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Australian International Beer Awards 2025
276 Plays21 hours ago
There’s a special edition of The Crafty Pint Podcast this week as we come to you from the Australian International Beer Awards.
The country’s biggest annual beer competition, which is now into its fourth decade, took place at the Melbourne Showgrounds on May 15, where hundreds gathered to see which beers and brewers would be heading home laden with trophies.
As soon as the last trophy had been handed out, with Champion Australian Beer going to the unheralded Wedgetail Brewing from WA, Will and James grabbed a couple of the trophy winners for a quick chat as they celebrated, then headed next door to reflect on this year's results.
There was much to discuss, with a colourful blend of the familiar and fresh-faced, repeat winners and newcomers, and a great night overall for local brewers, with Aussies claiming the vast majority of the beer and cider trophies on offer.
We were joined by a special guest too: Guy Southern has been covering the WA beer scene for The Crafty Pint for many a moon now while also building a career across the state’s drinks industry. He won Best Media for 2025, flying in from Perth to collect his trophy, which was handed to him by last year’s winner, Will.
After the break, we also take a peek behind the scenes at this year’s judging. We joined Kirrily Waldhorn, a long-time host and judge at the awards who now oversees competitions for Melbourne Royal, and Emily Usher, a brewer at Mountain Goat, as the 2,000-plus entries were being put to the test.
And, while in celebratory mood, we want to remind people to get nominations in for their Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month and the "Have You Done A Rallings?" campaign showcasing good beer citizens.
Start of segments:
- From start – Guy Southern
- 14:20 – Mick Neil and Stef Constantoulas – Philter
- 17:37 – Grace Fowler – Reckless Brewing
- 21:17 – Kirrily Waldhorn – Melbourne Royal
- 30:23 – Emily Usher – Mountain Goat
Relevant links:
- AIBA 2025 Results
- Philter Brewing
- Reckless Brewing
- Nominate a Brewery of the Month
- Nominate a good beer citizen
- Klippakan
To find out more about supporting the show or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.
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Transcript
Introduction and Special Guest Appearance
00:00:05
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Crafted Pint Podcast. I'm James. I'm Will. And we're here, is it backstage or side room or something? and the Ebers, post-Australian National Beer Awards, something a bit different this week.
00:00:15
Speaker
um And we're also here with a special guest um who um many of our readers will know very well from over the years, ah Guy Southern. Hello, gents. Thanks for having me. Yeah, Guy, all the way over from WA. Any particular reason why you're here with us tonight? I collected an Eber tonight, which is which is very cool.
00:00:35
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Uh, for best media, best media. So I've been in a large room yelling at people drinking beer. So, well you know, and raspy that's why, um um when did you arrive? Like you flew in today. I'm assuming i I arrived this afternoon. I got to the hotel at five o'clock and I went directly from the hotel to the Apollo in order to whiskey cocktail and a prawn sandwich.
00:00:58
Speaker
And 25 minutes later, I was in Uber coming here. There you go Fantastic. And so, yeah, so congratulations, first and foremost.
Guy Southern's Contributions to Beer Media
00:01:05
Speaker
Thank you. um You've sort of had a bit of stellar few years just sort of getting involved in more and more things in the booze industry in um Where does this sort of stand for you in terms of picking up the best media, which i know was for a pretty diverse ah entry as well, like covering it wasn't just Crafty Pints stuff, there was a whole bunch of stuff you entered.
00:01:20
Speaker
Yeah, um each year I enter stuff into Abers, much like brewers would. And in last year it was a big year for me. I did 10 oral history interviews with for the State Library's Liquid Gold exhibition with filmmaker Fee Mulholland.
00:01:36
Speaker
um So that formed part of that. Obviously, the WA Good Food Guide. I wrote a bunch of content for that. um Ferrell's story about beer farmer Nail buying them.
00:01:46
Speaker
uh out uh even just the fun ones like reese lopez eagle mega core it's you know everyone loved that story i i love that story when i first read it and it really got some good traction as well i think people he's a wacky guy and you really captured his spirit it's not only that it's I think it's just knowing people being around beer for a while.
00:02:06
Speaker
And James goes, Oh, I think we should do this. And I'm like, cool. I've got literally, I've got school pickup at three 30 race. Can you meet me for like an hour? And we smashed out and sure enough of opening beers and guy, you should take this and this.
00:02:19
Speaker
I went back and wrote that article in probably an hour. Yeah. not Not even thinking just like, yeah, just poured out of me. and At the end, I was in the car on the way back and went, this just feels good. Yeah.
Guy's Crafty Pint Journey
00:02:30
Speaker
But what's interesting for me about um this award, which I'm quite humbled about, is this weekend, 10 years ago, I was sitting on a plane coming back to Perth from Good Beer Week. Having just met you at Beer Deluxe, Joel Beresford had introduced us.
