Best Beers & Ciders in Australia
Shimmering, hazy and luminous in the glass. Subtropical beaches and ocean wilderness with fuzzy guava, coconut and melon on the palate with lovely weight that is perfectly balanced by its refreshing clean finish.
01. The Uraidla Brewery - Cosmic Labyrinth Strong Pale Ale
State: South Australia Category: BeerStunning blush colour. Slight haze. Acetic and fresh raspberry aroma and delicious fresh berry flavour. Balanced acidity. A heart starter of a beer. Love this!
02. Sailors Grave Brewing - Biru Sake Kasu & Satsuma Plum
State: Victoria Category: BeerLovely black in colour; minimal carbonation and complex malt bill aromas lead into flavours of caramel, fig, coffee and date. A warming booze that is balanced with some residual sugar that leisurely coats the glass.
03. Brick Lane Brewing Co - TOF - Leviathan / Russian Imperial Stout
State: Victoria Category: BeerTropicana fruit punch, cloudy and bitter, wild and alive. Lovely apple pie, spice, slight pear and barnyard aromas. Good acid drive. Balanced sweetness. Dry finish.
04. Ciderday - Premier
State: South Australia Category: CiderGolden yellow appearance with a medium haze. Bright tropical nose with citrus and coconut notes. Restrained residual sweetness effortlessly balanced by regal bitterness. Enjoyable.
05. The Uraidla Brewery - Half Moon Session Pale Ale
State: South Australia Category: BeerDeep brown in colour. Subtle carbonation. Predominantly dark chocolate aroma, slightly astringent. Solid roast malt balanced with residual sweetness. A well-made expression of this style.
06. Exit Brewing - Milk Stout
State: Victoria Category: BeerLuminous and bright. Slight wheat haze with a light body and Splice-like, pine/lime/ coconut flavour and aromas.
07. The Uraidla Brewery - Future Light Little Pale Ale
State: South Australia Category: BeerBrilliant clarity, filtered, sparkling fine bead, noble, savoury spice leaning toward a poached pear. Delicate and totally smashable.
08. Mismatch Brewing Co - Lager
State: South Australia Category: BeerLight, bright and clear with grassy Australian hops on the palate. Sessionable ale at it finest.
09. Mismatch Brewing Co - Session Ale
State: South Australia Category: BeerPale straw, super fresh, hopped and cloudy New England-style but not particularly hazy. Intense green apples and soursobs. Beautifully expressed hop character. Could be a tough first beer of the day but a good one to save for later on.
10. The Welder's Dog Brewery - Piney Pale Ale
State: New South Wales Category: Beer
Category Winners
Crispy Ale
- 01.
Mismatch Brewing Co - Session Ale
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Light, bright and clear with grassy Australian hops on the palate. Sessionable ale at it finest. - 02.
The Welder's Dog Brewery - Piney Pale Ale
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Pale straw, super fresh, hopped and cloudy New England-style but not particularly hazy. Intense green apples and soursobs. Beautifully expressed hop character. Could be a tough first beer of the day but a good one to save for later on. - 03.
Exit Brewing - Pale Ale
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Golden colour, bright and clear. Great head and bright; earthy and herbaceous notes on the nose. Palate is great. Well balanced beer with good bitterness and malt characteristics. Would happily drink a couple. - 04.
Felons - Low Carb
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Punchy little new world session ale. Super fine beading; the upfront hop dissolves into a wispy cloud on a late autumn afternoon. Very smashable.
Crispy Lager
- 01.
Mismatch Brewing Co - Lager
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Brilliant clarity, filtered, sparkling fine bead, noble, savoury spice leaning toward a poached pear. Delicate and totally smashable. - 02.
Rocky Ridge - Pilsner Unfiltered Lager
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Fresh hop forward and deep malt. Long flavour but the extended bitterness means it’s not as smashable as its European influencers. - 03.
The Uraidla Brewery - Helles Lager
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Crispy goodness. Olympic golden and fresh. Great balance. Could lean into a box of this while sitting on a deck chair watching some backyard cricket. - 04.
Leishman Lager - Lager
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Bright golden appearance. Nose presents some herbaceous notes. Nice effervescence and drinks crisp. One to enjoy with a spicy Vietnamese salad.
