Aussies perform well at International Beer Cup

Over the weekend three Australian breweries brought home international honours at the International Beer Cup in Yokohama, Japan.

Victoria’s Mountain Goat and Edge Brewing Project both out performed their successes from last year’s event, and Queensland’s White Lies medalled in its first appearance.


Mountain Goat won gold for its Imperial Stout Vintage 2018, silver for its Summer Ale and bronze for its West Kong Hazelnut Brown Ale.

Mountain Goat head brewer Ian Morgan told Brews News that he’s proud of his team for delivering three award-winning entries.

“It is a tough competition, with many categories missing out on medals altogether,” Morgan said.

“The IBC attracts judges from around the world with experience at World Beer Cup and other global competitions, and has an emphasis on providing constructive feedback, so it is worthwhile to enter regardless of whether or not your brewery comes away with some bling.”

Edge Brewing Project won gold for its Cool Hops Lager, silver for ‘Don’t fuck with Joe’ Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, and two bronze medals for its Toast Pilsner and Freak Flag Saison Gose.

Edge founder and head brewer Adam Betts said that it’s the third year the brewery has entered this competition, having previously collected two medals in both 2017 and 2016.

“The International Beer Cup awards a maximum of one gold, silver and bronze per beer style, so super stoked to have taken home 4 medals,” Betts said.

“All our beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised, so it’s great to see consistency for us with the beers travelling and being judged against world class competition.”

“We use all Australian ingredients, so its a credit to the Aussie maltsters and hop growers, that makes our beers stand out!”

The brewery has made several other international appearances, taking out medals and winning gold at both the International Beer Challenge and Australian International Beer Awards.

The third Australian brewery to take home honours was White Lies Brewing Co. Making its inaugural appearance at the competition, the Queensland-based brewery garnered bronze for its Raspberry Sour Berliner Weiss.

White Lies founder and brewer Lee McAlister-Smiley said that it’s balancing the sourness of the beer with the right fruit flavours that makes this beer stand out.

“For us, our sours tend to be more on the extreme sour end of the spectrum, and we then try to and integrate fruit that compliments the high sourness.”

Looking ahead, McAlister-Smiley said that entering international competitions like the IBC, will help build the brand down the line.

“For us, we have a goal to eventually export and winning awards like this helps strengthen our brand in both domestic and international markets.”

The 20-year-old international beer competition attracted breweries from around the world with 754 entries from 193 breweries in 23 countries, all lined up for a panel of 96 international judges.

To view the full list of winners, please visit here.

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