Queensland beers win five gongs at Australian International Beer Awards

Sunshine State brewers are frothing after bagging five major prizes at the Australian International Beer Awards in Melbourne overnight.

HERE’S cheers to Queensland beers!

Sunshine State brewers are frothing after bagging five gongs at the Australian International Beer Awards in Melbourne on Thursday night.

The trophy haul was led by the Gold Coast’s Balter Brewing, part-owned by surf stars Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr.

Balter scooped two of the 28 awards which attracted almost 2600 entries from more than 400 brewers from 26 countries.

Balter Brewing Company's Heidi Argent, Dave Macklin and Kristy McKinnon. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The Currumbin brewery was named champion large Australian brewery only three years after releasing its first beer, and also won the award for best international-style pale ale.

Green Beacon Brewing Co. in Teneriffe was judged champion medium Australian brewery for the second year in a row.

Newstead’s Green Beacon Brewing Co. in Teneriffe was judged best medium Australian brewery for the second time.

Another Gold Coast brewery, Black Hops, won the trophy for best low-alcohol beer for its Mid Range Pale Ale while The Prospector Pilsener made by Hemingway’s Brewery in Cairns took the honours for best pilsener.

The awards attracted 292 Queensland entries, 100 more than last year.

Black Hops Brewery owners Dan Norris and Michael McGovern. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Balter’s award came on the back of it winning the champion session beer category at the recent Queensland Beer Awards for its Captain Sensible mid-strength.

“Queensland breweries always seem to do well at the big beer awards,” Balter’s head brewer Scott Hargrave said.

“It’s great to get the recognition but we’re always trying to put our best foot forward.

“We want the beer going out the door to represent what we do every single day of the week.”

The champion Australian beer award went to NSW brewer 4Pines Brewing Company for its Keller Door Schwarzbier while America’s Firestone Walker Brewing Co. won best international beer with its Feral One brew.