During the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) Presentation Dinner last week, the winners of Champion Australian Beer and Champion International Beer were announced.

Mountain Goat Beer (Champion Australian Beer) from Victoria was awarded for its Barley Wine – Barrel Beer, part of their Rare Breed range, and Lion Beer Spirits Wine (Champion International Beer), New Zealand for its Speight’s 5 Malt Old Dark.

This year’s AIBA, conducted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, attracted a record number of entries with more than 1,700 submissions from 344 exhibitors, across 35 countries.

A wide range of beer styles were judged by an expert industry panel of 58 judges from across the globe over three days at Melbourne Showgrounds, with 28 Champion and Major Trophies awarded.

This year’s Champion Large, Medium and Small Australian Brewery Trophies were awarded to 4 Pines Brewing Company, Thunder Road Brewing Company (for the second consecutive year) and Boatrocker Brewing Company, respectively.

Head Judge Warren Pawsey, said: “We have been extremely impressed by the high quality product coming through, and 2015’s pool of entrants has not disappointed.”

2015 Australian International Beer Awards – Champion Trophy Winners

Barrett Burston Malting Trophy for Champion Australian Beer: Barley Wine – Barrel Breed (Draught) – Mountain Goat Beer, VIC

ExpoNet Trophy for Champion International Beer: Speight’s 5 Malt Old Dark (Packaged) – Lion Beer Spirits Wine, NZ

GrainCorp Trophy for Champion Large Australian Brewery: 4 Pines Brewing Company, NSW

Barrett Burston Malting Trophy for Champion Large International Brewery: Brouweris De Halve Maan, Belgium

Kegstar Trophy for Champion Medium Australian Brewery: Thunder Road Brewing Company, VIC

Federation University Australia Trophy for Champion Medium International Brewery: Pelican Pub & Brewery, USA

FB*PROPAK Trophy for Champion Australian Small Brewery: Boatrocker Brewing Company, VIC

City of Ballarat Trophy for Champion International Small Brewery: ParrotDog Brewing, NZ

Gary Sheppard Memorial Trophy for Best New Exhibitor: Yantai Platinum Brewing Company, China

AIBA Media Award presented by The Crafty Pint: Luke Robertson, Ale of a Time

For a full list of winners, visit: www.rasv.com.au/beer

Photo caption: Dave Bonighton and Cam Hines from Mountain Goat Beer.