The Plus Ones are reporting back from a night at the biggest beer awards… in the world. Forget ‘per capita’ or ‘in the southern hemisphere’. Melbourne Royal hosts the largest annual draft and packaged beer competition on the planet. This year over 2,200 entries poured into Melbourne from 22 countries for the prestigious awards.
Of course, a competition of this scale demands a serious (and sometimes not so serious) celebration to recognise the trophy winners.
Held at the Victoria Pavilion in the Melbourne Showgrounds, the Australian International Beer Awards are produced by people with hospitality know-how. Upon arrival, smiling staff greeted attendees at the door with trays of wine and bite-sized appetisers. A few steps further and I found myself spoilt for choice. In front of me, an expansive bar. To my right, Kegstar’s repurposed airstream trailer. Both were pouring top-tier beers ranging from bright sours, boozy stouts, and beautifully bitter IPAs. Inside the dining hall a piano man serenaded attendees as we took our seats at tables set for a three course meal and topped with buckets of beer on ice.
The event was brimming with beer professionals from Australia and overseas. (The AIBAs also serve as a joyful reunion for industry folks bonded over a shared passion for good beer and good times.)
Over four days, 84 judges tasted a total of 2,000+ beer and cider samples to determine the 2026 AIBA champions. The entries are judged blind against a set of strict criteria including flavour, colour and aroma. Heavy hitting industry stalwarts, big multi-national corporations, and little family-owned breweries all have a shot at scoring a medal and a coveted championship trophy.
Melbourne’s Mountain Goat Brewery (owned by Asahi) won one of the most prestigious awards of the night: Champion Australian Beer. The winning beer, Bract to the Future IPA, also won Best Modern IPA from a field of over 200 entries. Brewer Kenny Doyle described the beer he made with NZ hops as “the beer I want to drink… it’s crisp and clean.” It was a festive night for the team, with Doyle wearing handmade fur-lined hooves on his feet, in true ‘Mountain Goat’ style.
In another win for Melbourne, Stomping Ground Brewing Co won Champion Australian Independent beer for their Hanging Rauch. Named after Hanging Rock, this smoky beer derives its flavour from beechwood smoked malt. It also happens to also be my personal favourite in the Stomping Ground range.
Hawkers received the Champion Victorian Brewery trophy from the Minister for Agriculture. (The competition for this award included internationally owned breweries based in Victoria, as well as small local businesses.) Hawkers was propelled to victory with awards for their ‘Four Seasons Autumn 2026’ and ‘X’ barrel aged beer. It was heartening to see Hawkers back on stage at the AIBAs, after going into Voluntary Administration a few years ago. (Yet another reminder to support your indie brewers!)
Across the ditch, our kiwi neighbours continued to shine. Altitude Brewing won Champion Small International Brewery for the second year in a row; and Wellington’s Garage Project picked up another award for Champion Large International Brewery.
Further afield, China scooped up medals for Best Cider and Best European style ale, and Zebra Craft’s Weissbier won Champion International Beer.
Other notable awards included Pirate Life’s (Asahi owned) Champion Large Australian Brewery trophy. Hawksbury Brewing Co in NSW won Champion Medium Australian brewery and COEDO brewery in Japan won Champion Medium International Brewery.
Described as ‘a true independent success story,’ King Road Brewing in WA won Champion Small Australian Brewery, Champion Independent Brewery, and Best Traditional IPA for their NZ Cold IPA. The Nomad Brewing award went to another indie Victorian brewery, Shack Bay Brewing.
The Melbourne Royal Seal of Excellence is a prestigious distinction and a sign of a brewery’s commitment to quality. (Even the beers that don’t score medals receive feedback from the judges, so brewers can continue to improve and refine their processes.)
The list of major trophy winners is available below. For a full list of the winners, visit the Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards.
Cheers to good times and good beer!
