A Brisbane-based brewery and a Sunshine Coast distillery have taken out top honours at the 2026 Royal Queensland Distilled Spirits and Beer Awards.

Supported by King Street and The Star Brisbane, the awards ceremony was held at the Brisbane Showgrounds tonight.

In the Royal Queensland Awards (RQA) beer competition, Happy Valley Brewing Co in Stafford, Brisbane, claimed the coveted Grand Champion Beer supported by Lion, award for its 50K IPA.

Meanwhile in the distilled spirits competition, Nil Desperandum from Woombye on the Sunshine Coast took out the prestigious Grand Champion title for its Premier Rum.

RQA Beer Competition Co-Chief Judge Steve Henderson said the Grand Champion beer stood out immediately during judging.

“The 50K IPA was fresh and vibrant, and the aroma just absolutely punched you in the nose,” he said.

“The flavour matched the aroma beautifully and it had good body and carbonation.”

The beer competition, reinvigorated in 2019, attracted a record 704 entries this year – up more than 30% on 2025.

“The entry numbers tell a really good story – the industry has had a tough couple of years and it’s just starting to turn around again which is fantastic to see,” Henderson said.

Henderson describing the overall standard of entries as phenomenal, particularly in the new Mexican-style lager classes.

“Mexican-style lagers are becoming quite popular in the market and we saw a strong number of these entered that were exceptionally well made,” he said. 

In the distilled spirits competition Nil Desperandum claimed five of the 10 trophies on offer. The distillery was also named Best Queensland Distillery, it also won the inaugural Champion Feature Rum/Cane Spirit Trophy for its Artfully Corrupted Spiced Rum plus The Star Brisbane Best Queensland Distilled Spirit for its Premier Rum.

Distilled Spirits Competition Chief Judge Dave Withers said the Grand Champion Premier Rum was a clear standout. 

“There was an elegance and poise about the rum. It showed real restraint, allowing the spirit to shine without being overwhelmed by too much oak,” he said.

“It was of exceptional quality, particularly in the way it appealed to a classic Caribbean style.”

Now in its third year, the spirits competition attracted almost 100 entries, with Withers describing the overall quality as outstanding.

“When I first started judging distilled spirit competitions eight years ago, we certainly didn’t see the same level of diversity, boldness and experimentation that we’re seeing today,” he said.

For the full distilled spirits and beer results catalogues visit www.rqa.com.au

Pictured above: Winner of Australia’s best beer Happy Valley Brewing Co from Stafford, Brisbane. L to R: Jett Righetti, Jake Harrison and Cheyne Meehan.

Beer trophy winners

GRAND CHAMPION BEER SUPPORTED BY LION (Australia’s best beer)
50K IPA Draught by Happy Valley Brewing Co

CHAMPION PALE ALE SUPPORTED BY BINTANI

Biere De Mer Draught by Madocke Beer Brewing Company

CHAMPION AMBER DARK ALE
Brown Ale Packaged by Wobbly Chook Brewing Co

CHAMPION PORTER-STOUT  
Extra Extra Packaged by Soapbox Brewing Co

CHAMPION HYBRID BEER
Bourbon Barrel Aged Anniversary Ale VII Packaged by Slipstream Brewing Company

CHAMPION LAGER SUPPORTED BY BARRETT BURSTON
Alby Draught Draught by Gage Roads Brewing Co

CHAMPION INDIA PALE ALE SUPPORTED BY KEGSTAR
50K IPA Draught by Happy Valley Brewing Co

CHAMPION EUROPEAN-STYLE ALE
Classic Saison Packaged by Slipstream Brewing Company

CHAMPION SESSION BEER
Alby Crisp Draught by Gage Roads Brewing Co

CHAMPION STRONG BEER
The Bay Double IPA Draught by Happy Valley Brewing Co

CHAMPION MIXED CULTURE BEER
Blackberry Sour Draught by Aether Brewing

CHAMPION GINGER BEER OF SHOW
The Ginger Trade Draught by Pacific Ocean Brewing

CHAMPION LOW / NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER
Yeah Buoy Packaged by Gage Roads Brewing Co

THE STAR BRISBANE BEST QUEENSLAND BEER OF SHOW
50K IPA Draught by Happy Valley Brewing Co

CHAMPION BEST NEW BREWERY
No Eye Deer Brewing

CHAMPION LARGE BREWERY SUPPORTED BY CRYER MALT
Slipstream Brewing Company

CHAMPION SMALL/MEDIUM BREWERY SUPPORTED BY HPA
No Eye Deer Brewing

CHAMPION BREWPUB
Happy Valley Brewing Co

BEST CONTRACT BREWER
27 South Brewing

THE STAR BRISBANE EMERGING QUEENSLAND BREWER
Joint recipients: Ben Kirby from Big Rock Brewing and Jacob Viel from Blind Boy Brewing

Distilled spirits trophy winners

GRAND CHAMPION DISTILLED SPIRIT (Australia’s best distilled spirit) 
Premier Rum by Nil Desperandum

CHAMPION VODKA
Davenport Vodka by Davenport Distillery

CHAMPION GIN
Imperial Dry Gin Blackwattle Distilling Co

CHAMPION RUM / CANE SPIRIT
Premier Rum by Nil Desperandum

CHAMPION WHISKY
Country to Coast #6 by Fleurieu Distillery

CHAMPION ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT
Pear Packham by Schnapps Idea Distillery

CHAMPION FEATURE RUM / CANE SPIRIT
Nil Desperandum Artfully Corrupted Spiced Rum by Nil Desperandum

BEST EXPERIMENTAL RUM / CANE SPIRIT
Stormy Skies Cane Spirit by Milton Distillery

THE STAR BRISBANE BEST QUEENSLAND DISTILLED SPIRIT
Premier Rum by Nil Desperandum

BEST QUEENSLAND DISTILLERY
Nil Desperandum

Pictured main: Winner of Australia’s best distilled spirit Nil Desperandum from Woombye, Sunshine Coast. L to R:  Matt Hobson, Michael Conrad and Adam Chapman.