00:02:47
Speaker
And you sent me an email that and night going, you got any articles? and Send it through. So literally, this weekend, I've been writing for Crafty Pint for 10 years. Wow. Okay, there you go. That's pretty cool. That's awesome. That's incredible. Like what timing, like, like that is so amazing. And yeah, I, I judged it and, um, your pieces, they just really stood out in terms of the diversity of them. You do enter some very different pieces, which was really exciting. I was, when I saw what they were and actually went through them all, was, uh, it was, There were incredible reads and watches as well. If anyone's not seen the the history of WA Beer that you produced, it's it's incredible. like All the right people. And I'll i'll share credit with for that one with ah filmmaker Fee Moholland. But, you know, what came out of that that storytelling piece was mateship.
00:03:31
Speaker
It wasn't about beer. Like everyone talked about beer. It was just a good reminder to me that, you know, we're here at the Abers and we're judging excellence, but a lot of times the space that I fill in the beer world celebrates the stuff around the glass. Community, yeah. The best stuff is always around the glass, as long you've got good liquid in it.
WA Beer Scene Highlights
00:03:50
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Nice.
00:03:51
Speaker
Now, I know yours are just one of many victories for WA tonight. Like WA's beer scene again has punched well above its weight. I think, well, maybe it hasn't, maybe maybe it's just always punching out that way because it's very good. um I guess the real standout would have been Wedgetail Brewing. Yeah. Picking up a whole bunch of beers, trophies on the back of their Dart Lager.
00:04:11
Speaker
Well, I think they only entered two beers. Okay. So really small operation in Mandurah. So anyone who doesn't know where Mandurah is, it's about an hour, hour and a half south of Perth around canals, kind of at some point in time was a retirement kind of tight community.
00:04:29
Speaker
um But what's happened down in that region is you've got Boundary Island picking up stuff, you know. I actually looked early to find out where they were and I'm like, oh my God, they're a six six minute drive. Boundary Island, you've got these two trophies. Boundary picked up a Deccy IPA as well. yeah White Lakes isn't too far away. King Road again isn't too far away again from that. so There's something in the water and it's not just sharks, it's mugs. Mark McGowan country, isn't it? That's supposed to be what it is. A little bit further south, but yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:04:55
Speaker
Yeah, no, that was amazing. i I have to admit, of all the years of watching the awards, i don't think I've ever seen anyone quite so stunned um as the Wedgetale fan when he got up there to receive his award. And even Kiralee was like sort of rendered speechless because he was just so, i just can't believe I'm here. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was quite quite beautiful, really. Yeah.
00:05:13
Speaker
But it was what I mean, obviously you said Boundary Island got a trophy, King Road picked up another two. Oh, those two King Road beers are gorgeous. Well, I thought that was hilarious because you sent me the write-up on those literally a week or two ago. And I was saying to Steve, I can't believe you've won two trophies for two limited releases released at the same time. Yeah. Just last week he goes, oh, they were out four weeks ago. I just keep forgetting to send them to a guy.
00:05:34
Speaker
Send me beers. Send me beers. They just keep nailing awards. And i was chatting to Nick. Sandry, who's made a collab with Stephen, the Pint of Origin, and he's got some of King Roads beers on. And he was saying before the awards started, he's like, King Roads beers, he goes, they are pristine. Yes, they are. And guess what it is, he doesn't do anything crazy, but whatever he makes, he just knows how to make. I love going to that brewery because I feel like I'm walking around in Steve's mind.
00:05:56
Speaker
Like you could literally, I describe it to people like you could walk around in there with socks on. like And it just feels very zen and very calm and Steve's a beautiful, beautiful man. um And everyone that works there understands that ecosystem.
00:06:09
Speaker
It's great. It's just a beautiful place to be. Very hospitable, but just, don't know, just and that resonates and in the liquid. It's great.
Award-winning Breweries and Beers
00:06:17
Speaker
And what about, what did you make of the it's first time you've been to the Abers? Yeah, first at Abers. So what what did you make of the whole thing and and any any other winners that stood out for you? Well, sat great one. Oh, well, I think we were at table 40. We had your trophy. We had Fee and Ed from Dollar Bills. Yeah, they love trophy lovely people. And then they kind of own the gypsy... yeah Four years straight now. Let's just rename it the Dollar Bill Trophy. And then we had um yeah Chris and Paul Holgate. Yes. It's an excellent award. yeah
00:06:43
Speaker
Three belts in a way. And I was pretty chuffed about that. like I've always loved Road Trip IPA as a beer. yeah um It's just a very classic old school, you know, Northwest Coast IPA, 6%. Never really changed it.
