Mismatch Brewing Co’s Lager is the 2018 Indies champion beer. The award was announced tonight (Thursday 28 June) at the inaugural Indies, the Independent Brewers Association’s presentation, at Sydney’s Paddington Town Hall.

Based in the Adelaide Hills, Mismatch’s Lager is inspired by the great helles-style beers of Germany, and Munich in particular. A smooth drinkable beer, it celebrates the famed hallertau hops.

The Independent Brewery — Large award went to Modus Operandi Brewing, which is based in Sydney’s northern beaches. Independent Brewery — Medium was awarded to Boatrocker Brewing Co, and Independent Brewery — Small, to Moffat Beach Brewing.

Boatrocker is based on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay in Braeside in Melbourne, and Moffat Beach is in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Independent beer-making is flourishing in Australia at the moment, and the Indies and this week’s BrewCon 2018 were the biggest events of their kind ever staged in Australia.

An independent brewer produces less than 40 million litres per annum, and is not more than 20 per cent owned by any other brewer that produces more than 40 million litres.

The Indies is the night when the industry, beer in hand, gets together to celebrate and reward excellence. The awards night was the culmination of BrewCon 2018, which ran from Tuesday, June 26 to Thursday, June 28 at the Australian Technology Park in Eveleigh. The conference is the IBA’s keystone event and exists to build excellence and best-practice in the Australian beer industry.

The Champion Trophy award winners were

Pale Ale — Philter Brewing ­— Philter XPA

Amber Dark Ale —Dainton Brewery — Red Eye Rye

Porter Stout — The Grifter Brewing Co — Omen

Hybrid Beer — Modus Operandi Brewing — Vanilla Mocha Stout

Lager — Mismatch Brewing Co — Lager

India Pale Ale — Modus Operandi Brewing — #Gainz

European-Style Ale — BlackFont Brewhouse — Saison de Ville

Session Beer — Moffat Beach Brewing Co — Social Jam Mid Strength Pale

Strong Beer — Boatrocker Brewing Co — Ramjet

Mixed Culture Beer — Boatrocker Brewing Co — Daddy Koel

Mountain Goat co-founder Dave Bonighton was bestowed with the IBA Services to the Industry award.

The Indies certainly brewed up success with a total of 756 entries — 443 of which were draught and 313 packaged. Pale Ale is still predominant on the Australian drinkers’ palette and 179 of the entries were for this style of which 14 were awarded a gold medal, 42 a silver and 70 a bronze.

The only other double-digit gold medal-winning style was Hybrid Beer with 10. Lager (114 entries) and India Pale Ale (103 entries) retain their popularity among brewers and drinkers.

For all the details please visit Indies 2018 Results.