A new range of craft beers created to satisfy surging customer demand at Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores has taken out a five medals at the 2021 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA).

Gogo Fish Evolutionary IPA won a Gold medal in the American Style Pale Ale category; Initial Brewing IPA won Silver in the Session IPA category; and Colossal Brewing Mind Harvest took out Bronze in the American Style Pale Ale category.

Additionally, two beers took out Bronze medals in the Design Awards – Labels/Surface Graphic Best Design category: Colossal Brewing Mind Harvest and Colossal Brewing Hopmosphere.

“This unique range has been brewed by some of Australia’s top breweries exclusively for Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores and showcases the incredible talent and skill that goes into making a craft beer,” said Harriet Wischer, category manager, range – Commercial and Pinnacle Beer and Cider.

“Special blends of hops, malts, delicious citrus and tropical fruits abound to make for an out-of-this-world taste spectrum that boldly goes where no beers have gone before.”

Wischer said sales of craft beers at BWS and Dan Murphy’s have grown by more than 20% in the last year as brewers continue to push the frontiers of flavour.

“We are seeing the exciting use of new hop varieties and brewing techniques that deliver an increasing broad spectrum of complexity and flavour to appeal to craft beer enthusiasts who are constantly on the lookout for their next flavour adventure.”

The range features:

Colossal Brewing Hopmosphere, West Coast IPA, 375ml Can. RRP: $64 per 16-pack; $24 per 4-pack; $6 per can.

Tasting notes: Be prepared to enter a new hopmosphere with this classic West Coast IPA. Vibrant, bold hoppy aromas mingle smoothly with irresistible big tropical fruit flavours of mango with a hint of ripe apricot and a dash of citrus backed up by distinctive malt character. The delicious, bright fruit explodes on the palate, sending your tastebuds on an intergalactic
journey. The finish is clean and crisp like a sea breeze on Mars.

Colossal Brewing Mind Harvest, East Coast IPA, 375ml Can. RRP: $59 per 16-case; $22 per 4-pack; $5 per can.

Tasting notes: Hop on board the East Coast express with this this super-popular style ale. Packed with piney hop flavour, its bold, hazy deliciousness is juicy with lip-smacking bitterness. It features a mind-blowing explosion of mango and citrus-intense fruitiness with a good malt base finishing with a fresh dry hop taste.

Zytho Velvet Luxe Stout, 375ml Can. RRP: $75 per 24-case; $20 per 6-pack; $5 per can.

Tasting notes: Relax, sit back and get ready to indulge your senses with this contemporary take on a classic stout. Aromas of coffee, chocolate, cream, raisin and dark chocolate lead you on to a full and rich palate as you dive deep into its seductive silken creaminess and enveloping flavour. Plush, lush and smoother than melted chocolate in a lycra jumpsuit, this latest addition to the popular Zytho range (a.k.a. ‘Zythophile’ – a lover of beer) is set to satisfy.

Initial Brewing IPA, 375ml Can. RRP: $62 per 24-case; $22 per 6-pack; $4.25 per can.

Tasting notes: This bold and juicy Indian Pale Ale is perfectly balanced to deliver a deliciously approachable IPA bursting with full hop flavour. Piney earth and citrus notes with a slight bitterness and dry finish, deliver an outstanding IPA from the skilled team at Initial Brewing, whose specialty is allowing the taste to speak for itself.

Gogo Fish Evolutionary, IPA (WA only), 375ml Can. RRP: $60 per 16-case; $20 per 4-pack; $5 per can.

Tasting notes: Discover the next evolution in flavour with this refreshing, bold and aggressively hopped IPA. Big orange, pineapple and coconut characters carry from aroma to palate before finishing with a clean, lingering bitterness. The IPA is named after a history-changing 350-million-year-old Gogo fish fossil, found in WA’s far North Western desert.

Algorithm Pale Ale (NSW only), 375ml Can. RRP: $67 per 24-case; $21 per 6-pack; $4.25 per can.

Tasting notes: Water. Malt. Hops. Yeast. Just like an algorithm, complexity has been made simple to deliver this refreshingly clean and crisp top-fermented Aussie Pale Ale. Special hops with tropical and pine aromas of citrus and grapefruit are perfectly complemented by a sweet, slight bitterness and smooth malt richness. Brewed in NSW by award-winning Tribe
Breweries.

Sail & Anchor Golden Ale, 330ml Bottle. RRP: $47 per 24-case; $17 per 6-pack; $4.30 per can.

Tasting notes: Named after the Sail & Anchor pub, the historic launch-pad of the Australian craft brewing scene in Freemantle, this bright and breezy golden ale is a tribute to its namesake. With a light golden colour, it has pleasant fruity aromas, a subtle bitterness and refreshing citrus flavours. Deliciously sessionable, it’s best enjoyed by simply opening a bottle.

AIBAs back bigger and better than ever

The AIBA is the largest annual beer competition in the world assessing both draught and packaged beer and this year, and this year saw over 75 judges taste 2500 entries from 402 exhibitors, from 21 countries. Award winners were handed their trophies last night in front of a sell-out crowd at the Awards Presentation Dinner, held at Melbourne Showgrounds Victoria Pavilion.

