Both locals took out major awards, Mr Sneddon with the Mash Paddle National All-Grain Brewer of the Year, his first; and Mr Martin won the Best Kit Beer of the Show for a second time in three years.

“I’m stoked to win, especially when I only submitted one beer this year, normally I enter at least three,” Mr Sneddon said.

He entered a schwarzbier (black beer) into the competition and was the top of the pack with the judges scoring it 42.25 out of 50, enough for a silver medal but three points shy of an elusive gold.  

“This only the second lager I’ve entered and it was a bloody nice beer,” Mr Sneddon said. 

“One side of the family comes from Germany so that must be coming out in my brewing.” 

The judges described the beer as crisp with a malty flavour and just a hint of chocolate flavour.

“Lager is probably one of the harder beers to brew because it takes a lot of time to create, if you rush it, it doesn’t work out,” he said. 

Mr Martin earned the Best Kit Beer of the Show thanks to his silver medal-winning India Pale Ale, which he was surprised went so well.

He also achieved silver for his Wheat Beer and a bronze for his English Pale Ale. 

The judges said the beer was true to the style of India Pale Ale, 

containing a high level of hops and containing a good mix of malt and East Kent Golding hops.

Another local brewer Michael Kelly, who regularly enters the competition, came away with a bronze medal for his Australian Ale.