Following the lead of Triple J’s recent announcement, the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers campaign will stage its next countdown on Saturday 27 January 2018 and continue the tradition of marrying the country’s most popular beers with the best tunes of the year.
Inspired by Triple J’s countdown of Australian music, the Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll started a decade ago as a bit of fun for staff and punters at The Local Taphouse bars in Melbourne and Sydney, before being renamed the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers after partnering with Australasia’s premier beer festival in 2015. Over the last ten years, the poll has grown to become, as Australian Brews News describes it, ‘the largest and most influential people’s choice poll in the land’.
The poll engages hundreds of breweries and thousands of beer lovers around the nation, as well as many craft beer venues who host countdown events. It’s become a true celebration of this booming industry, and indeed provides a snapshot of the styles, trends and brands shaping craft beer in any given year – information that then often guides consumers and retailers in their own buying decisions.
Discussing the change, Steve Jeffares, co-founder of GABS, said “For us, the poll has always been about a celebration of Australia’s favourite craft beers, and it’s always gone hand in hand with Triple J’s countdown of Australia’s favourite tunes. We understand, and fully support, Triple J’s decision to change the date of their countdown, and look forward to this year’s Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers countdown”.
The poll recently extended to New Zealand with the launch of the GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers. Voting for the 2017 Aussie poll will open on Wednesday 13 December and the Kiwi poll on Wednesday 20 December.