Champion Trophies
- Champion Australian Beer: Bract To The Future, Mountain Goat (Asahi owned) Victoria
- Champion International Beer: Weissbier, Zebra Craft Beer, China
- Champion Large Australian Brewery: Pirate Life Brewing (Asahi owned) South Australia
- Champion Large International Brewery Garage Project: Wellington, New Zealand
- Champion Medium Australian Brewery: Hawkesbury Brewing Co, New South Wales
- Champion Medium International Brewery: COEDO Brewery, Japan
- Champion Small Australian Brewery: King Road Brewing Co, Western Australia
- Champion Small International Brewery: Altitude Brewing, New Zealand
- Champion Victorian Brewery: Hawkers Brewery, Victoria
- Champion Cider or Perry Producer: Plenty Cider, Tasmania, Australia
- Gary Sheppard Memorial Trophy for the Best New Exhibitor: Froth Craft Brewery, Western Australia
- Australian Nomad Brewer: Award Shack Bay Brewing, Victoria
- Champion Australian Independent Beer: Hanging Rauch Stomping Ground Brewing Co, Victoria
- Champion Australian Independent Brewery: King Road Brewing Co, Western Australia
Major Trophies
- Best Australian Style Lager: St George Lager, James Boags, Tasmania
- Best European Style Lager: Hanging Rauch, Stomping Ground Brewing Co, Victoria
- Best International Lager: India Pale Lager, The Beer Farm, Western Australia
- Best Pilsner: Powder Day, Altitude Brewing, New Zealand
- Best Amber / Dark Lager: Mabon Doppelbock, King River Brewing Co, Victoria
- Best Australian Style Pale Ale Session Ale: Mismatch Brewing Company, South Australia
- Best Modern Pale Ale: Foggy Goggles, Altitude Brewing, New Zealand
- Best International Style Pale Ale: Pale Ale, Ward’s Brewery, Queensland
- Best British or European Style Ale: Refined State Cucumber Sea Salt Gose, Slowboat Brewing, China
- Best Traditional India Pale Ale: NZ Cold IPA, King Road Brewing Co, Western Australia
- Best Modern India Pale Ale: Bract To The Future, Mountain Goat, Victoria
- Best Amber / Dark Ale: Grizz, 2 Brothers Brewery, Victoria
- Best Porter or Stout: Coasty – Stout, Hawkesbury Brewing Co, New South Wales
- Best Reduced / Low Alcohol Beer: Midstrength Red Ale, Draught Love Shack Brewing Co, Victoria
- Best Non-Alcohol Beer: All Day Hazy Non-Alcoholic IPA, Bach Brewing, New Zealand
- Best Wheat Beer: Weissbier, Zebra Craft Beer, China
- Best Belgian / French Ale Grand Cru: Brouwerij Rodenbach, Belgium
- Best Fruit Beer: Cherry Pick’n, Half Pace Brewing Company, New South Wales
- Best Wood and Barrel Aged Beer: X, Packaged Hawkers Brewery, Victoria
- Best Specialty Beer: Four Seasons Autumn 2026, Hawkers Brewery
- Best Specialty Flavoured Beer: Daydream, Spring Valley Brewery, Japan
- Best Cider or Perry: Berry DaHongPao Tea Cider, Jun Yin (Beijing) Brand Management, China
- Best Design: Soul Cat Hazy IPA Heyday Beer Co, New Zealand
- Best Media: Making A Mark: Scotty Hargrave Leaves Balter Will Ziebell, Victoria
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Products that have been awarded an AIBA gold medal for three consecutive years will receive a Consistency of Excellence Medal.
- Asylum, Packaged Brick Lane Brewing Co, Victoria
- Delirium Tremens, Packaged Brouwerij L. Huyghe, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
- IPA, Draught TWØBAYS Brewing Co, Victoria
- La Trappe Quadrupel, Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven, Netherlands
- Last Train Home, Brick Lane Brewing Co, Victoria
- Mosaic, Draught Pirate Life Brewing, South Australia
- Red IPA, Reckless Brewing Company, New South Wales
-Jenny Schmidt
Jenny loves the magic of fermentation and supports craft beer alchemy.
The Australian International Beer Awards are conducted annually by Melbourne Royal. The AIBAs inspire and celebrate excellence in brewing, beer packaging design and beer media. View the full results and 2026 trophy winners at Melbourne Royal.