RASV CEO Brad Jenkins said: “As the world’s largest annual beer competition judging both draught and packaged beer, the Australian International Beer Awards conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria is the pinnacle benchmarking opportunity for brewers from Australia and abroad.

“After the challenges of 2020, it was fabulous to conduct the Awards again this year and receive 2500 entries from more than 400 exhibitors and then see the beer industry come together to celebrate brewing excellence.”

The AIBAs winners list

Champion Australian Beer presented by Cryer Malt
Gold Teeth 2021, Packaged. Dollar Bill Brewing, Victoria

Champion International Beer
Sauvage, Packaged. Deep Creek Brewing Company, Auckland, New Zealand

Champion Large Australian Brewery presented by Barret Burston
4 Pines Brewing Company, New South Wales

Champion Large International Brewery presented by Barth-Haas Group
Deep Creek Brewing Company, Auckland, New Zealand

Champion Medium Australian Brewery presented by Cryer Malt
Hop Nation Pty Ltd, Victoria

Champion Medium International Brewery Presented by Kegstar
Nbeer Craft Brewing Co., Sichuan, China

Champion Small Australian Brewery Presented by Yakima Chief Hops
Cheeky Monkey Brewery, Western Australia

Champion Small International Brewery
Goose Island Brewhouse Seoul, South Korea

Champion Victorian Brewery
Hop Nation Pty Ltd

Australian Gypsy Brewer Award
Valhalla Brewing, Victoria

Gary Sheppard Memorial Trophy For The Best New Exhibitor
Hoppin’ Frog Brewing Company, Ohio, United States

Best Australian-Style Lager
Lager, Draught. Two Birds Brewing Co., Victoria

Best European-Style Lager (Excluding Pilsner) Presented by Weyermann
Lager, Packaged. Mismatch Brewing Co., South Australia

Best International Lager
Coastie Lager, Draught, Six String Brewing Company, New South Wales

Best Pilsner Presented by Brews News
Rattenhund, Draught. Hop Nation Pty Ltd, Victoria

Best Amber / Dark Lager Presented By Joe White Maltings
Keller Door-Schwarzbier, Draught. 4 Pines Brewing Company, New South Wales

Best Australian Style Pale Ale Presented By Konvoy Kegs
Burleigh Twisted Palm, Draught. Burleigh Brewing Company, Queensland

Best New World-Style Pale Ale Presented By Hop Products Australia
Cryotherapy Hazy IPA, Packaged, Sunday Road Brewing, New South Wales

Best International-Style Pale Ale Presented By The Post Project
King Road IPA, Draught. King Road Brewing Co, Western Australia

Best British or European-Style Ale (Excluding IPA & Pale Ale)
Foghorn Hunter Kolsch, Draught. Foghorn Brewery Pty Ltd, New South Wales

Best Traditional IPA
Sprocket, Draught Bentspoke Brewing Co, Australian Capital Territory

Best Modern IPA
Lefties, Draught. Cheeky Monkey Brewery, Western Australia

Best Amber / Dark Ale
The Buzz, Draught. Hop Nation Pty Ltd, Victoria

Best Porter (including Baltic Style Porter Presented By Weyermann
Valhalla Brewing Obsidian, Packaged. Valhalla Brewing, Victoria

Best Reduced/Low Alcohol Beer
James Boag’s Premium Light, Packaged. J Boag & Son Brewing, Tasmania

Best Non-Alcohol Beer
Tinnies Ultra Low Alcohol, Packaged. Coles Supermarkets Australia Ltd, Victoria

Best Wheat Beer
Lowen White Beer, Packaged. China Resources Snow Breweries Co., China

Best Belgian / French Style Ale
Le Petit Biere, Draught. Stone & Wood Brewing Co., New South Wales

Best Fruit Beer Presented by CHR Hansen
Gold Teeth 2021, Packaged. Dollar Bill Brewing, Victoria

Best Wood- And Barrel-Aged Beer
Sauvage, Packaged. Deep Creek Brewing Company, Auckland, New Zealand

Best Specialty Beer
Heavy Smoker, Draught. Zhang Men Brewing Company, Taiwan

Best Specialty Flavoured Beer
Dangge Vanilla Coffee Imperial Stout, Packaged. Dangge Brewing, China

Best Design – Label/Surface Graphic
Stubbie Refreshing Beer 330ml. Pinnacle Drinks, New South Wales

Best Design – Outer Packaging
Classic IPA, Craft Lager, And Wheat Beer 4 Packs. Specific Gravity Beverage Company Pte Ltd, Singapore

Best Media Presented By The Crafty Pint
James Atkinson, New South Wales

Consistency of Excellence Medal
Products that have been awarded a gold medal for three consecutive years receive a Consistency of Excellence Medal.
1. Captain of the Coast, Packaged. Pelican Brewing Company, Oregon, United States
2. Obsession Session IPA, Draught. Fixation Brewing Co, Victoria, Australia

Sour beer scoops top award at AIBAs