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.