A tiny brewery in Norway has won the biggest prize at the Australian International Beer Awards.
The boutique brewery Nogne - Det Kompromissolse Bryggeri, located in the town of Grimstad, was awarded the
Champion Exhibitor trophy, as well as the Champion Small Brewery award at a dinner in Melbourne on Thursday.
Premier's trophy ... David and Andrew Ong from 2 Brothers Brewery in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin.Credit: Eddie Jim
Overseas entries claimed 11 of the 15 trophies at the event, including five for US beers and two for New Zealand entries.
Australian breweries secured four awards. Last year’s Champion Exhibitor winner, Feral Brewing, was awarded the Champion Ale. The Premier’s Trophy for the Best Victorian Beer went to 2 Brothers Brewery for their Voodoo Beer. NSW breweries Hunter Beer Company and Redoak topped the Champion Porter and Champion Low Alcohol Beer categories, respectively.
Judging panel chairman Peter Manders said the 30 judges were extremely impressed with the 1170 beers they tasted over the two weeks of the competition.
Entries included a smoked chilli beer, a wooded cherry ale and a 32 per cent alcohol Scottish brew, called the Tactical Nuclear Penguin.
‘‘Now recognised on a global stage as the pre-eminent showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific region, the international dominance has not come as a surprise, [as we are] receiving more and more high calibre international entries each year,’’ Mr Manders said.
But not every category produced a beer worthy of an award.
The gluten free beer trophy was introduced this year, but the judges felt none of the 12 beers made from products such as rice, millet and sorghum stood up to the panel’s standards.
The awards are conducted annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and the University of Ballarat.
AAP and smh.com.au