00:06:54
Speaker
Whenever I go, christ Chris is a good friend of mine. Circle has... turns yeah And we're all back there now. And they've just kept going with it. And so um whenever I still go camping or go to festival with Chris, um don't even need to say anything anymore. He just knows there has to be some fresh road trip in there because we all love it. And it is, it's just nice to see those classic beers getting recognized that might not you know, pick up the trophy because there might be something that's a bit more you know, I guess, more zing to it or whatever. whatever But just every year everyone has it and that's just a great beer. You know, the Chop from Pop Nation, we've always said that there was always the hype around J-juice, but I've always been like the Buzz is their best beer and the Chop's their best IPA. So really nice to see that.
00:07:28
Speaker
That consistency award is is the most important award in the evening as far as I'm concerned. Like it it's so amazing seeing breweries, that many breweries pick up three golds like year after year after year. It's it's incredible. It talks so much about consistency and quality and and making great beer, I think. like yeah I don't think I'm talking about that. It shows reassurance to consumers as well. I think that that's a really good thing in this industry is that there's a lot of hype and a lot of change. And if you can, if a brewery can, can show that consistency, it means that you can reach for that can. You might see a wall of color, but you know, you know, colorful cans and all the rest of it.
00:08:04
Speaker
But you know that you can depend on that brewery. Yeah. Yeah. It's awesome. Yeah. And I think there was a, there was fair few names that, you know, we see again and again, like Hawkers, one champion, large brewery stomping ground, picked up another award or two, two more trophies.
00:08:15
Speaker
Um, you reckless, we had chat to grace. You'll see, like later in the show, um, they picked up, you know, three trophies for different beers. Three years. And, but you know, and then you get the other sort new ones you see that sort surprise you, but there's, there's definitely breweries who just keep coming back.
00:08:31
Speaker
year after year and another thing i've noticed as well depending on where how you count and carton in terms of whether they're an australian or a japanese brewery um there was either only five or six of the individual beer trophies and this side went overseas and i'm sure it always used to be a much more of a sort of even split so to see so many um breweries being claimed by aussie brewers was pretty cool as well like a pretty you know positive thing for the industry a time that's pretty rough Yeah, and another favorite as well of the Crafty Pint team, well Mick Slipstream as well, picking up champions from all Australian Brewers. Mick has been raving about Slipstream's beers for a long time. For a hundred years or something. yeah Longer than they've been going. He's always been sticking up for Slipstream, especially their IPAs. um And having said that, but they won their trophy for their first ever barrel-aged mixed culture wild ale. so
00:09:19
Speaker
And they won a champion Queensland. For Saison. For a Saison. So it's incredible pickup. Speaking of the room though, um I was talking to Faye from Dollar Bill on and I said, look, this my first day, but what's the vibe? It seems quite buoyant in here. She goes, it is definitely a warmer crowd. the The vibe seems more buoyant, more fun. i don't know. What what did you guys think?
00:09:41
Speaker
I think when people get together, no matter what the state of things is, it's people are pretty upbeat. It's interesting to me because I think it's still tough out there for people. But I got the impression, like people said to me when I was out delivering posters and coasters and stuff for Planet of Origin way too late in the day, i stopped into like 10 or 11 venues one night. And it was a Tuesday night. Yes, it was warm.
00:10:00
Speaker
But there seemed to be people out. And there was this vibe like, oh, maybe things are starting to turn. And maybe there was a positive afterglow from the election. And oh we've got the same government. There's going to be you know interest rate cuts, whatever it is.
00:10:10
Speaker
I think it's still very tough and this year is still kind of a survival year, but maybe people are ah starting to feel a bit more if we're still around now, there's more interest rates coming. yeah maybe Maybe there's better things lie ahead, but I still think even when things were really tough, once you got the industry together, people see old faces again. And it comes back to what you were saying about you've got the liquid.
00:10:29
Speaker
you've got everything that's about the liquid. Best stuff happens around the glass. Yeah. yeah And and and and but the phrase I've heard more often than anything else over the past, what, almost a week now, Pint of Origin is like community. Community. see ah The community that's grown up around the venues or the festival, the people that get together. i was chatting to Trav from FASH yesterday. and He was here for... Don't remind me. i tried to meet him and I got caught up with the kids.
00:10:51
Speaker
Planet of Orange and Last Week, he was like, the venues are full, you the vibes, excellent. and He wants to bring it to WA. He keeps emailing us, he just won't stop. He goes, I reckon I can get this money out of the city of Perth. I'm like, that works for me. Yeah, yeah.
00:11:06
Speaker
Great. Should we get into our guests then? a bit of a different episode. Yes, for sure. First up, you're going to hear from the team at Filter. So Steph and Mick. They picked up an incredible four trophies. yeah They only had three ah on them for some reason, so I hope they haven't lost one already. But when you win four trophies, you can... You can but you can afford to lose one. And what's good is we realise you can use a trophy like but with a clip-on mic in a real sort of like influencer style. it just about fits on with a trophy. I was quite chuffed about that. Yeah.