Dark Malt
- 01.
Brick Lane Brewing Co - TOF - Leviathan / Russian Imperial Stout
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Lovely black in colour; minimal carbonation and complex malt bill aromas lead into flavours of caramel, fig, coffee and date. A warming booze that is balanced with some residual sugar that leisurely coats the glass. - 02.
The Eleventh Order - Valkyrie Dark Lager
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Deep brown in colour with a small head and a predominately dark chocolate aroma. The solid roast malt is balanced with a residual sweetness. Top effort. - 03.
Modus Operandi Brewing - Former Tenant Red IPA
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Deep red, hop forward on palate and nose. Lots of modified malts added for flavour with sultana and caramel on the nose. Fire-brewed, upfront and long flavoured. - 04.
Brick Lane Brewing Co - Red Hoppy Ale
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Orange colour with slight haze and pillowy creamy head. Stoned fruit on the nose. Nicely balanced palate. Good bitterness with stone fruit carrying through. - 05.
Brick Lane Brewing Co - TOF Abyss
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Dark brown and black in colour. Viscous. Raisin, cloves, star anise and spicy aromas. Slight vegemite. Full bodied. Warming. Plenty of depth with burnt caramel and residual sugar all in balance. Drink in front of the fire with raisin toast. - 06.
The Uraidla Brewery - Moonlight Oatmeal Stout
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Dark, black beer with a beige head. Rich chocolate, nutty and slight Vegemite nose. Lighter than expected palate with some roasted coffee and nutty characteristics with good bitterness. - 07.
Burnley Brewing - Dunkles
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Crimson and hop-forward creamy ale with a little citrus tang. Leans slightly sharp with a bitter touch on the finish. - 08.
Burnley Brewing - Doppelbock
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Copper amber hues; beautiful colour. Toffee caramel citrus nose that isn’t too sweet. Slight floral aromas of rosewater that is herbaceous. Faultless. - 09.
Young Henrys - Motorcycle Oil
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Deep reddish colour with a beige head. Laces well. Some stonefruit notes on the nose. Palate presents well. Nicely balanced with some bitterness and good mouthfeel. Hints of biscuit to finish. - 10.
Felons - Imperial Stout 2021
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Very dark and viscous. Vanilla and banana nose with hints of chocolate. Caramel palate carries the chocolate and banana notes.
Ester
- 01.
Guardian - Guardain Belgian Triple
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Golden colour. Good clarity. Heavy pear ester-driven aroma (possibly Belgian?) and balanced flavours.
Hop Driven
- 01.
The Uraidla Brewery - Cosmic Labyrinth Strong Pale Ale
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Shimmering, hazy and luminous in the glass. Subtropical beaches and ocean wilderness with fuzzy guava, coconut and melon on the palate with lovely weight that is perfectly balanced by its refreshing clean finish. - 02.
The Uraidla Brewery - Half Moon Session Pale Ale
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Golden yellow appearance with a medium haze. Bright tropical nose with citrus and coconut notes. Restrained residual sweetness effortlessly balanced by regal bitterness. Enjoyable. - 03.
The Uraidla Brewery - Future Light Little Pale Ale
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Luminous and bright. Slight wheat haze with a light body and Splice-like, pine/lime/ coconut flavour and aromas. - 04.
Dainton Beer - Jungle Juice Hazy IPA
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Tropical, citrus aroma. Solid haze. Stone fruit specifically nectarine. Persistent head and lacing. Malt sweetness. - 05.
The Welder's Dog Brewery - IPA
State: New South Wales - 06.
Nowhereman Brewing Co - Rhapsody XPA
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Light, bright, tight and golden. Some lifted white wine aromatics with a bitter orange finish. - 07.
The Uraidla Brewery - Third Eye West Coast Pale Ale
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Light gold, brilliant clarity, poached apricots, subtle bitterness. Drinkable. - 08.
Slipstream Brewing Co - G-Force IPA
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Lovely copper colour, bright, good foam stability, juicy grapefruit, burnt caramel biscuit, sappy, resinous. Nice one. - 09.
