By Andy Young
The winners of the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) were named last night. The annual beer competition is conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) and judges both packaged and draught beer.
Gage Roads Brewing Company’s Little Dove (draught) was awarded Champion Australian Beer, while Boston Beer Company was awarded Champion International Beer for its Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru (packaged).
In total 30 Champion and Major trophies were awarded with a mix of Australian and international brewers collecting awards.
Major Australian trophies awarded included Champion Large Australian Brewer to Stone & Wood Brewing Co in New South Wales, Champion Medium Australian Brewer to Two Birds Brewing in Victoria, Champion Small Australian Brewer to Pirate Life Brewing in South Australia and the Australian Gypsy Brewer Award to BrewCult in Victoria.
International major trophies awarded included Champion Large International Brewery to Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits in California, USA, Champion Medium International Brewery to Pelican Brewing Company in Oregon, USA and Champion Small International Brewery to Moylan’s Brewing Company also in California.
AIBA head judge Warren Pawsey of Little Creatures told TheShout: “A lot of the judges’ comments were that the quality was really up this year, and you saw that in the medal count last night – some of the categories had huge numbers of gold medals. It was a real improvement on the last five years or so. It gets better every year, but this year was just special.
“Entries were up by about 10 per cent this year – we had 1793 entries, which was good. I guess the best part for me about last night was all the Australian breweries cleaning up. It was really good to see the likes of Two Birds and Stone & Wood win, it was really, really good.
“I remember years ago it was mainly US brewers cleaning up, and they wouldn’t even send someone over to pick up the trophy, so it was good. We’re really moving along.”
He added: “It’s a privilege to lead such a diverse panel of Australian and international judges, who bring a wealth of knowledge and brewing expertise to the competition.
“As in previous years, the process was intense and the judging panel were impressed with the quality and range of styles that were presented this year. This year the medal round was particularly hard to judge with some truly cracking beers entered.”
Two Birds brewer Jayne Lewis told TheShout that she was understandably delighted by the win.
"This is a pretty big deal for us, its the second largest beer competition in the world, so to get this kind of recognition in a the competition is a wonderful validation for us and all of the hard work that we have put in, in the brewery."
Lewis added: "We are absolutely stoked and still a little speechless about the win. When Danielle and I started Two Birds Brewing almost five years ago, we would never have imagined the sort of growth that we have experienced to date.
"Last night’s awards are recognition of the hard work that takes place in the brewery and is a mark of the consistency and quality of the beers that we’re producing. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing team, customers and loyal fans, they are the reason that we exist."
The full list of winners:
Champion Trophy Winners
Champion Australian Beer
Little Dove (Draught)
Gage Roads Brewing Co.
WA, Australia
Champion International Beer
Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru (Packaged)
Boston Beer Company
Massachusetts, USA
Champion Large Australian Brewery
Stone and Wood Brewing Co.
NSW, Australia
Champion Large International Brewery
Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits
California, USA
Champion Medium Australian Brewery
Two Birds Brewing
VIC, Australia
Champion Medium International Brewery
Pelican Brewing Company
Oregon, USA
Champion Small Australian Brewery
Pirate Life Brewing
SA, Australia
Champion Small International Brewery
Moylan’s Brewing Company
California, USA
Australian Gypsy Brewer Award
BrewCult
VIC, Australia
Gary Sheppard Memorial Trophy for Best New Exhibitor
Barrabool Hills Brewery Co.
VIC, Australia
Major Trophy Winners
Best Scotch Ale/Barley Wine
Old Chub Scotch Ale (Packaged)
Oskar Blues Brewery
Colorado, USA
Best Belgian/French Style Ale
Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red (Packaged)
Boston Beer Company
Massachusetts, USA
Best Wheat Beer
Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier (Packaged)
Phoenix Beers on behalf of Weihenstephaner
Bavaria, Germany
Best Reduced/Low Alcohol Beer
Pirate Life Throwback IPA (Draught)
Pirate Life Brewing
SA, Australia
Best Stout
Spies Like Us (Packaged)
Wormtown Brewery
Massachusetts, USA
Best Porter
Chelsea Moylan’s Porter (Packaged)
Moylan’s Brewing Company
California, USA
Best Amber/Dark Ale
Two Birds Sunset Ale (Draught)
Two Birds Brewing
VIC, Australia
Best Speciality Beer
Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru (Packaged)
Boston Beer Company
Massachusetts, USA
Best IPA
The Zymurgist (Draught)
Mountain Goat Beer
VIC, Australia
Best British Style Ale
California Amber (Packaged)
Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits
California, USA
Best International Style Pale Ale
Modus Pale Ale (Draught)
Modus Operandi Brewing Company
NSW, Australia
Best New World Style Pale Ale
Little Dove (Draught)
Gage Roads Brewing Co.
WA, Australia
Best Australian Style Pale Ale
Swell Golden Ale (Packaged)
Swell Brewing Co.
SA, Australia
Best Amber/Dark Lager
Stone & Wood Schwarzbier (Draught)
Stone & Wood Brewing Co.
NSW, Australia
Best International Lager
Glamarama Summer Ale (Draught)
Sydney Brewery
NSW, Australia
Best European Style Lager
Lovedale Lager (Draught)
Sydney Brewery
NSW, Australia
Best Pilsner
Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Draught)
Carlton & United Breweries, Yatala
QLD, Australia
Best Australian Style Lager
Cricketers Arms Keepers Lager (Packaged)
Asahi Beverages
VIC, Australia
Best Packaging
Golden Era Golden Ale (Outer Carton)
Pirate Life Brewing
SA, Australia