New publication, The Critics’ Choice: Australia’s Best Beers lists the top 100 beers from 2012 as voted by 37 of Australia’s leading beer critics. Barrel Media is pleased to begin the count down of the top dozen in the lead up to the official launch date of May 3,2013.

The first beer in The Critics’ Choice top 12 is the Mountain Goat Steam Ale. The Mountain Goat tasting notes describe it as a great beer for when the weather begins to warm up. A crisp, certified organic ale. It incorporates a slap of wheat malt in the grist makeup. Cascade and Citra hops to give it a fresh, zippy finish.

Brews News Editor and author of The Beer Lovers Guide’s: Sommelier’s Manual, Matt Kirkegaard, says that in a craft beer world that is going through its rebellious teenage years, Steam Ale shows us the adult that it can one day become.

“Craft beer is all about getting a few tattoos, piercings in odd places and a motorcycle-riding boyfriend. Steam Ale shows us the adult that it can one day become. Polite, but engaging, fewer piercings and neatly dressed, but still employed in the creative industries. She has street cred while being popular and making her parents proud.’

The Critics’ Choice: Australia’s Best Beers RRP $14.95