Nine local breweries won seven gold, three silver and 22 bronze medals at the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) last week, further stamping the region as a craft brewing destination.

Blackman’s Brewing was the biggest local winner on the night, tallying four gold from 15 medals – with their biggest winners including the Ernie Tropical Hazy (can), Arthur Smoked Porter (keg), Barrel Farm Autumn Ale (can) and Red Rye IPA (keg).

“We couldn’t be happier with our results this year at the awards after a tough couple of years,” owner Renn Blackman said. “It means a lot to our team after so much hard work and effort.”

“We managed to get four gold medals, four silver medals and seven bronze medals, affirming to the brew team that we are making some really good quality beers on a world scale down here on the Surf Coast.”

Other winning breweries from the region included Salt Brewing Co (1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze), Bells Beach Brewing (1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze), Valhalla Brewing (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze), Prickly Moses (2 silver, 1 bronze), 38th Parallel Brewing (1 silver), Brewicolo Brewing Co (2 bronze), Great Ocean Road Brewing (1 bronze) and The Barwon Heads Brewing Company (1 bronze).

OUR BEST BEERS OF 2022

GOLD

Blackman’s Brewing – Ernie Tropical Hazy (Can), Arthur Smoked Porter (Keg), Barrel Farm Autumn Ale (Can) and Red Rye IPA (Keg).

Salt Brewing Co – Session (Keg)

Bells Beach Brewing – Rincon Raspberry Sour (Can)

Valhalla Brewing – Obsidian Black Ale (Can)

SILVER

Blackman’s Brewing – Ernie Hazy (Keg), Mervyn (Keg), Party Town Double IPA (Can) and Funky Town Cryo IPA (Can)

Salt Brewing Co – Moby (Keg) and Ink (Keg)

Bells Beach Brewing – Jan Juc Pilsner (Can)

Valhalla Brewing – Union Street Draught (Can)

Prickly Moses – Prickly Moses XPA (Can) and Prickly Moses Red Ale (Bottle)

38th Parallel Brewing – Total Eclipse (Can)

BRONZE

Blackman’s Brewing – Beer Garden Lager (Keg), Juicy Banger IPL (Can), Juicy Banger IPL (Keg), Mervyn (Can), Reginald IPA (Can), Arthur Smoked Porter (Can) and Local Pacific Ale (Keg)

Salt Brewing Co – Salt (Keg), Session (Bottle) and Ink Bottle Fake Blonde (Keg)

Bells Beach Brewing – Hells Bells XPA (Can), Tidal Shift #2 – Galactic Waves (Can), Groundswell #1 – 50yr Port Storm (Can) and Wedge Wet Hop IPA (Can)

Valhalla Brewing – Pale Ale (Can) and Gallowtree Oatmeal Stout (Can)

Prickly Moses – Prickly Moses Black Knight (Bottle)

Brewicolo Brewing Co – Ocean Grove Lager (Keg) and Barwon Heads Bitter (Keg)

Great Ocean Road Brewing – Great Ocean Road Brewing Pale Ale (Can)

The Barwon Heads Brewing Company – Barwon Heads Brewing Company Mid (Can)