Sunshine Coast craft beer: Your Mates clean up at annual GABs awards

The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular has officially confirmed the Sunshine Coast’s status as one of the craft beer capitals of Australia. Now it’s your turn to vote:

The Sunshine Coast is officially one of the craft beer capitals of Australia after dominating the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular awards.

No less than nine Sunshine Coast beers from six of the region’s breweries were named in the annual top 100 awards voted for by the people.

More than 40,000 people cast their votes with Canberra-based Bentspoke Brewing Co’s Crankshaft IPA taking out the top spot.

Warana’s Your Mates Brewing Co landed on the podium with its signature Larry beer finishing in third position. 

Your Mates co-owners Matt Hepburn and Christian McGarry celebrate the success of their signature beer Larry.

Your Mates picked up three other placings with its Sally, Eddie and Macca flavours all featuring on the top 100.

Fellow Coast breweries Heads of Noosa, Blackflag Brewing, Brouhaha, 10 Toes and Eumundi Brewery all made it into the coveted top 100.

Your Mates co-owners Matt Hepburn and Christen McGarry said they were over the moon to finish so high.

Mr Hepburn said the company had turned into a national brand with Larry cans sold in every Dan Murphy’s store in Australia.

“When we looked at it years ago, to knock Stone and Wood off the podium, it’s just unreal,” Mr Hepburn said.

“It’s just so exciting to rub shoulders with these massive companies.”

Heads of Noosa co-owner Craig Masterton said he was blown away with the 21st place finish, which was up by 16 on last year’s results.

Heads of Noosa co-founder Craig Masterton and Jess Smith get stuck into some craft beer at Noosa Main Beach. Picture Lachie Millard

Mr Masterton, who launched the company with his brother Lance three years ago, said the result “painted a nice trajectory”.

“It’s pretty cool to be near the top 20 and rub shoulders with these guys,” Mr Masterton said.

“We’ve come a long way in a short time.”

Mr Masterton dubbed the Sunshine Coast as the craft beer capital.

“When you look at our population density and how many breweries we have, we’ve got to be,” he said.

“When we started there was maybe 10, now there’s 25 or more. It’s a burgeoning scene.”

Blackflag Brewing, which is co-owned by Steve and Geoff Barber, Ben Baker, John Coumessos, Ross Holloway and Simon Grasby, finished with the third-highest result for the region.

Blackflag Brewing brewer Simon Grasby - pictured with John Coumessos, Ross Holloway, Ben Baker and Steve Barber - is keen for the brewing company to have its own home at Coolum Beach.

Steve Barber said they were ecstatic with the 34th place finish and said it was a great reflection of the industry on the Coast.

“It was a surprise for sure, being a pretty new operation and still finding our feet, but it shows what a great supporter base we have,” Mr Barber said.

“The juicy pale ale is a six per cent, a heavy hitter. It’s our premier beer, full of American hops.”

Mr Barber and Mr Masterton praised the effort and influence of Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours founder Josh Donohoe who had helped the industry kick on.

Now it’s your turn to vote on the region’s best craft beer from the shortlist.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast craft beer: Your Mates clean up at annual GABs awards