Voting is underway in the latest Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll as beer lovers across Australia pick the beers that have made the biggest impression on them in 2010. It’s the third time The Local Taphouse has run the poll, with the top 100 to be announced on Australia Day next year.
This year, The Crafty Pint has joined forces with the Taphouse team and will be running a series of articles featuring the top five picks of some of the country’s leading brewers and beer people as well as looking at the stories behind the most popular choices of previous years. The number of voters doubled from 2008 to 2009 – we’re hoping for an even bigger jump this year as the popularity and reach of good beer spreads.
First up is the selection of Bridge Road, the Beechworth brewery headed by Ben Kraus that has featured prominently on past lists for beers such as the Bling IPA, Chevalier Saison and Beechworth Pale Ale. Ben and his co-brewers Nardia, who will have high hopes for her debut brew – the Megachile Pluto Braggot – in this year’s countdown, and Steve, who recently joined the team from True South, have given us their picks, presented here in no particular order…
Ben’s Top Five
- Red Hill Imperial Stout
- Holgate Temptress over coffee beans
- Arctic Fox American Pale Ale
- Murray’s Grand Cru
- Hargreaves Hill Phoenix Imperial Red
Nardia’s Top Five
- Red Hill Temptation
- 4 Pines ESB
- Murray’s Grand Cru
- Hargreaves Hill ESB
- Red Oak Wee Heavy
Steve’s Top Five
Some pretty tasty beers there. But will any make your list? Whenever you’ve whittled yours down to a top five, head here to vote, where you’ll also find the poll’s voting criteria. And remember, one lucky voter will be selected at random to win cases of the top five beers.
