Australia's best craft beer Photo: Mike Curtain

Little Creatures Pale Ale is Australia’s best craft beer according to an online poll conducted by The Local Taphouse to celebrate Australia Day.

In a repeat of last year’s quinella Little Creatures interpretation of the classic American Pale Ale-style pipped Icon 2 IPA from Murray’s Craft Brewing Co, with Fat Yak from Matilda Bay debuting this year in third position.

The annual poll conducted by the Sydney and Melbourne-based beer bars saw beer lovers vote for their top 100 Australian Craft beers of 2009. More than 450 beers received at least one vote.

The results are sure to stimulate debate about the meaning of ‘craft beer’ with some of the smallest breweries in Australia featuring strongly in a list peppered with offerings from the boutique arms of Australia’s largest breweries. The winning beer is brewed by Little Creatures Brewery in Freemantle, Western Australia. Little Creatures Brewery is owned by Little World Beverages, itself 40% owned by Lion Nathan. Little World Beverages also owns the White Rabbit brewery in Healesville Victoria–which placed 8th on the list with its dark ale– and 20% of Byron Bay’s Stone & Wood brewery which placed 14th and 81st for its Draught Ale and Pale Lager respectively.

For the full list visit the Local Taphouse Blog.