Perth Royal Beer Awards: Judge Jayne Lewis Unveils the Art and Science of Beer Judging
At the Claremont Showgrounds this week, Jayne Lewis is among the dedicated judges tasked with evaluating the nation's finest beers at the Royal Agricultural Society of WA's 2026 Perth Royal Food Awards. Established in 2007, the Perth Royal Beer Awards category has grown into one of the most eagerly awaited events, with judging sessions held on Wednesday and Thursday, culminating in the awards ceremony on May 1.
The Science Behind the Suds
With 17 years of experience, including nine at the Perth show, Ms Lewis emphasizes that beer judging is far from a casual affair. Each brew is meticulously assessed against specific style guidelines, with scores based on appearance, aroma, flavour, technical quality, and adherence to category standards. "We score the beers against appearance, aroma, flavour and then also technical quality and style," she explained to The West Australian.
Contrary to popular belief, the methods used in beer judging share similarities with wine tasting. "It's the same glassware, we swirl the beer as well, we stick our nose in there. So we want to get the aroma, which I think a lot of people miss when they drink the beer," Ms Lewis revealed. However, there's a key difference: "We sip, we don't spit beer, so that's an important differentiation. We actually swallow the beer when we're judging it, and we're looking at how the beer tastes and how it all fits together."
A Passion for Perth's Brewing Scene
Born in Perth and now based in Melbourne after moving 18 years ago, Ms Lewis founded Two Birds Brewing in 2011 and currently works as a consultant in the industry. Despite her relocation, she retains a deep appreciation for Western Australia's beer culture. "WA has a fantastic beer scene, and obviously was at the pioneering end of starting beer in this country and it's still doing amazing stuff. There are a lot of awesome beers coming out of WA," she said.
While she couldn't disclose early frontrunners from day one of judging, Ms Lewis shared her personal preferences, favouring juicy, hazy beers. She has also expanded her expertise into zero-alcohol beers, noting that these now account for 45 per cent of all non-alcoholic drinks sales in Australia and 10 per cent of beer sales.
Is Beer Judging the Best Job in the World?
From crisp lagers to experimental brews, Ms Lewis rates a wide variety of beers, leading many to wonder if this is the ultimate career. "It definitely is. We get to sit here, and we get to drink all of these fantastic beers, and we get to talk about them all day," she declared. "It's a wonderful thing to be able to do. It's a lot of training. It's a lot of really honing your palette, honing your conversational skills, building your vocabulary on talking about beer and the different kind of characters that can be in it. But yes, I can't actually think of a better way to spend a day."
Looking Ahead to the Champion Beer
In 2025, WA's Margaret River Brewing Co. secured the top award for its In the Pines IPA. This year, Ms Lewis completed up to 40 blind tastings on Wednesday and will collaborate with her team after Thursday's judging to select a Champion Beer from a shortlist of 18-20 contenders.
For aspiring beer enthusiasts looking to refine their tasting skills, Ms Lewis offers simple yet crucial advice: "Smell your beer. Don't miss that opportunity to, once you've had enough of a drink, to be able to get your nose into it, don't miss that aroma, because it's such a big part of it."
