Murray’s Craft Brewing Co has won its first gold medal at the revered Australian International Beer Awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s one of the biggest competitions of its kind in the world and Murray’s tasted the spoils on Thursday night – even though the team couldn’t be in Melbourne this year.
The judges gave the gold to the Moon Boy naming it best in a field with 30 other competitors.
It was a proud moment for head brewers Sean Costigan and Alex Tucker as the golden ale climbed to the top of the podium. Quite an improvement from the bronze Moon Boy won in 2016.
”We were up against some of the most popular beers in the Australian market,” Mr Costigan said.
“And it’s always a good feeling when one of your beers is recognised.”
Does this mean Murray’s, which prides itself on ‘no boring beers’ is becoming mainstream?
“Absolutely not, never,” Mr Cositgan said.
Murray’s also picked silver in the Amercian strong pale ale category for the Fred IPA, and bronze with one of its biggest sellers, Angry Man Pale Ale.
“Unfortunately we didn’t go for the awards,” Mr Costigan said.
“We were too busy in the brewery.”
But its that type of dedication that’s earned the award.
“The idea is when you make a beer that people like, that you replicate it,” Mr Costigan said.
“Consistency is the key especially when you’re working with raw ingredients and we’re lucky to have the support of some good suppliers.”
The AIBA, this year celebrating 25 years, is the largest annual beer competition in the world judging both draught and packaged beer.
The Awards attracted over 2,000 entries from 358 breweries in 36 countries.
Murray’s picked up six medals last year including four silvers for the Angry Man, Fred IPA keg, Fred IPA bottle and Wild Thing Imperial Stout. The bronzes went to the Scully Red IPA and Moon Boy.
“The [craft beer] scene is just growing and growing,” Mr Costigan said.
“It’s grown 17 per cent in the past year alone.”
The win came on the eve of a big weekend on the craft brewing scene.
Melbourne this weekend hosts the Great Australian Beer Spectapular that draws craft beer lovers from across the country.
Participating brewers send their weirdest, wildest beers to GABS. Last year Murray’s whipped up Paddington Bear, a marmalade barley wine style beer measuring 10 per cent.
This year Murray’s has concocted a more mild mannered brown ale, descriptively named Brown Town.
“This one’s a little too subtle to draw much attention,” Mr Costigan said.
“Not when you’re up against a beer brewed with bone marrow.”