Media Release

Feral and Wig & Pen selected to brew AIBA 2013 Collaborator

The winners of the 2012 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) Champion Large Australian Brewery and Champion Small Australian Brewery will join forces this year to produce a limited edition collaborative beer.

2012 collaborators, Brendan Varis and Andrew Ong

Feral Brewing’s (WA) Brendan Varis and Richard Watkins of Wig and Pen Brewery and Tavern (ACT) will come together in Canberra to brew the AIBA 2013 Collaborator.

The collaboration will debut at this year’s AIBA Presentation Dinner on Thursday, 23 May before going on tap as one of the speciality beers at the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS).

AIBA Chief Judge Brad Rogers said production of an AIBA collaborative beer will be an annual event after the success of last year’s Australian brown ale, which was also produced by Brendan Varis along with Andrew Ong of 2 Brothers Brewery to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Awards.

“The AIBA is thrilled to have two fantastic Aussie brewers in Brendan and Richard on board to brew the AIBA 2013 Collaborator. They were both worthy winners last year and together they will develop an exciting beer for the AIBA Presentation Dinner,” Brad Rogers said.

Now in its 21st year, the AIBA is the pre-eminent showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific region and is presented by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) in conjunction with the University of Ballarat. Judging will be held from Monday, 8 to Friday, 12 April 2013 at Melbourne Showgrounds.