00:11:34
Speaker
So we hear us talk to them, and then it's on to Grace from Reckless, who, yeah, as we said before, just laughs for two minutes. She's stoked the team. like They have such a good brewery team. i Don't know if they quite get the recognition they deserve because they just keep taking home trophies all the time. They're doing incredible stuff at Bathurst.
00:11:52
Speaker
Their beers are just so drinkable and delicious and highly regarded now by the judges, by blind judging. um If there's any quality sound, slightly off issues, apologies. It might be perfect. We don't actually know yet. No, no, no, we're about to send all this to our producer, Matt, who's on holiday with his or visiting his parents in the States going, all right, this was recorded in one place. This was recorded somewhere else.
00:12:13
Speaker
This was recorded a noisy room using like, you know, just little lapel mics. But i'm hopefully it's perfect. Should be fine. um and yeah, and then after that, we'll get to the main interview, which we recorded at Judging last week. So we chat to Kiralee Waldole, who presented again tonight, but now has a sort of overseer role within the whole awards.
00:12:29
Speaker
And also, of course, yeah, a wonderful host with Justin. Yes, yes. And then Emily... He did an incredible job reading all those German names and Czech names. Chinese... Oh my God, it's incredible. It was.
00:12:42
Speaker
Kudos. He needs an award for that. Yeah, yeah. And then we chat to Emily Usher Brewer, Mountain Goat, who is one of the juniors but or junior judges as well. um So yeah, there that that's more of a sort of behind the scenes, why people would judge... well I guess the stuff that goes on beforehand before we get to the awards tonight.
00:12:59
Speaker
um ah you know I guess we could reflect on the article we've written over the last week. Talking of award-winning brewers, we did a piece on Slow Lanes first five years. If you want to chuck into that, we'll chuck that in the show notes. But I suppose more on the celebratory side of things, don't think we pushed it last week. We have our Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month nominations. So if anyone wants to nominate their Brewery of the Month, there's plenty ones, you know, examples this week. People are saying it's just as good as winning a trophy at the Ables is what I hear people saying. Yeah, yeah. do you want a trophy at the Ables or do you want some zinc booster from Derek at Bluestone Yeast?
00:13:29
Speaker
you I feel like I need some zinc for this at this point in time. I'm ah quite excited about the opportunity. um So that's craftypint.com slash bluestine. And if you just want nominate a good beer citizen, someone who goes out the way, like Guy.
00:13:42
Speaker
so just Guy effectively has you know built the WA beer industry over the last 10 years. It was pretty well established. if But guy a Guy came and elevated it to a new level. If you'd like to nominate Guy, head to craftypint.com slash rallings. um But aside from that, I know congratulations to all the winners, to the Melbourne Royal team for pulling it all together, to Guy Southern for flying in today just to be our guest and then discovering later that you'd won a trophy as well. It's it's been a remarkable day. Yeah.
00:14:12
Speaker
All right. Thank you so much. Cheers. Cheers.
00:14:20
Speaker
Seth, Mick, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you, Will. You've taken out four trophies at the AMA. How are you feeling? I'm a bit shocked. I'm super excited, but just shocked. I was up on stage going, am I meant to feel happy? Or, you know, it's it's really awesome that We have won such amazing awards in two beers that have been around for a long time, like the 2017, 2018.
00:14:50
Speaker
um And then to actually get the big gong for that recognition of new beers, older the beers, we're super chuffed. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because I mean, obviously, XBA's in there, which is your flagship, like, the sweetest feeling, right, as a brewer? Absolutely. Like, yeah. Absolutely.
00:15:07
Speaker
Every time the Australian Balal category comes on, we kind of get really twitchy, really nervy, don't talk to each other much. But then we actually got that from San Francisco.
00:15:18
Speaker
So we'd get so panicky and so sweaty. So to see it on the board then and then get a champion again, the last one we got was 2018 here. Yeah. So that's, yeah, right.
00:15:30
Speaker
Yeah, it's just, it's so exciting to get those, you know, those beers that we made our name with. Like, to see it back up there, the XBA, it's just, it's unbelievable. Like, it was just, every year, like Nick said, we're so nervous on the XBA because we know it's such a great beer and we're so proud of it and we want to see it winning stuff. and But again, to hear it out, it's just, and it's such a big category.
00:15:54
Speaker
So many great beers in that category. So to be up there again is, yeah Amazing. yeah Yeah, and obviously, i mean, there's the beer categories, but then Champion Medium and Indie, like, obviously a lot of gold in there, like, you're clearly brewing some pretty consistent beer.
00:16:10
Speaker
Yeah, and look, I mean, when it started with the Caribbean Stout, we were like, it was the first time we've re-brewed that beer in three years, I think, and we were like, when when it came out, we were like, holy, like, this is really good.
