Oregon Breweries Win Big at Australian International Beer Awards

Earlier today the Awards Ceremony took place for the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), and a few Oregon breweries faired quite well. Bend’s Deschutes Brewery won The Bargo Events Trophy for Champion International Beer for their Obsidian Stout. This is the top award given to the best overall international beer.

The other top prizes winners from Oregon include Rogue Ales – Roguenbier Rye in Best Amber/Dark Lager, Hopworks Urban Brewery – Organic IPX Single Hop Ale – Chinook in Best International Pale Ale, and Deschutes Brewery – Obsidian Stout in Best Stout. Congratulations!

Here’s more from the official press release:

The winners of the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), renowned for celebrating and promoting beer and brewing excellence in Australia and around the world, have been announced at a prestigious presentation dinner in Melbourne, Australia today, Thursday, 22 May.

The winners of Champion Australian Beer and Champion International Beer were Mash Brewing from Western Australia for its Mash AIPA and Deschutes Brewery from Oregon in the United States for its Obsidian Stout.

Presented annually by the Royal Agricultural Society (RASV) in partnership with Federation University Australia the AIBA is the largest competition for the beer industry in the Asia Pacific region.

This year, the AIBA received a record 1,560 entries from more than 294 brewers in 31 countries and a total of 25 Champion and Major Trophies were presented.

A diverse range of styles were assessed by an expert panel of 40 judges from Australia, Norway, Belgium, United States, United Kingdom, Japan and New Zealand, over a week of judging at Melbourne Showgrounds.

AIBA Head Judge, Little Creatures Head Brewer Warren Pawsey, congratulated his team of judges and the competition entrants from around the world.

“It was a great privilege to lead such a talented panel of judges who brought a diverse mix of backgrounds and wealth of experience to the competition.

“All the beers that were entered were treated with respect, individually assessed, evaluated blind and without bias, and we hope that our comments and feedback provide great value and benefit to entrants,” said Mr Pawsey.

Year round feedback and input from the brewing community ensures that the AIBA competition reflects the modern landscape of brewing and has judging processes that ensure fairness and consistency across all categories.

For the first time the AIBA included a Media Award Trophy won by editor of Australian Brews News and author of BeerMatt blog, Matt Kirkegaard.

RASV CEO, Mr Mark O’ Sullivan congratulated all Trophy winners and entrants and thanked sponsors and supporters of the AIBA.

“The Australian International Beer Awards could not be a success without the support it receives from the brewing industry and we would like to thank all the brewers who participated.

“The program gives brewers an opportunity to benchmark their beers against international industry standards, seek advice from an independent panel of experts and promote and market award winning products using the Australian International Beer Awards seal of approval.

“Each year has seen standards continually improve and brewers continue to exceed our expectations and shape the brewing industry,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

CHAMPION TROPHIES:

THE BARRETT BURSTON TROPHY FOR CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN BEER
MASH AIPA: MASH BREWING, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA

THE BARGO EVENTS TROPHY FOR CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL BEER
OBSIDIAN STOUT: DESCHUTES BREWERY, OREGON, UNITED STATES

THE GRAINCORP TROPHY FOR CHAMPION LARGE AUSTRALIAN BREWERY
CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

THE BARRETT BURSTON TROPHY FOR CHAMPION LARGE INTERNATIONAL BREWERY
ORIENTAL BREWERY COMPANY. GYEONGGIDO, SOUTH KOREA

THE KEGSTAR TROPHY FOR CHAMPION MEDIUM AUSTRALIAN BREWERY
THUNDER ROAD BREWING COMPANY. VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

THE CRYERMALT TROPHY FOR CHAMPION MEDIUM INTERNATIONAL BREWERY
HELLER-BRÄU TRUM KG, BAVARIA, GERMANY

THE FB*PROPAK TROPHY FOR CHAMPION SMALL AUSTRALIAN BREWERY
3 RAVENS, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

THE CITY OF BALLARAT TROPHY FOR CHAMPION SMALL INTERNATIONAL BREWERY
RENAISSANCE BREWING LTD, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND

THE GARY SHEPPARD MEMORIAL TROPHY FOR THE BEST NEW EXHIBITOR
BLACK TOOTH BREWING COMPANY, WYOMING, UNITED STATES

MAJOR TROPHIES:

THE BARGO EVENTS TROPHY FOR BEST AUSTRALIAN STYLE LAGER
JAMES BOAG’S DRAUGHT: J. BOAG & SON PTY LTD, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

THE FEDERATION UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA TROPHY FOR BEST EUROPEAN STYLE LAGER
LOVEDALE LAGER: SYDNEY BREWERY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

THE HELLMANN WORLDWIDE LOGISTICS TROPHY FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL LAGER
CASS FRESH (GWANGJU): ORIENTAL BREWERY CO. GYEONGGIDO, SOUTH KOREA

THE CITY OF BALLARAT TROPHY FOR BEST AMBER / DARK LAGER
ROGUE FARMS ROGUENBIER RYE: ROGUE ALES, OREGON, UNITED STATES

THE BREWERS GUILD OF NEW ZEALAND TROPHY FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL PALE ALE
ORGANIC IPX SINGLE HOP ALE – CHINOOK: HOPWORKS URBAN BREWERY, OREGON, UNITED STATES

THE EXPONET TROPHY FOR BEST BRITISH STYLE ALE (EXCLUDING IPA & PALE ALE)
ENGLISH: 3 RAVENS, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

THE GOOD BEER WEEK TROPHY FOR BEST IPA
MASH AIPA: MASH BREWING, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA TROPHY FOR BEST AMBER / DARK ALE
KAIJU! HOPPED OUT RED: KAIJU! BEER, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

THE CRYERMALT TROPHY FOR BEST PORTER
NAIL HUGHE DUNN BROWN: NAIL BREWING, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA

THE KEGSTAR TROPHY FOR BEST STOUT
OBSIDIAN STOUT: DESCHUTES BREWERY, OREGON, UNITED STATES

THE EXPONET TROPHY FOR BEST WHEAT BEER
MOO BREW HEFEWEIZEN: MOO BREW, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

THE WEYERMANN SPECIALTY MALTS TROPHY FOR BEST BELGIAN & FRENCH STYLE ALE
LONG STRANGE TRIPEL: BOULEVARD BREWING CO. MISSOURI, UNITED STATES

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA TROPHY FOR BEST SCOTCH ALE & BARLEY WINE
MOONSHINE: GRAND RIDGE BREWERY, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

THE FEDERATION UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA TROPHY FOR BEST SPECIALTY BEER
PAARDEBLOEM BELGIAN ALE: RED ROCK BREWERY, UTAH, UNITED STATES

THE LABELMAKERS GROUP TROPHY FOR BEST PACKAGING
BEER SCHOOL “HOP PACK”: BRIDGE ROAD BREWERS, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

THE AIBA MEDIA AWARD TROPHY PRESENTED BY THE CRAFTY PINT
MATT KIRKEGAARD

BEST AUSTRALIAN STYLE PALE ALE
Not Awarded

BEST PILSNER
Not Awarded

BEST EUROPEAN STYLE ALE
Not Awarded

BEST REDUCED OR LOW ALCOHOL
Not Awarded