WA's Wedgetail Brewery takes top prize at Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards
Wedgetail Brewery's European-style Dark Lager was named both Champion Australian Beer and Champion Australian Independent Beer, standing out among more than 2,300 entries with its medium body and smooth dark chocolate malt finish.
Founded by long-time mates and helicopter pilots Howie Croft and Pete 'Macca' McDonald, Wedgetail Brewing began as a passion project that quickly made a name for itself
'We came down and were excited to benchmark our beer and to win is amazing,' McDonald said.
Melbourne Royal's Kirrily Waldhorn said the Awards are a celebration of brewing excellence and a testament to the passion that defines the industry.
'Winning at this level shows that world-class beer isn't limited to scale - it's driven by commitment to craft and consistency,' she said.
'To be recognised among the best in the world speaks volumes about the quality and ambition of our brewers.'
The AIBAs attract entries from breweries around the globe and are recognised for their strict judging process and focus on brewing excellence.
Here are the top winners from the 2025 AIBAs:
Champion Australian Beer:
Wedgetail Brewery – Dark Lager (Western Australia)
Traditional European-style lager with a rich, smooth profile. Also named Champion Australian Independent Beer.
Champion International Beer:
Trumer Brewery – Trumer Pils (Berkeley, California, USA)
A classic pilsner praised for its crisp balance and refined finish, made with noble hops and cold fermentation.
Best Australian Lager:
Kaiju! Beer – Cerveza Crisp Lager (Victoria)
A Mexican-style lager with German yeast influence, designed for sessionability in warm weather.
Best Fruit Beer:
Dollar Bill Brewery – Brambalama Ding Dong (Ballarat, Victoria)
A boysenberry-forward ale aged with French oak and balanced funk. This is the third win for this beer.
Best Porter or Stout:
Reckless Brewing Co – Stout (Bathurst, New South Wales)
A rich, roasty stout with smooth texture and a lingering chocolate bitterness.
Best Traditional India Pale Ale:
Philter Brewing – Haze (Marrickville, New South Wales)
A hop-forward IPA with citrus, pine, and a clean bitter finish.
Best Specialty Beer:
RojiCat Beer – Chili Cat (Gold Coast)
A bold chili-infused brew with balanced malt sweetness and a dry finish.
Best Belgian/French Ale:
Slipstream Brewing – Gold Wild Ale (Brisbane, Queensland)
A wild-fermented ale with layers of fruit, oak, and funk, inspired by Belgian brewing.
Made from wild-fermented Tasmanian apples with natural effervescence and a dry finish.
A bold, fruit-driven sour that highlights the flavour potential of non-alcoholic brewing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
35 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Explainer: What is ‘productivity' and how is it measured?
Subscribe to the SBS Nepali podcast here . Disclaimer: We would like to inform you that the opinions expressed in the segment are those of the talent himself. This information may not be appropriate for you - contact your tax agent or financial advisor for accurate advice on your situation.
ABC News
35 minutes ago
- ABC News
Soluna apples, known as Bravo in WA, hit US shelves amid plans to export to China
In an Australian first, the Bravo apple has been exported to the United States. After years of testing, the Soluna apple — as it is known internationally — is now grown by approximately 90 producers across WA, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. Since Bravo hit the domestic market in 2016, Soluna apples have gone on to stock supermarket shelves across Asia and the Middle East. WA Farm Direct general manager Elliot Jones said the first shipment to the US was small. "This is a market test — two containers worth — to get an understanding of where we would sit in the segment," Mr Jones said. "It's a premium apple, so we wanted to test it to set the platform for next year." Mr Jones believed the uniqueness of the apple would make the fruit competitive in the US apple market. He said it was being stocked in supermarkets on the US east coast. "They're retailing roughly for $10 Australian a kilo, so that is a premium to the Australian market," he said. "We are positioning it at a price point which will deliver returns to growers that are superior to what they can achieve in the domestic market. "There is additional costs in supplying these markets, both with freight — and there is a tariff into the US, there is an increased cost therefore there is going to be a higher cost to consumers." Mr Jones said WA Farm Direct was also preparing to export Soluna apples to China next year after securing market access, but added it would need to encourage more investment to meet demand. "We will have to make a decision on how much fruit we will have available early next year. "We are in a situation right now where we need more fruit, so we are encouraging further investment in the program to meet future demand." However, not all growers are convinced the move into new markets is a good idea. Vic Grozotis grows Bravos at his commercial orchard in the south west town of Manjimup, 300 kilometres south of Perth. He said he was not convinced on the future of the recent export shipment to America. "We don't even know what returns we are going to get for it, it is small volumes — it's just another feel good story coming out from the promoters of Bravo," Mr Grozotis said. "Last year, Bravo was my lowest returning variety — they are asking us to grow more of this when realistically we don't have any baseline price and don't know what the return is going to be. "You must remember, there are so many varieties coming on to the global market. But there are other south west WA growers who are optimistic on the growth of these new markets. Ann Lyster is a Manjimup apple farmer and is also chair of West Australian apple cooperative, Fruit West. "There is a very good business case that can be made for being able to supply not only the domestic market, but the international market as well," Ms Lyster said. "The coordinated marketing of Bravo — Soluna — doesn't suit all growers, but I think there is a great percentage that are very happy with the marketing that is being worked on."
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
West Melbourne biscuit factory apartment for sale
A Melbourne warehouse where Teddy Bear and Butternut Snap biscuits once rolled off the production line has been reborn as a heritage apartment. The one-bedroom loft at 19/11 Anderson St, West Melbourne — the former T.B. Guest & Co. biscuit factory — is now one of the city's most stylish conversions, with a price guide of $875,000-$950,000. The red-brick landmark on Anderson St was once a bustling workplace employing hundreds of staff and delivering truckloads of biscuits across Victoria. More than a century later, its robust walls and Oregon beams now enclose loft-style homes that have become some of the most sought-after in the suburb. Apartment 19 is one of the building's rare one-bedroom offerings, though at 95sq m it dwarfs most modern equivalents. With soaring black-painted ceilings, exposed brickwork, polished hardwood floors and a separate study large enough to double as a guestroom, the scale is a point of difference. The apartment also comes with oversized secure parking, an uncommon inclusion in heritage conversions. Ray White CRE director Toby Campbell said the property's history was its greatest selling point. 'People chasing this style won't even consider a modern build, they want the authenticity, the charm, the narrative baked into the bricks,' Mr Campbell said. 'You're not just buying an apartment, you're becoming a custodian of a legacy. 'This is forever architecture.' Mr Campbell said buyers drawn to warehouse conversions were looking for more than just a home. 'This is a one-bedroom you can actually entertain in, not your standard shoebox,' he said. 'It'll attract style-conscious buyers who value space and atmosphere. Even two-bedroom buyers are showing interest.' The building's fading 'Biscuits & Cakes' signage still stands over Anderson St, a reminder of its industrial past, while the 2002 conversion that transformed the site into residences deliberately kept the raw materials and character intact. Inside, the combination of century-old craftsmanship and modern finishes delivers what agents often call Melbourne's answer to the New York loft. West Melbourne's transformation from working-class heartland to inner-city hotspot has fuelled demand for conversions like this, with the Ray White CRE director feeling confident the upcoming Arden Metro Tunnel station will to accelerate growth in the area. 'Collingwood and Fitzroy used to dominate, now West Melbourne is firmly on the radar,' Mr Campbell said. The apartment goes to auction on September 20.