00:16:24
Speaker
um It's so good to have it back, and then And we've got it on nitro at the brewery. So if you guys are exclusive, a little plug. um So come down the filter. Come down the aisle. And then it moved into things like the smoked cherry beer that we've got, the cherry machine.
00:16:42
Speaker
That was huge for the brewers because we actually brewed that for the carbon pan vent, of all things. And it's aged well, obviously. um And then, yeah, right. That's just so when the run started. And we were outside when we got the Hazard Pail ones.
00:16:57
Speaker
And we're like, whoa, you know, it's like coming in well. And so yeah, super stoked. I think it's just a great recognition for the team. And, you know, we go into these awards. It's a recognition of the quality that those guys put in every day in that brewery and, you know, hats off to them all and hats off to Sam for the original recipes. it's You know, we're just stoked that they've been able to carry on that legacy.
00:17:20
Speaker
And every day they work their asses off in that brewery and they deserve everything they're going to get out of coming out tonight. Yeah, it really is to them. Awesome guys. Thanks so much for joining us. Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys. Grace, how's it feel to win the best stout
00:17:36
Speaker
in the country? has it feel to win the best south in the country ah Pretty bloody epic, actually. Like, really, really cool and just humbling and amazing. Like, don't know.
00:17:49
Speaker
ah Awesome. Reckless is a name that seems to be popping up a lot of of awards. you said before that you've won three in a row now at Abers. What do you think's going on there? What are you doing?
00:18:00
Speaker
I'm not sure. Maybe we're bribing someone. um but like Luck? I'm not sure. Like, our brewer's obviously making great beer, but just, you know, there's so much great beer, so there's...
00:18:12
Speaker
I don't know. Something's going on. We're just stuck. We're stuck. Yeah, yeah. It's awesome. him When I drink a reckless beer, I feel like I always know it for it being balanced and a pint beer. But, like, just very easy to drink a pint of. Is that sort of the approach to run through the brew? Yeah, thank you. we We call that the the three schooner test in New South Wales. ah But, yeah, we you know, all of our beers are designed to be, like balanced, balanced.
00:18:37
Speaker
i easy drinking but still you know well made, balanced and just enjoyable. but but Do you get ah next year of the award, going be nervous since you've ah gone back back to back to back to back? I've never been nervous before, but I was like, this year I was like, oh my God, like, you know, we got we got some like pressure, but yeah, it happened. I don't know.
00:19:00
Speaker
It happened early this year, so we were able to enjoy the night. So that's awesome. Next year, don't Maybe I won't come. I don't know. Just pretend to turn the TV off and forget about Exactly. And what's it mean to you as a brewer as well and a founder? Like, it must mean so much for the team. It's just so cool. Like, you know, like, I've been in the industry a long time, never won a trophy until we open our own brewery.
00:19:23
Speaker
And there's just something about, like, you know, the the love and passion. Like, I can't take credit. Like, we've got an amazing team of brewers. And, like, unfortunately, they've just had a baby, like, our two main brewers. So they're not here tonight.
00:19:35
Speaker
But, like, this is really, like... I testament to their hard work. like They're amazing. Stephen and Marie, guys fucking killing it, mate. Former Melbourne boys as well. Stomping ground and fighting. Correct, correct.
00:19:49
Speaker
Sorry if I'm not allowed to swear. but but That's great, Will. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you, Will. Thank you.
Innovation in Beer Packaging
00:20:02
Speaker
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00:20:27
Speaker
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00:20:44
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:21:12
Speaker
today
00:21:18
Speaker
Gurley, welcome to the podcast.
Behind the Scenes of International Beer Awards
00:21:20
Speaker
Thanks guys, it's great to be here. you want to tell us sort of where we are and why we are here? Yes, well we're at the Melbourne Showgrounds um and we are in the middle of judging the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards, which is very exciting.
00:21:35
Speaker
And in the past you have been involved in the judging, but you have a new role this year. Do you want to tell us and the new role? if if you know People probably watch on YouTube, we probably can't see close enough to see yeah you roll your name tag there. Fancy badge. So yes, um I have judged with Melbourne Royal for I think um ah definitely over 10 years.
00:21:55
Speaker
um And last year I actually joined the team just after beer judging. um So now I'm the senior manager for all of the food and beverage awards. So I've kind of broadened out of just beer, but obviously my my heart is still in the beer world.
00:22:09
Speaker
And what does senior manager mean then? Are you sort of just overseeing the processes behind the scenes or what what's your what does that involve? I'm the queen, of course. You just sort of go, you do this, you are you over there, bring me this.
00:22:21
Speaker
I boss ever everyone around. um yeah so there's three of us in our team. So I've got ah myself and then Oscar and Cass and the three of us basically coordinate all um of our awards programs. So we do beer, wine, spirits and food.
