In the closest finish ever recorded, and IPA from the nation’s capital’s Bentspoke brewery has taken top honours in the annual GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll. It was the second year Bentspoke’s Crankshaft American IPA came in number one.
Second and third place went to the Gold Coast’s Balter XPA and Your Mates from the Sunshine Coast with their Australian Pale Ale, Larry!, respectively.
Canberran Capital Brewing took two spots in the top 10 with its XPA taking out the best debut beer.
The Top 10
- Crankshaft IPA – BentSpoke Brewing Co
- Balter XPA – Balter
- Larry – Your Mates Brewing Co
- Pacific Ale – Stone & Wood Brewing Co
- G.O.A.T. – Black Hops Brewery
- Better Beer Zero Carb – Better Beer
- Capital XPA – Capital Brewing Co
- Hawaiian Haze – Ballistic Beer Co
- Coast Ale – Capital Brewing Co
- Newtowner – Young Henrys
The Greatest Australasian Beer Spectacular (GABS) Festival reveals the trends, brands and breweries shaping the local craft beer landscape. Each voter can vote for just five of their favourite craft beers for the year.
The festival started in 2008 with just 150 people voting. This year, 2238 beers were nominated from 281 breweries, with 58 of those making the final cut.
GABS managing director Mike Bray said 37 brews debuted on the list, with some coming from trending breweries like Range from Brisbane and One Drop Brewing Co from Marrickville.
“While Western Australia might be locking the rest of us out, there is no stopping great beers from Otherside Brewing Co and Beerfarm from making the Hottest 100,” Bray said.
While Canberra might have dominated in the Top 10, Queensland based breweries took almost a third of the list, with 30 breweries recognised. Black Hops claimed six spots. Victoria took 22, New South Wales 20, ACT 12, South Australia and Western Australia claiming eight each.
Bray said pale, hazy and hop driven ales dominated the list but the move by craft breweries to attract mainstream beer drinkers is clearly working, judging by the number of high quality, easy drinking, gateway Lagers and low-no options proving popular.
“Fun beers also hold their own with Little Bang’s Face Invertor Sour, Ballistic’s Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout and Bad Shepard’s big Peanut Butter Porter,” he said.
The low-no alcohol category was also gaining traction and significant consumer attention.
“Heaps Normal’s Quiet XPA debuted at 20 and Sobah Beverages, zero alcohol, Pepperberry IPA came in at 69. Low carb beer is also catching on with Gold Coast’s Burleigh Brewing Co, Bighead No-carb Lager placing 57 and the Inspired Unemployed boys Better Beer Zero Carb at six,” Bray said.
The full list is here.
