This is Australia’s best beer

May 20, 2019
By Alana House

A dark ale has been named Champion Australian Beer at the 2019
Australian International Beer Awards (AIBAs).

4 Pines Brewing Co’s Keller Door Schwarzbier was awarded the top trophy at the AIBAs, hosted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV).

The awards are the largest annual beer competition in the world to assess both draught and packaged beer. There were almost 2600 entries this year from more than 400 breweries across 26 countries.

Schwarzbier is a classic dark German lager that balances roasted yet smooth malt flavours with moderate hop bitterness.

“There are so many amazing breweries competing, so to say that we’re a little chuffed by this would be an understatement,” 4Pines said.

“Here’s to beer! And here’s to all of you who drink it, make it or just like being around it.”

Want to give the beer a crack? It’s on tap at Keller Door in Manly (under the Brewpub), at the 4Pines Truckbar in Brookvale and Public House Newport. But hurry, the brewery warns there’s not much left.

2019 trophy winners

Champion Australian Beer presented by Cryer Malt
Keller Door: Schwarzbier – 4 Pines Brewing Company, New South Wales

Champion International Beer
Feral One – Firestone Walker Brewing Co., United States

Champion Large Australian Brewery presented by Barrett Burston Malting
Balter Brewing – Queensland

Champion Large International Brewery presented by Barth-Haas Group
DB Breweries – New Zealand

Champion Medium Australian Brewery presented by Cryer Malt
Green Beacon Brewing Co. – Queensland

Champion Medium International Brewery
Deep Creek Brewing Company – New Zealand

Champion Small Australian Brewery
Blackman’s Brewery – Victoria

Champion Small International Brewery
McLeods Brewery – New Zealand

Gary Sheppard Memorial Trophy For The Best New Exhibitor
Breakside Brewery – Oregon, United States

Best Australian-Style Lager Presented By O-I Glass
Steinlager Pure – Lion NZ, New Zealand

Best European-Style Lager (Excluding Pilsner)
Buckskin Munich Helles – King Car Group, Taiwan

Best International Lager
Undercurrent – Draught Deep Creek Brewing Company, New Zealand

Best Pilsner Presented by Brews News
The Prospector Pilsner – Draught Hemingway’s Brewery, Queensland, Australia

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

Best Australian Style Pale Ale Presented By Kegstar
North of Nowhere Pale Ale, Packaged – DB Breweries Ltd, New Zealand

Best New World-Style Pale Ale Presented By Hop Products Australia
Pale Ale, Draught – Cheeky Monkey Brewery and Cidery, Western Australia, Australia

Best International-Style Pale Ale Presented By The Post Project
Balter Strong Pale Ale – Draught Balter Brewing, Queensland, Australia

Best British-Style Ale (Excluding IPA & Pale Ale)
Summer Ale, Draught – Mountain Goat Beer, Victoria, Australia

Best European-Style Ale
Infinite Guide Gose, Packaged – Bravo Brewing Co., Guangdong, China

Best IPA Presented By HopCo
Hawkers West Coast IPA, Packaged – Hawkers Brewery, Victoria, Australia

Best Amber / Dark Ale
Traders, Packaged – McLeods Brewery, New Zealand

Best Porter Presented By Weyermann
Black Shield Draught, Draught – Myanmar Brewery LTD, Yangon, Myanmar

Best Stout Presented By GABS
Exit Milk Stout, Packaged – Exit Brewing, Victoria, Australia

Best Reduced / Low Alcohol Beer
Mid Range, Packaged – Black Hops Brewery, Queensland, Australia

Best Wheat Beer
TAP6 Mein Aventinus, Packaged – Schneider Weisse GmbH, Bavaria, Germany

Best Belgian / French Ale
Feral One, Packaged – Firestone Walker Brewing Co., United States

Best Scotch Ale / Barley Wine
Alba, Packaged – Cervejaria Bohemia, Brazil

Best Fruit Beer
Rodenbach Caractere Rouge, Packaged – Brouwerij Rodenbach, Roeselare, Belgium

Best Wood- And Barrel-Aged Beer
Captain of the Coast, Packaged – Pelican Brewing Company, Oregon, United States

Best Specialty Beer
Maui Express, Packaged – Denver Beer Co, CO, United States

Best Design – Label / Surface Graphic
Sabro: Single Hop Hazy IPA – Hope Brewery, New South Wales, Australia

Best Design – Outer Packaging
India Pale Ale – Mismatch Brewing Co., South Australia, Australia

Best Media Presented By The Crafty Pint
New South Ales, New South Wales, Australia

Pictured main: Chris Willcock, chief brewer from 4 Pines Brewing Company and Mont Stuart celebrate at the Australian International Beer Awards.

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