship Category (1).

Entrants had to have at least 75 per cent of beer produced consumed on site, have entered at least four beers and won at least one gold medal.

Guy Schweitzer said awards, presented at Brisbane Showqgrounds, were the “last thing on our minds” when they started.

“For Sonia, Sam and the team to be recognised as they have in our first year is so satisfying and reward for all the hard work they have done,” he said.

Head brewer Sam Nunnikhoven added: “It was an incredible opportunity to be involved with the awards.

“It is really reaffirming we are on the right path. We want to continue to put out the best beer we can and keep pushing to be even better.”

Judge Steve Henderson said the quality of entries had been “great this year – a slight improvement on last year”.

Scarborough Harbour Brewing began in Christmas 2018 when Guy and Sonia Schweitzer were impressed by craft breweries, while on a trip across Canada.

Returning home their dream started taking shape and in 2019 they settled on Bird Opassage Pde for their brewery, looking out over Moreton Bay and the Glass House Mountains.

Seven months of renovations started in September 2021 and the doors officially during the long Easter weekend last year.