This dark horse caught its competitors on the hops.
A dark lager brewed in regional Western Australia has toppled the competition and taken out the top prize at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards (AIBAs), the world’s largest annual beer competition.
Wedgetail Brewery’s European-style Dark Lager was named both Champion Australian Beer and Champion Australian Independent Beer, standing out among more than 2,300 entries with its medium body and smooth dark chocolate malt finish.
Founded by long-time mates and helicopter pilots Howie Croft and Pete ‘Macca’ McDonald, Wedgetail Brewing began as a passion project that quickly made a name for itself
“We came down and were excited to benchmark our beer and to win is amazing,” McDonald said.
Melbourne Royal senior manager of food and beverage awards, Kirrily Waldhorn, said the awards are a celebration of brewing excellence and a testament to the passion that defines the industry.
“Winning at this level shows that world-class beer isn’t limited to scale – it’s driven by commitment to craft and consistency,” she said. “To be recognised among the best in the world speaks volumes about the quality and ambition of our brewers.”
The AIBAs attract entries from breweries around the globe and are recognised for their strict judging process and focus on brewing excellence.
Top winners from the Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards
Champion Australian Beer: Wedgetail Brewery – Dark Lager (WA)
Traditional European-style lager with a rich, smooth profile. Also named Champion Australian Independent Beer.
Champion International Beer: Trumer Brewery – Trumer Pils (Berkeley, California, US)
A classic pilsner praised for its crisp balance and refined finish, made with noble hops and cold fermentation.
Best Australian Lager: Kaiju! Beer – Cerveza Crisp Lager (Huntingdale, Vic)
A Mexican-style lager with German yeast influence, designed for sessionability in warm weather.
Best Fruit Beer: Dollar Bill Brewery – Brambalama Ding Dong (Ballarat, Vic)
A boysenberry-forward ale aged with French oak and balanced funk. This is the third win for this beer.
Best Porter or Stout: Reckless Brewing Co – Stout (Bathurst, NSW)
A rich, roasty stout with smooth texture and a lingering chocolate bitterness.
Best Traditional India Pale Ale: Philter Brewing – Haze (Marrickville, NSW)
A hop-forward IPA with citrus, pine and a clean bitter finish.
Best Specialty Beer: RojiCat Beer – Chili Cat (Gold Coast, Qld)
A bold chili-infused brew with balanced malt sweetness and a dry finish.
Best Belgian/French Ale: Slipstream Brewing – Gold Wild Ale (Brisbane, Qld)
A wild-fermented ale with layers of fruit, oak, and funk, inspired by Belgian brewing.
Best Cider: Brady’s Lookout Cider – Legana Wild Cuvee 200 (Tamar Valley, Tas)
Made from wild-fermented Tasmanian apples with natural effervescence and a dry finish.
Best Non-Alcoholic Beer: Bridge Road Brewers – Free Time Raspberry Sour (Beechworth, Vic)
A bold, fruit-driven sour that highlights the flavour potential of non-alcoholic brewing.
This article originally appeared on news.com.au. It was reproduced here with permission.
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