GABS Hottest Aussie Craft Beers of 2016 were counted down yesterday, with Stone & Wood Brewing Co’s ‘Pacific Ale’ taking out the top spot again.
There were more than 1600 beers to choose from and the organisers say it was the biggest voting year yet for the countdown.
Moving from third to second place was Pirate Life Brewing’s 8.8% ABV ‘Double IPA’, the Adelaide brewery knocking Western Australia’s Feral Brewing into third with its ‘Hop Hog’ American Pale Ale.
“So stoked to sit alongside Feral Brewing Company and Pirate Life and humbled by the GABS Festival Hottest 100 result – cheers to an incredible team that we couldn’t do without and the support of you!” Stone & Wood told its Facebook followers.
The Hottest 100 poll was created in 2008 as an ode to Triple J’s annual Hottest 100 on Australia Day.
“We thought it’d be fun if some of the staff and customers voted on their favourite beers of that year,” poll co-founder and The Local Taphouse owner Steve Jeffares told The Australian. “That was nine years ago and now it’s turned into this behemoth … and become this influential poll.”
Twenty one new beers made the 2016 list, including ‘Little Dove’ from WA’s Gage Roads, ‘Sonic Prayer’ and ‘Modus Pale’ from Modus Operandi on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, two versions of the ‘Ramjet’ wood-aged beer from Melbourne’s Boatrocker Brewing Co, and a 55th placing for ‘KAIJU KRUSH!’ from the popular Victorian brewery, despite only releasing the beer in December 2016.
Among the heavy hitters on the list were Little Creatures (six beers), 4 Pines (five), Mountain Goat (four) and James Squire (four).
GABS notes 80% of the Hottest 100 Beers were from independent breweries.
Here are the top 10:
1. Pacific Ale – Australian Pale Ale – Stone and Wood Brewing Co
2. IIPA – Double IPA – Pirate Life Brewing
3. Hop Hog – American Pale Ale – Feral Brewing Company
4. XPA – American Pale Ale – Balter – NEW
5. IPA – American IPA – Pirate Life Brewing
6. Little Dove – American Pale Ale – Gage Roads Brewing Co – NEW
7. Pale Ale – American Pale Ale – Pirate Life Brewing
8. Crankshaft – American IPA – BentSpoke Brewery
9. Former Tenant – American IPA – Modus Operandi Brewing Co
10. Pale Ale – American Pale Ale – 4 Pines Brewing Co
