The runt of a magnificent litter of seven gold-medal-winning beers could be the next Feral brew to be penned into package.

Management has been tight-lipped over the next can release from the WA brewery, but it is believed a midstrength could be added to the portfolio.

It just so happens that Feral’s 3.5% Pale Ale, The Runt, was part of a treasure trove of prizes the team collected at the Perth Royal Beer Awards last Friday.

Feral was crowned Champion Large Brewery after receiving trophies for The Runt (Champion Mid-Strength), Watermelon Warhead (Champion Wheat Beer) and Smoked Porter (Champion Dark Ale).

In all, the Swan Valley-inspired operation took home seven gold and eight silver medals.

Appropriately, Feral brains trust was quick to praise the work of New Product Development Brewer Will Irving, who was behind the successful beers.

While Irving wasn’t giving away any trade secrets, he confirmed a reduced alcohol beer “was being considered” for a can release but a decision on what it would be, or if a 3.5% drink would be the next SKU in line, hadn’t been made by Feral.

“We have been talking about our options and maybe adding a mid-strength in pack and I’ll have a high input into what we will push into the cans,” Irving said.

“We have The Runt. I have always backed The Runt because it has been so solid for us over five years.

“But we might be able to source out a little NEIPA. Maybe a step down (in ABV) from Biggie Juice. We’ll no doubt toss around a few ideas very soon.”

Biggie Juice and its stronger brother Imperial Biggie – both from the NEIPA class – have been runaway successes for Feral.

Innate Brewers and 3 Ravens

Innate Brewers emerged from their old Crab Shack warehouse in Spearwood to receive the Champion Small Brewery trophy at the WA awards.

The triumph capped a busy couple of months for the Innate operation which has gained further traction in the local market with its foray into 440ml cans.

Melbourne’s 3 Ravens travelled across the Nullarbor to win Champion Beer for its New World IPA. And it also packed the Best Stout/Porter Packaged honour into its travelling case.

Other significant achievements included Artisan Brewing’s Champion Trophy triumph in the Best Wheat Beer/Belgian Draught for its Quad 17. Artisan, renowned for its Belgian brews, produces less than 40,000 litres of beer of year. It was also the second year Quad 17 had taken the title.

At the other end of the brewing scale, WA’s biggest beer producer, Gage Roads, collected champion trophies for Best Lager Draught (Alby Draught) and Best Pale Ale Draught (VHA).

There were more the 700 commercial and amateur entries for the 2019 Perth Royal Beer Awards, of which Two Birds part-owner and proud Sandgroper Jayne Lewis was chief judge.

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