00:22:36
Speaker
um And the podcast, Parts to it are obviously engaging exhibitors, um and getting entries in and then actually managing the judging process. So setting up the judging space, coordinating the judges and managing that as well.
00:22:51
Speaker
And do you still get to do any judging or if not, do you miss it? I don't with Melbourne Royal, but I'm lucky enough to still be invited to other ah Royals and other judging programs. um Yes, I do miss it. I love, and but it's great to see all of the judges there today and and see what's happened from back of house as well.
00:23:11
Speaker
Now, this is the largest of the beer awards in Australia. So, you know, like 2000 plus entries. I mean, it must be a pretty mammoth undertaking, you know, in terms of the number of judges you have to bring in, number of samples, everything. Can you give us some idea of what it's like behind the scenes? Yeah, it is. It's actually huge. So we got just under 2,300 entries this year.
00:23:30
Speaker
um draft and pack. So it's actually the world's largest beer competition that does both draft and package beer. um And we have 75 judges, 20% of those come from overseas. So we have judges from China, the US, s Japan, Singapore, and then we have our Australian and New Zealand judges as well. And then we have a huge backup house crew too. So um logistically, we're obviously dealing with kegs and pack beer.
00:23:58
Speaker
We're dealing with temperature and we're dealing with just how long product can be on the table for as well, which is very different to wine and spirits. um So yeah, it's it's a huge logistical operation, but it just is so well coordinated here.
00:24:14
Speaker
Because, I mean, how many beers might a judge or ah a table of judges take on in a session or a day? Like, I've heard like 60, 70, 80 sometimes in a day you'd be trying? Yeah, it normally is between about 60 to 80. For this um competition, it's about 60 beers a day. So it's it's substantial, particularly they're obviously having to drink those beers as well, you know, swallow the beers. Yeah.
00:24:36
Speaker
Yeah, and this will all be wrapped up in fact, well, it'll be wrapped up the night before this podcast goes out. But so it's it's a really tight turn, isn't it? You do three is it three and a half, three days of judging here this week, then everything has to be turned around and the results are announced within a week of finishing.
00:24:51
Speaker
Yes. So um we'll finish judging about lunchtime on Friday. um The presentation is obviously Thursday evening. Within that, we have to do some auditing, particularly on the no alcohol and the low carb beers to make sure they actually fit within the criteria. So we've got to fit that in as well. Make sure they've got no alcohol in there. Exactly. I mean, we could, you know, try it ourselves, but we do actually send it off to a lab, but um send those beers off to a lab. um So yeah, it's quite ah it is quite a quick turnaround, but we've got an amazing backend system that obviously can support that quick turnaround as well.
00:25:23
Speaker
And will you be hosting this year or is that you are? You're allowed to double up on the roles there. I've got my outfits, I've got them already. It's like you and you can't kick me out of that one. And well how many years have you been doing that as well? Because I guess, you know, as long as I've been coming to the Bureau Awards, I reckon you've been involved in somewhat, you know, not every year, but most years presenting. Is that yeah is um one of the highlights of the the year for you doing that?
00:25:45
Speaker
I love it. Like I literally shot for the awards every year, which is great. But um I think it's got to be, I'm going to say between 12 and 14 years that I've been involved in some capacity.
00:25:56
Speaker
um And um yeah, no, it's, it's something that I love doing. um I'm lucky enough that Melbourne Royal still want me to do it. And actually I'm now hosting some of their other awards as well. So they're, you know, doing well.
00:26:10
Speaker
And what kind of role do you think awards play in um in the modern beer world? Do you think they reach out to consumers, particularly when it's ah it's pretty tough out there at the moment? Yeah, it is really tough and it's something that I'm looking at coming into it.
00:26:22
Speaker
um Obviously, I've had 25 years in the beer world. um And it's looking at how do we really add that value back to our exhibitors? And obviously consumers are a huge part of that. um I think if we look at it, wine has done really well in elevating an award.
00:26:40
Speaker
um I mean, the holiday system, people use that to to buy. And that's something that we want to do with Melbourne Royal. So it's something that we need to, i think, do more with. um So in terms of the role, obviously,
00:26:53
Speaker
Obviously, the brewers get amazing feedback on their beers.
Impact of Awards on Beer Industry
00:26:57
Speaker
That's the first kind of fundamental is just understanding where their beers sit. If they get a medal, if they get a trophy, we want to make sure that that actually is amplified to consumers and to the trade as well so it actually results in greater sales and greater awareness.
00:27:13
Speaker
And and we when we arrived here earlier today, there was the the annual photo of all the judges taking place on the on the stairway next to um where the judging takes place. And then the photo of all the and female judges um and i guess assistant and judges as well. yeah Is that something that you've noticed change over time as well? Because I've been doing this maybe 15 years now and there was kind of you and Tina and yeah a couple couple of other people. but But now you walk in and you can fill half that stairwell.
