The 20th annual Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) has tonight named Western Australia’s Feral Brewing as Champion Large Australian Brewery and Australian Capital Territory’s Wig & Pen Brewery & Tavern as Champion Small Australian Brewery at the prestigious Awards Presentation Dinner an Melbourne, Australia.

Conducted annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) in conjunction with the University of Ballarat, the pre-eminent showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific region presented 18 Trophies with 10 awarded to international breweries and eight awarded to Australian.

In an AIBA first, Trophies were also presented for Champion Large International Brewery, awarded to Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery and Champion Small International Brewery, awarded to Oregon’s Pelican Pub & Brewery.

Across the Pacific, the United States was a standout, winning four Trophies; New Zealand breweries claimed two and Belgium. Brazil, Germany and Norway achieving one each.

It was Feral Brewing Company that stole the show locally winning three awards for Western Australia including Best International Pale Ale for the third consecutive year and Best Scotch & Barley Wine. New South Wales breweries were awarded three Trophies with Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory one respectively.

AIBA Committee Chairman and Chief Judge, Peter Manders, said the Awards draws international recognition from the beer industry and showcases the commitment to excellence from brewers.

“Now in its 20th year, the AIBA continues to attract a remarkable number of high calibre entries from Australian and international breweries, with a record 1,344 brews entered from 41 countries this year, an increase of 10 per cent on last year’s,” Mr Manders said.

“The AIBA welcomed 52 judges, all of whom were awed by the quality of entries. Each year sees standards continually improve as brewers push for excellence and exceed all expectations.”

International judges, Anders Kissmeyer of Denmark, Masayoshi Kaji and Shoji Kobotake of Japan. joined focal beer experts to individually assess brews, with Mr Kissmeyer saying, “It is clear that the AIBA is up there amongst the very best.”

Beer lovers will have an opportunity to sample the 2012 entries and winning beers tomorrow at AIBA’s World of Beer – Tastings from Around the Globe from 4 to 8pm at The Atrium, Federation Square. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

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For further information please visit www.beer.awards.com and follow the AIBA on Twitter @AIBA2012

Winners of the 2012 Australian International Beer Awards announced at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre •

Winners of the 2012 Australian International Beer Awards announced at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre:

• Champion Large Australian Brewery – Feral Brewing Company, Western Australia, Australia
• Champion Large International Brewery – Deschutes Brewery, Oregon, USA
• Champion Small Australian Brewery – Wig & Pen Brewery & Tavern, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
• Champion Small International Brewery – Pelican Pub & Brewery, Oregon, USA
• Best New Exhibitor – Cervejaria Bodebrown Ltda, Parana, Brazil
• Best International Lager – Hahn Super Dry, Tooheys, New South Wales, Australia
• Best Pilsner – Croucher Brewing Pilsner, The Croucher Brewing Co, Rotorua, New Zealand
• Best Amber / Dark Lager – Weltenburger Asam Bock, Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg, Ketheim, Germany
• Best International Pale Ale – Hop Hog, Feral Brewing Company, Western Australia, Australia
• Best European Style Ale – Koelsch, lllawarra Brewing Company. Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
• Best IPA – Caldera IPA, Caldera Brewing Co, Oregon, USA
• Best Amber / Dark Ale – Doryman’s Dark, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Oregon, USA
• Best Porter – Akkevit Porter, Haandbryggeriet Brewery, Drammen, Norway
• Best Stout – Stout, 4 Pines Brewing Company, Manly, New South Wales, Australia
• Best Wheat Beer – Redback Pale, Matilda Bay Brewing Company, Victoria, Australia
• Best Belgian & French Ale – Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel, De Halve Maan, Brugge, Belgium
• Best Scotch & Barley Wine – Razorback, Feral Brewing Company, Western Australia. Australia
• Best Speciality – Summer Sommer, Garage Project, Wellington, New Zealand

About the Australian International Beer Awards:
Ballarat, the Australian International Beer Awards is the pre-eminent showcase of beer and brewing excellence in the Asia-Pacific region, Now in its 20th year, the annual awards draw exhibits from across the world, with 2012 seeing more than 1,300 brews entered from countries including Fiji, Lithuania, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the US. This year’s judging panel, made up of 52 Australian and international Industry experts, includes representatives from Denmark. Japan and New Zealand.