Region's best beers take centre stage

SOME of the Geelong region’s top brewers tapped into success last week, earning recognition for their standout suds at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBAs).

The world’s largest annual beer competition, the awards acknowledge and celebrate the best in brewing from around globe and this year received close to 2,300 entries from 22 countries.

Blackman’s Brewery, which last year celebrated the 10th anniversary of its craft beer operation, and the South Geelong-based Great Ocean Road Brewing both walked away with gold medals on Thursday last week for their Juicy Banger IPL and Hazy Mid brew respectively.

Blackman’s Brewery’s Juicy Banger IPL has brought home a gold medal for its “outstanding quality”. Photo: SUPPLIED

Determined through a blind assessment by the judging panel, the honour is awarded to beers of “outstanding quality” that are “technically flawless, well-balanced and exceptionally drinkable”.

Blackman’s Brewery co-owner Jess Blackman said the team valued making high quality, tasty beer and took care to ensure all beers taste amazing when they leave the brewery.

“From the day we opened our doors, quality has been a core value for us and entering the in AIBAs every year is an amazing opportunity to receive feedback on the quality of our beers, which is super important to us.

“We were nominated for Small Champion Australian Brewery again this year, and even though we didn’t take out the trophy, being top three for a few years in a row tells us we are being consistent in our quality, which is really what we want to see in our beers.”

Blackman’s Brewery co-owner Jess Blackman attributed the craft beer operation’s ongoing success to its passionate team and focus on quality. Photo: FACEBOOK/BLACKMAN’S BREWERY

The gold medal-winning Juicy Banger has been part of the brewery’s core line-up since the beer’s launch in 2015 and remains a personal favourite for many members of the team.

“Our Juicy Banger is exactly what it’s labelled: juicy (fragrant, tropical) and a banger (very easy to drink) – and it’s just a whole lot of fun,” Ms Blackman said.

“Juicy Banger is the highest rated local beer in the annual GABS Hottest 100 beers each year too, so we’re feeling pretty stoked about the high gold for this one.

“It’s a beer that’s aim is to smell amazing and drink extremely well; it’s the beer we love to drink.”

A fan favourite among locals, Great Ocean Road Brewing’s popular pale ale earned a bronze medal at last week’s award ceremony, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Photo: FACEBOOK/GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWING

Blackman’s Brewery’s European-style Dark Lager, American-style Pale Ale Mervyn, Barrel Farm Autumn Ale and Arthur Smoked Porter also received a silver medal, awarded to brews of excellent quality that “come close to gold with only minor deviations”.

Meanwhile, its European-style Czech pilsner, Reginald IPA and alcohol-reduced alternative Local Pacific Ale were awarded bronze medals, indicating they are “solid brews that show clear strengths and potential for further refinement”.

The judging panel also awarded medals to Bells Beach Brewery, Little Creatures, Aireys Inlet’s Salt Brewing and Wallington’s FarmDog Brewing.

For the full list of award-winning brews and breweries, head to melbourneroyal.com.au/australian-international-beer-awards