Love an award winner? Into beer? We have the lowdown on the Australian International Beer Awards.
We’re all about shortcuts to delicious drinks, and that’s exactly what you get with the latest winners from the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA). As the world’s largest annual beer competition, the AIBA draws entries from across Australia and around the world, with more than 2000 submissions for this year’s titles. Each beer is judged by industry experts, and the trophies are some of the most coveted in the brewing world.
This year, the top honour of Champion Australian Beer went to Melbourne’s Mountain Goat for their limited IPA, Bract to the Future. The beer showcases experimental new hops from New Zealand, and Mountain Goat is one of just 60 breweries worldwide that have been chosen to work with it in an exclusive trial.
Another Melbourne favourite also came out on top, with Stomping Ground Brewing Co. picking up Champion Australian Independent Beer for their Hanging Rauch lager. South Australia’s Pirate Life Brewing took out Champion Large Australian Brewery, Hawkesbury Brewing Co in NSW picked up Champion Medium Australian Brewery, and WA’s King Road Brewing Co collected the Champion Small Australian Brewery title as well as overall Champion Australian Independent Brewery.
Other winners on the night included New Zealand breweries Garage Project and Bach Brewing, along with South Australia’s Mismatch Brewing and Hawkers Beer from Victoria, which picked up three titles including Champion Victorian Brewery.
Beers to try from the winning breweries
1. Mountain Goat Steam Ale
If you haven’t tasted the Steam Ale, you’re in for a treat. It’s one of the beers that first gave this pioneering brewery a lot of loyal fans, and it’s as good as ever. Crisp and refreshing, this is a great all-rounder beer for all occasions.
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Click image to shop
2. Stomping Ground Gipps St Pale Ale
This beer is only stocked in Victorian and Tassie Dan’s stores, but it’s worth putting on your radar. It’s full of big fruity notes, like grapefruit and tangerine, with a touch of pine and a dry finish. If you’re ever in Melbourne, put their Collingwood brewery and beer hall on your itinerary.
3. Pirate Life South Coast Pale Ale
One of this brewery’s most popular beers, this pale ale is loaded with fruit and citrus aromas, and tropical flavours. There’s a mild hop bitterness going on, but all wrapped up in what is a light, crisp and sessionable beer.
Click image to shop
Click image to shop
4. Hawkers Beer West Coast IPA
If you like a beer with punchy flavour, this West Coast IPA will be right up your alley. Expect floral aromas, and all those big hoppy notes of pine, resin and citrus. This one is currently stocked only in Victorian stores, but it’s an IPA to keep an eye out for.
