The local beer label behind Northbridge Brewing Company and Whitfords Brewing Company has won the top prize at Australia’s most renowned beer competition, hosted in Melbourne last night.
The Australian International Beer Awards is one of the largest annual beer competitions in the world, attracting entries from across 36 countries for draught and packaged beer.
Of the 2,178 beer entries made across 359 entrants for 2018, Beerland was awarded champion Australian beer for its draught wheat beer.
Nail Brewing was another local brewery on the list of winners, having been awarded gold in the reduced alcohol class for its 3.4 per cent MVP.
That win follows Nail recently being awarded a silver medal for its VPA at the World Beer Cup hosted in Nashville, one of the world’s most prestigious beer competitions.
In addition to winning the major prize at the Australian International Beer Awards, Beerland collected gold medals for its lager, india pale ale, and alte schule Kellerbier (European style ale).
Beerland head brewer Ken Arrowsmith, formerly the head brewer at Swan Brewery, said the awards were rewards for the work that went into establishing the two breweries, which produce a modest 150,000 litres of beer per year.
“This is very much a team effort and it is testament to the efforts of Andrew Dean and Tom Fleay have put in to ensure the quality of our beer,” Mr Arrowsmith said.
“For Beerland Brewing to be recognised as one of the best in our industry with such a prestigious award is both extremely humbling and delightfully surprising.
“Australia’s craft beer culture has become extremely sophisticated since we opened our doors in Northbridge four years ago.
“We are excited that our range lives up to these expectations and we’re now able to get creative with our small batch seasonal brews and uncover some amazing gems in the process.”
Margaret River and Victoria-based Colonial Brewing Company won the best label design, while other local breweries to collect gold for style categories included Boston Brewing Company, Eagle Bay Brewing Company, Beerfarm, and Feral Brewing Company.
