The Grailds - 2020 Beer Awards

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In what has been an absolutely horrible year for the hospitality industry, our local brewers have made the most of the situation and released possibly the most exciting batch of beers we’ve seen out of South Australia. From mid strength marvels, to juice bomb IPA’s to barrel aged sours, it has been a year of continual boundary pushing. New brewers/ breweries have entered the market, existing ones have taken a big step forward and our excellent craft beer venues have kept the limited releases flowing.

We’ve gathered the thoughts of the wider Graild team on what they would consider their Top 5 beers of the year. The total list ended up quite large, however after the votes were collected there was a clear top three with some quality releases just missing out on the fourth and fifth spot.

Congratulations to all the breweries listed below, we are super excited to see what is to come in 2021!

Honourable runners up:
Shifty Lizard Brewing – Yee Haa NEIPA
Beer No Evil – Single Hop IPA
Loophole Brewing – Astral Project Series
Little Bang Brewing – ‘Schwang’ Series
Vale Brewing – Gin Sour

An outstanding sour from Ministry of Beer. If you’re yet to sample any of their releases then you have to do yourself a favour, especially if traditional sours/ barrel aged beers is your cup of tea.

This one didn’t quite make it to a full review from a member of the Graild team but it definitely deserves its place in the top five. Aptly named and in collaboration with the New Zealand brewery ‘Deep Creek’ this Hazy Pale was a delicious example of the style. Launching quietly, it didn’t last long once the word spread.

Our first introduction to the “hype style” Oat Cream IPA from an SA brewer and Shapeshifter Brewing absolutely nailed it. Low bitterness, creamy and more than deserving of the admiration it gathered in the months after its release. Backing it up incredibly well later in the year with a collaboration with the “hype style” kings, Range Brewing from Queensland.

Swell Brewing in McLaren Vale really impressed us this year, taking their limited release game to a new level releasing a couple of beers which I think could take their place in the top five. The one that does, was their super hazy, very juicy IPA, Corduroy Lines.

A beer which, like most from Uraidla, was released and disappeared without a lot of fanfare but I challenge you to discover someone who didn’t find this beer absolutely delicious. Incredibly well balanced and so incredibly fresh (while it lasted) – Sam

Not sure I’ve had a bad beer from these guys but this ticked a lot of boxes, hazy, easy drinking! – Lincoln