Breweries from all corners of the country and around the world are celebrating after the results of the 2018 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) were announced last night in Melbourne, with Western Australian brewery Beerland Brewing taking out Champion Australian Beer for their Beerland Wheat Beer (Draught).

Champion International Beer was awarded to California-based brewery Three Weavers Brewing Company for their Knotty (Packaged) beer, who were also awarded Best IPA for the same brew.

The largest annual beer competition in the world judging both draught and packaged beer, the AIBA celebrated 26 years of recognising the world’s best beers this year, attracting record participation with 2178 entries across the beer categories, including 120 entries received in the design and media categories.

“Interest in AIBA continues to grow – this year we had entries from twenty eight countries and almost every state of Australia. We also added new sub-classes to the competition to ensure we are adjusting to the trends of the expanding beer market”, said Paul Guerra, CEO, The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV).

In other top honours, Mountain Goat Pty Ltd, from Victoria were awarded Champion Large Australian Brewery, whilst Firestone Walker Brewing Co. from California, were awarded Champion Large International Brewery.

Green Beacon Brewing Co, from Queensland were awarded Champion Medium Australian Brewery, with German Mahrs Bräu Bamberg GMBH awarded Champion Medium International Brewery.

Queensland’s wins continued with Champion Small Australian Brewery won by Black Hops Brewing, whilst New Zealand took home the last of the Champion brewery honours with Kereru Brewing Company Limited, awarded Champion Small International Brewery.

The Australian Gypsy Brewer Award was presented to New South Wales brewers Philter Brewing, who began production in 2017, and the Gary Shephard Memorial Trophy for Best New Exhibitor was awarded to Victorian Microbrewery, Brownstone.

MAJOR TROPHIES

Champion Australian Beer presented by Barrett Burston Malting Co & Cryer MaltBeerland Wheat Beer (Draught) – Beerland Brewing, Whitfords WA, Australia

Champion International Beer presented by RASVKnotty (Packaged) – Three Weavers Brewing Company, California, USA

Champion Large Australian Brewery presented by Barrett Burston Malting CoMountain Goat Beer Pty Ltd, Vic, Australia

Champion Large International Brewery presented by Hop Products Australia on behalf of Barth Haas GroupFirestone Walker Brewing Co., California, USA

Champion Medium Australian Brewery presented by CryerMaltGreen Beacon Brewing Co, QLD, Australia

Champion Medium International Brewery presented by RASVMahrs Bräu Bamberg GMBH, Franconia/Bavaria, Germany

Champion Small Australian Brewery presented by FB*PROPAKBlack Hops Brewing, QLD, Australia

Champion Small International Brewery presented by RASVKereru Brewing Company Limited, Wellington, NZ

Gary Sheppard Memorial Trophy for Best New ExhibitorBrownstone Microbrewery, Vic, Australia

Australian Gypsy Brewer Award presented by FB*PROPAKPhilter Brewing, NSW, Australia

Best Australian Style Lager presented by RASVHawke’s Lager (Draught) – Hawke’s Brewing Co., NSW, Australia

Best European Style Lager (excluding Pilsner) presented by RASVFirestone Lager (Packaged) – Firestone Walker Brewing Co., California, USA

Best International Lager presented by RASVDagon Lager Beer (Draught) – Dagon Beverages Co., Ltd., Myanmar

Best Pilsner presented by Brews NewsMoo Brew Pilsner (Draught) – Moo Brew, Tasmania, Australia

Best Amber / Dark Lager presented by HopcoHunter Bock (Draught) – Hunter Beer Co., NSW, Australia

Best Australian Style Pale Ale presented by Plasdene Glass-Pak Pty LtdPhilter XPA (Packaged) – Philter Brewing, NSW, Australia

Best New World-Style Pale Ale presented by Hop Products AustraliaHubert MPA (Packaged) – Melvin Brewing, WY, USA

Best International Style Pale Ale presented by The Post ProjectBillfish APA (Packaged) – Bach Brewing, Auckland, NZ

Best British Style Ale (excluding IPA and Pale Ale) presented by RASVGlamarama Summer Ale (Draught) – Sydney Brewery, NSW, Australia

Best European Style Ale presented by RASVCha Chaan Teng Gose (Packaged) – Young Master Brewery, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Best IPA presented by KegstarKnotty (Packaged) – Three Weavers Brewing Company, California, USA

Best Amber / Dark Ale presented by HopcoTwo Birds Sunset (Draught) – Two Birds Brewing, Vic, Australia

Best Porter presented by Weyermann Specialty MaltsTemptress (Draught) – Holgate Brewhouse Pty Ltd, Vic, Australia

Best Stout presented by RASVSpies Like Us (Packaged) – Wormtown Brewery, MA, USA

Best Reduced / Low alcohol beer presented by RASVNail MVP (Draught) – Nail Brewing Australia, WA, Australia

Best Wheat Beer presented by RASVBeerland Wheat Beer (Draught) – Beerland Brewing, Whitfords WA, Australia

Best Belgian / French Ale presented by RASVBeach House (Draught) – Black Hops Brewing, QLD, Australia

Best Scotch Ale / Barley Wine presented by RASVBohemia Wee Heavy (Packaged) – Cervejaria Bohemia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Best Specialty Beer presented by GABSCaptain of the Coast (Packaged) – Pelican Brewing Company, Oregon, USA

DESIGN

Best Design – Label / Surface Graphic presented by LabelmakersSouth West Sour – Colonial Brewing Company, WA, Australia

Best Design – Outer Packaging presented by RASVSawmill – Multipacks – Sawmill Brewery, NZ

MEDIA

Best Media – Presented by The Crafty PintWilliam Ziebell (The Crafty Pint), Vic, Australia

CONSISTENCY OF EXCELLENCE – Presented by RASV

Fixation IPA, (Draught) – Fixation Brewing Co., Victoria, AustraliaWeihenstephan Kristall Weissbier, (Packaged) – Weihenstephan, Bavaria, Germany