The 2026 Royal Queensland Beer Awards attracted more than 698 entries nationwide. Breweries competed across 25 categories, taking home a total of 19 trophies and over 600 medals.
No Eye Deer Brewing took home 2 awards including Best New Brewery and Champion Small/Medium Brewery, proudly sponsored by HPA. If that wasn’t enough, they also took home 15 medals, including 5 golds across multiple categories. After giving them some time to celebrate their awards, we got in touch with owners Duane Tilka and Daniel Healey to congratulate them and ask a few questions about their beers.
Q: Congrats on your recent success at the 2026 Queensland Beer Awards. You went home with awards for Best New Brewery and Champion Small/Medium Brewery. What does this recognition mean to you?
A: With all the long days and hard work and challenges of trying to operate a brewery in the world we are living in today, it is encouraging to feel that the work we have put in so far hasn’t been for nothing. It’s extremely rewarding to be able to see that our beer is stacking up against other commercial breweries who have been brewing a lot longer than we have.
Q: You also earned a slew of medals, including 5 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze. What’s the secret to making award-winning beers across multiple categories?
A: I don’t think there’s a secret, just good honest hard work and attention to detail in not only the recipe but also the process. Having a detailed plan and executing it.
Q: Of all your beers that medalled, which 3 mean the most and why?
A: Last year we won the Champion Stout trophy which was our first gold medal and trophy winning beer, so that will always be a little bit of a special beer (and a big seller for us). I was really pleased to take a gold for our Dark Lager, as a chef you’re always told a perfect omlette is the sign of a great chef, I think a lager rings true in the same sense for brewers. Lastly our NZ Pale, just something that we really love to drink and I think is a perfect beer to share amongst good company.
Q: On the journey from homebrewer to award-winning craft brewery, what’s the biggest milestone you’ve celebrated?
A: Every time I see someone sporting any NED merch in the wild always feels very surreal to me, and whilst we’re not in this to win awards, the recognition we’ve received so far with the 3 trophy’s we have won is an amazing accomplishment, and hasn’t come easy.
Q: Do you have a favourite Aussie hop?
A: I really like the fresh citrus depth of Eclipse®. Also, the interesting complex character of Enigma® is something that ticks a lot of boxes for me when I’ve used it. I’m keen to meet Luna® and see what kind of flavours that is going to bring to the table.
Q: We hear you’re hoping to open up a taproom, any info you can share?
A: Opening a taproom and moving towards being able to solely focus on NED brewing has always been the goal. We haven’t got anything lined up yet, although we have looked at some sites and are on the lookout for any venues or opportunities that may arise. Feel free to reach out if anyone has any suggestions!