Young Henrys - IPA
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Hazy and golden amber colour. Great head retention lacing down the glass. Stone fruit on the nose with hints of orange. Palate is fairly well balanced and carries well from the aromas. - 10.
Felons - IPA
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Golden colour, slight chill haze. Resinous, passionfruit, biscuity aroma is reflected in flavour. Could drink a couple of these.
Sour/Farmhouse/Wild Ferment
- 01.
La Sirène - Cuvée Bleu / Chardonnay Co-fermented Wild Ale with Blueberries
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Fantastic juicy berry kriek. Nice hop profile and super tart with a deep crimson velvet colour. - 02.
La Sirène Brewing - Coolship Collection / Age & Beauty
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Early season stone fruit, green grass and hay, there’s a homestead pickled onion quality on the finish that married with a sharp acidity to create an elegant and balanced expression of the category. - 03.
Bridge Road Brewers - Passionfruit and Guava Sour
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Golden colour. Solid haze. Mouthwatering stone fruit, tropical fruit, acetic and slightly fresh cut green grass aromas. Fluffy, round mouth feel. Balanced acidity. Enjoyable.
New World Cider
- 01.
Hills Cider - Berry Berry Jam Sour
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Beautiful fine carbonation and delicious berry colour. The Ribena notes take you back to sitting in your mother's Laser on the way to the beach in 40 degree weather with no air conditioning and sticky hands. - 02.
Hills Cider - Imperial Hazy Apple & Hop
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Pale yellow and lightly cloudy. Apple and candy aromatics with a pineapple tang to finish. Extra booze. - 03.
Young Henrys - Cloudy Cider
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Cloudy pet nat-like, white in colour, wild and slightly reductive with some palate sweetness and acid to balance. Pretty good. - 04.
Plenty Cider - Original
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Fresh and crunchy green apples that Granny Smith would be proud of. Straw in colour and aroma. Good clarity. Medium sweet. Clean. - 05.
Felons - Sonny Cider
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Straw coloured. Funky, textural umami. Nori, mushrooms and rich honey soy notes on the nose. Soft, muted and subtle. - 06.
Louis Hard Cider - Hard Cider
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Very pale straw in colour, great clarity. Fresh apple juice, slight confectionary nose. Medium sweetness. Clean and bright with medium acid.
Traditional/Wild
- 01.
Ciderday - Premier
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Tropicana fruit punch, cloudy and bitter, wild and alive. Lovely apple pie, spice, slight pear and barnyard aromas. Good acid drive. Balanced sweetness. Dry finish. - 02.
L.A.S. - Farmhouse Cider
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Pale yellow, a beautiful example of traditional farmhouse cider. Softly sparkling. dry phenolic texture with a short finish and a light tannin lingers. - 03.
LOBO - Lenswulf cider
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Creamy and scrumped up, like a hangover cure at a pub in the back streets of Walthamstow with your full English breakfast and heaps of Worcestershire sauce. - 04.
Plenty Cider - Cornucopia
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Clarified, big table apple expression and ripe sweetness.
Speciality Cider
- 01.
Willie Smiths - 2020 Bulmer's Norman
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Light gold, some foam retention, ripe table apple character, balanced, neutral with some sweetness to finish.
Cider (Combined)
- 01.
Ciderday - Premier
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Tropicana fruit punch, cloudy and bitter, wild and alive. Lovely apple pie, spice, slight pear and barnyard aromas. Good acid drive. Balanced sweetness. Dry finish. - 02.
Hills Cider - Berry Berry Jam Sour
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Beautiful fine carbonation and delicious berry colour. The Ribena notes take you back to sitting in your mother's Laser on the way to the beach in 40 degree weather with no air conditioning and sticky hands. - 03.
Willie Smiths - 2020 Bulmer's Norman
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Light gold, some foam retention, ripe table apple character, balanced, neutral with some sweetness to finish. - 04.
L.A.S. - Farmhouse Cider
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Pale yellow, a beautiful example of traditional farmhouse cider. Softly sparkling. dry phenolic texture with a short finish and a light tannin lingers. - 05.
Hills Cider - Imperial Hazy Apple & Hop
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Pale yellow and lightly cloudy. Apple and candy aromatics with a pineapple tang to finish. Extra booze.