SA brewers dominate at Beer and Cider Awards
South Australian brewers have once again excelled at the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards, taking out a majority of the awards at the 2025 show.
Managed by the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia, the prestigious awards ceremony celebrates brewing excellence and innovation and is open to beer and cider producers from Australia and New Zealand.
Established in 1844 and relaunched in its current style in 2010, the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards is recognised as one of Australia’s most significant industry competitions, featuring thirteen trophies in categories for lagers, ales, porters, stouts, reduced alcohol beer, wheat beer, rye beer, alternative grain beers, and ciders.
The top winners included Campbelltown’s Eclectic Brewing, which won the Most Outstanding Beer in Show for their Mosaic Theory IPA, and Coopers, which won the Fassina Liquor Trophy for Champion Large Brewery. Other wins in the variety category featured awards for The Suburban Brew, Pirate Life, Coopers, Swell Brewing and Vale Brewing.
In the cider category, Barossa Valley Cider Co took home the Barrel and Equipment Finance Trophy for Best Cider in Show, while Hills Cider were awarded the Ashton Valley Fresh Trophy for Best Perry in Show.
Perhaps most impressive, however, was Adelaide Hills’ Prancing Pony Brewery, who won the Major Trophy for Champion Small Brewery of 2025, and whose beers won nine medals.
“We consider the trophy win as one for the team as it takes a lot of people to make it all work and everybody at the Pony contributes to the success. From the brewing team to the packaging, logistics and sales team, everybody needs to on the same page,” said Prancing Pony CEO Corinna Steeb.
Prancing Pony’s top scoring beers included The Piper WCIPA and the Cascadian Double Black, with both receiving gold medals.
“Interestingly, eight of the nine medals that we took home last night were for our stable, core-ranged beers and all of them have stood the test of time, including the Hopwork Orange, Sunshine Ale, Zeppelin NEIPA, and Black Ale,” Steeb said.
Stay informed, daily
After 13 years in business, the brewery has built a lasting reputation, with their renowned beers and ciders amongst the best in Australia.
“What remains the same is people’s desire to have a good time, to enjoy a drink and good food with friends and to gather around a table feeling part of a community,” Steeb told InDaily.
“So, while awards, trophies and medals are an important accolade in our business, what matters most is the fact that we may just make a few people happy for a few hours, while they enjoy a Pony beer at our venue in Totness or the Pony at Moana or simply at home. Mission achieved.”
