U.S. breweries win numerous medals in Australian Beer Awards

Modern Brewery Age, May 30, 2005

The Australian International Beer Awards were earlier this month under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. The Pelican Pub & Brewery of Pacific City, Oregon created a buzz when it won the titles of Grand Champion Beer, Champion International Brewery and Champion Ale with its Doryman's Dark Ale. This was the second year in which tiny Pelican had punched above its weight in the awards.

As the competition organizers noted, "A micro-brewery in the USA has created a little slice of history by winning the Grand Champion Trophy at the Australian International Beer Awards for the second year in succession ... It is only the second time in the past decade that a brewery has won the title twice in a row." Pelican won the 2004 title with its India Pelican Ale.

The Australian International Beer Awards are conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RAS), an organization dedicated to "excellence in agriculture," and the University of Ballarat.

The Doryman's Dark Ale won the 2005 Grand Champion Beer title from a field of 793 beers entered from 31 countries and more than 100 breweries. The beer was also awarded another top prize--the 'Lancer Pacific Trophy' for Champion Ale--and the brewery was voted Champion International Brewery.

The title of champion porter went to Samuel Adams Holiday Porter, from the Boston Beer Company of Boston, MA, and Samuel Adams Light won "Best in Class" for packaged lager. In total, Boston took 19 medals. As a footnote, it almost swept the class for wood-aged beers with its Utopias, Triple Bock and Millennium.

Rogue Ales won nine medals, including gold in the saison category and a gold for its Imperial IPA; Bridgeport won seven medals, including a gold for its Ropewalk Ale; Spoetzl Brewery won five medals, and Firestone-Walker won three, including a gold for Firestone Pale Ale.

"This competition is called the preeminent showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific Region," said Christopher Weir of the Firestone-Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA.