Gabs Hottest 100 2018: Balter Brewery XPA takes top spot

A Gold Coast brewery is home to the best craft beer in the country after taking top spot in a prestigious national competition.

A GOLD Coast brewery is home to the best craft beer in the country after taking top spot in a prestigious national competition.

Craft beer connoisseurs from across the country voted in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers for 2018 and picked Gold Coast brewery Balter’s ‘XPA’ as the number one spot.

It’s the second time Balter’s ‘XPA’ won the nationwide competition.

The Currumbin based brewery was formed in 2016 and part owned by Gold Coast surfing stars Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbidge.

Surfer Joel Parkinson is a part owner of Balter Brewing Co with fellow surfing stars Mick fanning, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr. Pic: Tricia Watkinson.

Another two Balter beers made it into the top ten list this year and Queensland breweries dominated the top 100 list.

“This year’s list is again very revealing about what people are drinking and enjoying, whether that’s a more mainstream Pale Ale or a Strawberry Rhubarb Sour from their favourite Sunshine Coast local,” GABS co-founder Steve Jeffares said.

“With breweries opening in all corners of the country, pushing the boundaries of style, technique and creativity, there’s really never been a better time to be a craft beer drinker,” he said.

Black Hops Brewing at Burleigh Heads reached number 14 in the Hottest 100 with their Pale Ale. Picture Mike Batterham

The runner up was iconic Byron Bay brew ‘Pacific Ale’ by the Stone & Wood brewery which is celebrating it’s tenth anniversary while third place went to ‘Crankshaft’ beer by Canberra brewery BentSpoke.

Fellow Gold Coast breweries Black Hops narrowly missed out on a top 10 finish with their signature Pale Ale coming in at 14 while Burleigh Brewing Co’s Twisted Palm Ale came in at 48.

Burleigh Brewing Co brewer Sean Culverston with one of his creations.

Where voters were from appeared to have an impact on the results with craft beer drinkers supporting breweries from their immediate region.

More than 155,000 beer lovers cast their votes to pick the nation’s top brew.

Mick Fanning celebrates with a beer at his Balter brewery at Currumbin. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

THE TOP TEN

1. ‘XPA’ American Pale Ale (Balter, QLD)

2. ‘Pacific Ale’ Australian Pale Ale (Stone & Wood, NSW)

3. ‘Crankshaft’ American IPA (BentSpoke, ACT)

4. ‘Newtowner’ Australian Pale Ale (Young Henrys, NSW)

5. ‘Beechworth Pale Ale’ Australian Pale Ale (Bridge Road, VIC)

6. ‘IIPA’ Imperial IPA (Balter, QLD)

7.’IPA’ American IPA (Balter, QLD)

8. ‘Krush! Tropical Pale Ale’ Pale Ale (Kaiju! VIC)

9. ‘Jedi Juice’ New England IPA (Hop Nation, VIC)

10. ‘Single Fin’ Australian Pale Ale (Gage Roads, WA)