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Range wins at the Independent Beer Awards

The Independent Beer Awards is a celebration of independent beer, the extraordinary people who create it and production innovation. It aims to build a long-lasting future for our industry by ensuring quality, locally owned products are in the marketplace.
Range Brewing in Newstead, Queensland, took out Champion Beer and Champion IPA for its Fahrenheit IPA, along with Champion Small/Medium Brewery and Queensland State Champion.
Other major winners included Dainton Brewery (VIC) for Champion Large Brewery, and Moffat Beach Brewing Co (QLD) for Champion Brew Pub.
“Each year the Indies is celebrated as part of BrewCon which provides a fantastic opportunity for us to come together as a community, however this year the world changed and therefore so did we,” said Pete Philip, Independent Brewers Association Chairman.
“As a result, the Indies Project Group and the IBA Team quickly reinvented the event which resulted in close to 700 entries, 32 judges working in Brisbane, Perth and Newcastle and a live ceremony that included crosses to more than 40 nominees and state parties around the nation. A mammoth effort for a very small team.”
Michael Capaldo of Hop Products Australia, and Indies Project Group Lead, said, “We crowned champions and gave feedback to help nurture future trophy and medal winners.
“I was particularly impressed with the rise in quality of packaged beer. The first Indies competition in 2014 was similarly restricted to packaged product only, and I remember that the quality was definitely not what it is in 2020, it has gone through the roof. This is a great compliment to the maturity of Australian independents and to our brewers, who give their blood, sweat, and tears to make every batch better than the last.”
The IBA Board would like to congratulate all involved, particularly the trophy winners. It’s been a difficult year for the industry and we hope that pushing on with the Indies has provided a little respite from worrying about the world around us.
Philip concluded by saying, “It never ceases to amaze me what can happen when this industry rallies, we work together like no other, so I’d like to send a big shout out to the judges, project group members, and party hosts – all doing this for you in their own time, for overall the betterment of the industry. You rock and we will be forever grateful.”
The winners’ list is:
Champion Amber Dark Beer sponsored by Roxset Health and Safety Flooring Solutions – Stomping Ground Brewing Co, Upside Down Brown Ale.
Champion Hybrid Beer sponsored by Ellerslie Australia and Lallemand Brewing – Loophole Brewing Co, The Astral Project – Merlot Sour 2020
Champion Lager Beer sponsored by Barrett Burston Maltings – Hepburn Springs Brewing Co, Pilsner.
Champion Mixed Culture Beer sponsored by the IBA – Slow Lane Brewing, Botany Weisse.
Champion Session Beer sponsored by the Yakima Chief Hops – Moffat Beach Brewery, Moffs Summer Ale.
Champion Strong Beer sponsored by Midland Insurance Brokers – Dainton Brewery, Apocalypso II – Second Wave NEIPA
Champion Porter Stout Beer sponsored by Orora – FogHorn Brewery. Sligo Extra Stout
Champion IPA Beer sponsored by HopCo – Range Brewing, Fahrenheit IPA
Champion Pale Ale sponsored by Yakima Chief Hops – 3 Ravens Brewery, New World IPA
State Champions:
New South Wales State Champion presented by the NSW Government – Wayward Brewing Co
West Australian State Champion – Blasta Brewing
Champion Territories – BentSpoke Brewing Co. (ACT)
South Australian State Champion – Loophole Brewing Co.
Tasmanian State Champion – Moo Brew
Queensland State Champion – Range Brewing
Victorian State Champion – Dainton Brewery
Peer nominated awards:
Young Gun of the Year Award – Jessica McWatt Forbes, Red Stockholm
Community Initiative Award sponsored by BrewsNews – Nowhereman Brewing Co.
True Indie Supporter Award sponsored by Konvoy Kegs – The Local, St Kilda
Service to the Industry Award sponsored by Lallemand and Ellerslie Australia – Jamie Cook
Lifetime Achievement Award – Pete Meddings
Overall Champions:
Champion Brew Pub Award sponsored by Kegstar – Moffat Beach Brewery
Champion Small/Medium Brewery Award sponsored by Hop Products Australia – Range Brewing
Champion Large Brewery Award sponsored by Cryer Malt – Dainton Brewery
Champion Indie Beer Award sponsored by Bintani Australia – Range Brewing, Fahrenheit

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