The Hottest 100 Craft Beers poll has become one of the more fun ways of rating the beers released across Australia each year.
Doubling in size each year, the poll that was kickstarted by The Local Taphouse in 2008 and is now run in conjunction with The Crafty Pint and Brews News now even counts down the top 100 on Australia Day in a mirror of Triple J's annual music countdown. Last year, the top three were Feral's Hop Hog, Stone & Wood Pacific and Little Creatures Pale Ale (see above).
This year, the organisers are looking to get even more venues on board for countdown parties and here at The Crafty Pint we're keen to see more people getting involved in some of the states whose beers have tended to be underrepresented in the polls, such as Tassie and WA, a result in part of geography, population size and availability of beers.
As such, The Local Taphouse is asking interested host venues to get in touch by the end of November; by the middle of the month 20 were already signed up.
Co-owner Guy Greenstone says: "The Hottest 100 beers poll has become a great national celebration of Aussie craft beer. There are already 20 craft beer venues and bottle stores signed up as Official Venues and with the final number expected to be closer to 40 venues that's more than double last year".
Being an Official Venue involves rallying your customers to vote by promoting the poll and then either running a Hottest 100 Beers event on Australia Day to coincide with the final countdown or a promotion immediately after the poll. Official Venues will also now receive two complimentary tickets to either GABS Melbourne or GABS Sydney next May.
If any craft beerfocused venues are interested in becoming an Official Venue, they can email steve@thelocal.com.au before the end of November.
Voting commences on Monday December 15 and closes on January 9. You will be able to pick your top five beers via voting forms hosted on The Local Taphouse, Crafty Pint and Brews News websites.
For the 2013 results, click here or here.
