Victorian craft brewers, TwoBays Brewing Co, have brought some much-needed good news to Australia’s craft beer industry by taking out gold at the World Beer Cup, with its Session Ale named the world’s best gluten free beer.
It is only the fifth time an Australian brewery has taken out gold at the awards, which are recognised as one of the most prestigious beer awards on the planet.
This year’s awards were hosted in Las Vegas and attracted 9300 entries from 2060 breweries from 50 countries and the team of 280 judges has the tough job of selecting just one gold, silver and bronze for each category.
TwoBays’ opened in 2018 after owner Richard Jeffares had been diagnosed with Coeliac disease in 2015.
“When we opened doors in December 2018, US gluten free breweries set the standard. Today, we joined them on the global platform with a World Beer Cup gold medal,” sais Jeffares.
“We’ve always strived for quality beer. Last year this same beer won the Champion Specialty Beer Trophy at the Australian Independent Beer Awards, in a category up against specialty barley beers, so we knew it was good, but winning a World Beer Cup Gold is next level.
“Today, was further recognition of the quality and consistency our brewers are putting out.”
“This is massive recognition for our brewers Kristian, Grant, Stephen and our packing team for their brewing and packing skill. Our brewers have all stepped away from the barley beer world to brew with our difficult malts (millet, buckwheat and rice) and I think the whole gluten free community thanks them for making us all some great beers.”
Gluten free beer cannot be brewed using barley, rye, wheat or oats, and brewing good beer without those traditional ingredients is not easy. TwoBays Session Ale is a mid-strength (3.5 per cent abv) American style Pale Ale, brewed with naturally gluten free millet, buckwheat and rice malts.
TwoBays were not the only Aussies to pick up an award this year, with fellow Victorians, Hop Nation picking up a Bronze for their American Red Ale, The Buzz.