00:27:39
Speaker
just with the and female judges. So is that something that has been a deliberate part of evolution over the years or just happened as as the sort of beer industry has changed? Yeah, I think it's been a bit of both. I think, you know, the the industry has certainly attracted more females into it, which is amazing. And I think they've done a great job at trying to open up those those doors. I think there's still work to be done.
00:28:01
Speaker
um But obviously as part of our judging panel as well, when we're looking at it, we want to get that balance in there. I think it's good to have a male female balance even from a pilot point of view too. um But the reason we do take that photo is because every year we get more female judges. So it's nice to show... Have you got a sort of you black marker on there? I know, it's like only got to this step.
00:28:22
Speaker
But you're right, when I first started judging, you know, I was one of probably a handful of female judges and now 25% of our judging panel are female, um which is fantastic and we want to just keep growing that.
00:28:36
Speaker
Yeah. um And in terms of, you've been doing this for 12, 14 years, any standouts from over the years and it in terms of, you know, awards you've enjoyed or winners that you've been, you know, been excited to be part of over the years?
Memorable Award Moments
00:28:49
Speaker
I mean, Dollar Bill's always been a great one. The room really loves it when Dollar Bill wins. Yeah. they I think they're they're a popular win, but they also, I think the fact that they're beers which are left of centre,
00:29:02
Speaker
um, end up being, you know, the champion beer, it shows how it helps to show that diversity in, in beer as well. So, um, you know, always like those, I'm just, uh, I mean, Cooper's stout when that one, I've always loved Cooper's stout. I think it's a great, it's probably one of our best stouts that's available all year round. Um, and I thought kudos to Cooper's cause they've always made a ah great stout. So it's, it's those ones that yeah are kind of surprising that I enjoy.
00:29:32
Speaker
Yeah, I think Cooper Stout's always that great one. If you find yourself in a part of the country where you can't find any craft beer, there's a good chance that even the local RSL or sports club is going to have a dusty Cooper Stout somewhere in the back of the fridge. And it always tastes good as well. It's 6.5%, it holds its own. i totally agree.
00:29:49
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Great. now Well, thanks so much for taking the time to have a chat to us. I know there's a few people in here now, but you've got hordes of people in the in the next building i over that you need to sort of be keeping an eye on. Yeah. um But, yeah, thanks chatting. We'll look forward to the awards, um well, next week, but I guess the day before this goes out. um and And, yeah, see who who comes up on top this time. Yeah, amazing. And um thanks for having me on and look forward to next week.
00:30:12
Speaker
Cheers. Or tomorrow. Cheers. Or yesterday, whichever one it Yesterday, whatever. Yeah, okay. Cheers. Thank you.
00:30:25
Speaker
Emily, welcome to the pog podcast. Thanks for having me. No worries. Now, last time we spoke, you were still at Deeds Brewing. Do you want to tell us a little bit about your role now at GOG? Yes. so Now I'm still brewing. I'm still on the production floor, but then I'm also doing a little bit of quality. So I'm in in the lab.
00:30:40
Speaker
And we're here and quality is definitely the focus at the ABES. What's it like and judging at the moment? Oh, it's amazing. I think it's good to put kind of my everyday practice and what I'm doing at work and applying that to other beers and kind of seeing the best quality that is around in Australia and internationally.
00:30:59
Speaker
And a lot of people wouldn't know what judging looks like or what goes on. Can you give us an overview of like, you know, how a round works or a flight or what happens in the morning? Yeah, sure. So I guess they do tend to ease us in. So, for example, yesterday we started on the lagers.
00:31:14
Speaker
um You tend to get a flight, let's say, up to six beers, but it can be a lot more than that. And you'll take it one by one and judge on appearance, you're judging on aroma, flavor, and kind of like the body and overall style of it.
00:31:30
Speaker
And when you say starting your lagers, how many lagers did you have in like one ah in in your flight of lagers yesterday? You're talking like 10, 15, 20 that you're trying to assess? We had quite a few. So i say we had 15, but we'd broken that up to maybe half of that each time.
00:31:45
Speaker
Yeah. And when you say you're doing quality at, um, in the lab at Mountain Goat, do you do that, this sort of stuff, like a smaller scale version of like judging within the team at Mountain Goat? Would you do some blind tasting, you know, if you, if you, you'll be as against other similar styles or whatever, or always is the, is the quality you're doing there much more sort of lab focused and testing opposed to sort of, you know, sensory?
00:32:06
Speaker
Uh, I say more regularly. So every week we're testing the biz that we're doing, are they hitting our bitterness or color, but then We're still also bringing other people's beers. So on Fridays, we will do that against other breweries to kind of keep ourselves in specs. I think it's quite easy to get used to your own beers and their own flavor profile. So i think it's really important to taste other people's beers and other styles to kind of ground yourself.
