Wagga brewery's Brother Corvus wins state beer championship
Thirsty Crow Brewing Co won Champion Amber or Dark Ale for Brother Corvus. The Apple Thief won Champion Cider.
Thirsty Crow Brewing Co in Wagga won its first trophy at the 2026 Sydney Royal Beer and Cider Show. The brewery took Champion Amber or Dark Ale for Brother Corvus, a Belgian quad ale at 9 per cent alcohol with caramel, fig and plum notes.
Owners Chelsea Salmon and Charlee Hunt credit brewer Jason Robertson with the recipe. The pair also run The Early Bird Cafe and recently won the people's choice award at the 2026 Golden Crow Awards.
The Apple Thief in Batlow won Champion Cider for Kingston Black Cider. It is a single-variety cider that lets the apple's flavour stand alone.
Both craft businesses compete in the Riverina region against more than 220 entries. The wins reflect growing interest in regional food and drink tourism.
- Wagga
- Brewery location
- Brother Corvus, 9 per cent
- Beer name and alcohol
- Chelsea Salmon and Charlee Hunt
- Owners
- Jason Robertson
- Brewer
Why it mattersSmall craft breweries and ciders compete on a level playing field at major shows; winning can drive tourism and customer loyalty.
AustraliaThese Riverina businesses are putting their region on the map as a food and tourism destination, attracting day trippers from Sydney, Albury and Wagga.
Corroborated bydailyadvertiser.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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