IT might have taken 16 years to clinch the title, but the Alexandra Hills family butchering business Pattemore Meats has finally clinched the traditional Australian beef sausage championship in the state Sausage King awards.
The state judging was held in conjunction with this year's Royal Queensland Show, and attracted seven regional winners that had been judged from a total 950 entries. And for fifth-generation butcher Daryl Pattemore, he couldn't be happier.
"We have being entering into the competition since inception and been close a couple of times, and previously claimed the pork variety in 2003," he said.
"The secret to our Australian traditional beef sausage is (that) it is a family recipe. These winning sausages were made by my son Tye, a sixth-generation butcher.
"We have used this recipe for many years, and stick with good quality grassfed beef that we source from McMahon Meats, Warwick.
"We have always believed that both good quality sausages and mince are our flagship products, and if you have the quality, then you have a good trade."
Winning the traditional Australian pork prize was Trinity Beach Quality Meats from north Queensland. The open lamb sausage was won by Aussie Smokehouse, Warana, with its coconut lamb curry.
Mundubberra Butchering claimed the poultry section with its pepper chicken and cheese.
The continental sausage was claimed by Arana Tender Cut Meats, Arana Hills, for its Casalinga sausage.
Loveday Quality Meats, Bureigh Waters, won the gourmet open class with their Texan BBQ variety.
The Australian Meat Industry Council started the Sausage King Competition 16 years ago, and all winners will now compete at a national level.
Over the years, the sausage was seen as humble fare of questionable quality. However it is very different these days partly due to the creative efforts of individual butchers and partly due to the awareness of the public as to what constitutes a good sausage.
State winners compete at the National Sausage King finals in Brisbane in February next year.