Beer prize cat out of the bag at Brewhouse

Those that have claimed to see the big cat that has terrified farms in the South West have needed a stiff drink afterwards.

Now the panther-like yet highly secretive animal has come to life in a beer judged the tastiest in the State tonight.

Margaret River Brewhouse’s Peter Coupan Barrel Aged Stout, named after the hard to spot feline, was judged Best Stout (draught), Best WA Beer and Best Commercial Beer at the Perth Royal Beer Show awards.

Led by head brewer Andrew Dykstra, above right, and Ryan Ashworth in a 10HL set-up on the edge of the growing South West town, the MR Brewhouse has taken giant strides in the industry in 18 months.

As a regular Stout, the Coupan won a silver medal at last year’s PRBS dinner. However, Dykstra subsequently took the beer and dropped it in Limeburners Distilllery whiskey barrels to upgrade the brew.

The result was the overwhelming choice for the top beer prize from almost 550 beers judged during the series.

The Coupan has become something akin to WA’s version of the Loch Ness monster.

Some South West farmers swear one or more wild large cats have killed livestock and there has been a raft of “eye-witness” sightings over more than 30 years. Yet no one has been able to identify or trace the Coupan – or cougar, or panther or whatever it may be.

Feral was deemed Best WA Brewery and Best Commercial Brewery after snaring a slew of gongs throughout the night.

Finn Diesel, the 6.8% India Pale Ale released mid-May, collected the trophy in the Best Ale Packaged section while the brewery’s Boris (Russian Imperial Stout 9.1%) was top in the Best Stout Packaged category and Razorback (English Barleywine 9.5%) took home the silverware in Best Draught Ale.

Homestead Brewery, part of the sprawling Mandoon Estate in the Swan Valley, won the PRBS trophy in the Best Wheat Beer Draught category for the second year in a row with its Kaisers Choice Hefeweizen (5%).

The top prize in the Best Reduced Alcohol (Packaged) class was claimed by Gage Roads’ Pils 3.5.

Another trophy headed south when Margaret River’s Cheeky Monkey was judged to have the Best Lager Draught with its Australian Lager (4.6%). James Boag’s Premium Lager (5%) won the Best Lager Packaged section.

Denmark-based Boston Brewery Co won Best Packaging and Design for its Right Nut Brown Ale can.