00:32:31
Speaker
Yeah. And in terms of like Mountain Goat, I've won a lot of trophies in the time that I've been covering in the beer industry. I think from winning some of the barley wine just before the big sale. But then since IPAs most years, lot of like champion breweries as well.
00:32:44
Speaker
Does that put a bit of pressure on the team? So going back, know, I guess with your goat brewers hat on, is there a bit of pressure leading up to the awards thinking we've got to make sure we maintain our standards? I think that absolutely is. But I think the good thing at GOAT is we are so regularly checking in on our beers, on our specifications. We're doing the lab testing. And I think that ensures just consistent quality. And I think that's the good thing about GOAT. Yeah.
00:33:11
Speaker
And in terms of getting involved here then, so was it something you, are you done judging elsewhere before or, but you know, how did you actually get to be here and what's the process from sort of going, Hey, I'd like to give judging a go to actually getting your foot in the door and getting to the stage now where you're fully involved.
00:33:26
Speaker
So I started off, so I was kind of really looking to do, I really enjoy sensory, so I really wanted a bit judging. So I started off as most people kind of homebrew judging. um And then I was lucky enough to become an associate last year.
00:33:40
Speaker
um but I think that's helped by doing a lot of sensory at work. We do, I led a lot of um fault compound trainings. That's something I'm super interested in. So hopefully one more year of associate judge and then we'll see if I can do. And as part of being an associate, is there a big sort of learning component or are you working closely with other judges? Like what are you sort of getting out of it as a, I guess, newer judge?
00:34:02
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. So I'll kind of team up with the table captains. So kind of have four or fivers on a table with a table captain and one associate judge. um So not necessarily does my feedback or score go into the final judging round, but I get to see everybody's feedback, their score, how I relate and compare to their and comments which is super useful, constantly expanding my vocab which I think is one of the most important bits about it really. yeah And what about, you know, with a lot of different personalities, lot people with different levels of experience, people from different parts of the world, different sized breweries, people with different tastes, I guess, in beer.
00:34:39
Speaker
What's that like as you move around the different tables? You know, can it be a ah different experience table to table, session to session in terms of, you know, how how it can be? and And I guess is that beneficial to you as a judge and a brewer sort of, you know, having those different experiences?
00:34:53
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. I mean, everybody's different. I think the good thing is every day you rotate here on and with the table. So I'm learning something different from somebody else. Some people can be quite fast paced. And you get other people that really talk through it and each individual step.
00:35:07
Speaker
individual step ah well And as someone like i saw who's newer, do you feel that you are you know you know your take and your opinion on the beers is as valued as others? Or do you feel like you are, in it I've kind of like got my pee plates on, I'm here, almost like pick things up but you know over year year by year I think that's what I was really surprised by and enjoyed last year is that my commentary and feedback was validated and included um within the group. And that's what I really enjoyed is that I felt really included.
00:35:40
Speaker
And maybe if I was slightly off, someone would kind of explain to me why they thought that. And it was, yeah, really educational experience for me. And in terms of that, like maybe from the first year or this year, do you feel like you sort of walk away buzzing with sort of ideas for the brewery or a process or anything like that? Or is it, what do you sort of get out of it when you're back at work next week?
00:36:00
Speaker
Um, I think it it adds a bit of inspiration, a bit of kick at the butt. You kind of taste all these amazing beers and you see maybe some of the faults on other beers and how you compare to that, but also what you strive to be. So I think it definitely.
00:36:15
Speaker
um Yeah, motivates you to be better and kind of gives you kick up the bomb for next year and what you can improve on. Yeah. And do you have, you know, if you're allowed to choose, it are there any particular styles?
00:36:27
Speaker
You come in in the morning and you see the tables you're on, you're just like, for God's sake, why am I on that table? Or you're like, oh, that's awesome. like and this This is a beer I want to taste, either because you love it or you're keen to sort see how it's being made by others.
00:36:40
Speaker
I think for example, I had low alcohols this morning and although that's not necessarily a beer that I would be really excited about. You don't go hunting them at Gabs? ah But I think it's something that is actually really interesting to judge. and i think it's something that is come leaps and bounds and it was actually great to see how impressive the low alcohols were and to judge them where it's not something that I frequently taste. Yeah.
00:37:06
Speaker
yeah Fantastic, Emily. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you, guys. It wasn't too bad.
00:37:14
Speaker
The Crafty Pint podcast is produced and edited by Matt Hoffman. You can get all your beer-related news and reviews on the Crafty Pint website, craftypint.com, and can stay up to date on future podcast episodes via our socials.
00:37:28
Speaker
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00:37:44
Speaker
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