On Saturday, Mountain Culture Beer Co’s Status Quo Pale Ale took first place in the annual GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer poll for the second year running.
The 16th edition of the poll saw 436 of Australia’s craft breweries compete for positions in the top 100 list, with a total of 1,877 unique beers attracting votes, and 63 breweries making the list.
Founded in 2019 by husband-and-wife team DJ and Harriet McCready, Blue Mountains brewery Mountain Culture Beer Co has a popular core range and frequent limited release brews, becoming the first Australian brewery to collaborate with American craft brewery Sierra Nevada in 2023.
Taking first place for its Status Quo Pale Ale, Mountain Culture was followed by two previous champions Balter XPA and BentSpoke Crankshaft IPA, which took second and third positions respectively, marking the third time in the history of the poll that the top three positions have been repeated in the same order as the previous year.
Head of First Choice Liquor Market Michael Bornholdt congratulated Mountain Culture for once again taking home the top honour.
“This year’s winners are an excellent representation of the quality craft beer being made around the country. It’s clear pale ale remains a favourite, with Aussies clearly voting for solid, consistent brews that are true to their style.”
The GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer people’s choice poll is a celebration of craft for the Australian craft beer industry, revealing the consumer trends and breweries shaping the landscape.
The top 10 included two new entrants, WA’s Gage Roads Brewing Co’s Single Fin in sixth place and SA’s Pirate Life Brewing’s South Coast Pale Ale in 10th place.
Other top 10 beers included Your Mates Brewing Co’s Larry, Bridge Road Brewers’ Beechworth Pale Ale, Coopers Brewery’s Original Pale Ale, Stone & Wood Brewing Co’s Pacific Ale, and Young Henry’s Newtowner.
Balter Brewing Co’s Cerveza was the most popular 2023 release on the Hottest 100 list, landing 45th place, ahead of Mountain Culture’s 2023 Summer Pale Ale collaboration beer with Sierra Nevada.
East Coast breweries featured heavily in this year’s poll, with NSW breweries appearing 27 times on the list, QLD breweries 24 times, and Victoria 22 times. WA took out 11 spots on the list, while ACT and SA both scored eight positions.