Entries are open for the Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), with four additional trophies up for grabs this year.
The new trophy categories include two that will be awarded to independent breweries – Champion Independent Beer and Champion Australian Independent Brewery.
Senior Manager F&B Awards at Melbourne Royal, Kirrily Waldhorn commented that the new award categories allow independent breweries to receive recognition and ensure the sector’s excellence.
“Melbourne Royal is a proud supporter of the Australian independent brewing industry, and we are excited to judge the indies and present these two trophies for the first time in 2025 as part of the Australian International Beer Awards,” said Waldhorn.
AIBA has partnered with the Independent Brewers Association (IBA) and The Melbourne Royal Food & Beverage Award Programs (Melbourne Royal). CEO of Melbourne Royal, Brad Jenkins expressed that the AIBAs celebrate independent breweries on a global stage.
“The Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards continue to champion the beer industry by recognising excellence, supporting brewers and cider makers, and celebrating their craft,” he said.
Participants will compete for 24 category trophies and 14 major trophies, including the Champion Australian Beer and Champion International Beer trophies. The draught and packaged beer products will be considered by a panel of both Australian and international judges.
The AIBA have also included new Cider and Perry categories. Trophies for Best Cider or Perry and Champion Cider or Perry Producer, offer a platform for cideries to gain recognition.
This year’s Awards also saw the introduction of three new beer classes, Australian-Style Low Carbohydrate Lager, Italian-Style Pilsner, and Red India Pale Ale. Updates to European beer style definitions and a revised minimum ABV for India Pale Ale classes (from 6.3 per cent to 5.8 per cent) ensure the Awards remain at the forefront of brewing innovation.
Jenkins says that the new style, trophy, and category additions for the 2025 AIBAs reflect the Awards dedication to promoting transformation and growth within the industry.
Entrants from both Australian and international breweries and cideries are eligible to compete. Regardless of size and commercial production, the AIBA provide brewers and breweries a platform to enlist, contend and share their craft.
Waldhorn shared with Beer & Brewer the entrant criteria in order to compete and what the panel of local and international judges are in search of.
“All entries into the Australian International Beer Awards primarily must be commercially available in the market from where they originate. Entry in the correct class according to style is imperative and the style stated on the commercial label must match the Class entered,” she said.
Each entry is blind-judged and is attributed a score out of 20 points. Breweries and their entries are considered based on appearance, aroma, style, technical quality, and flavour.
“In order to be awarded a Gold, a score of 17.0 is required, with Silver requiring a score of between 15.5-16.9 and a Bronze, a score of between 14.0-15.4 is needed. There is much celebration in the judging room when a Gold is awarded, with the judges ‘dinging’ their glasses to announce a gold medal win on the table,” Waldhorn added. Entries will close on 7 March, and judging will commence from 6 May through to 9 May. The awards will be presented on 15 May, with tickets on sale now for the 2025 Melbourne Royal Trophy Presentation Dinner at Victoria Pavillion in Melbourne’s Showgrounds.