In a notable achievement, Mountain Culture Beer Co’s Status Quo Pale Ale secured the coveted first place in the annual GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer poll for the second consecutive year. The 16th edition of the poll, featuring 436 of Australia’s craft breweries, witnessed a fierce competition among 1,877 unique beers, with 63 breweries ultimately making it to the esteemed list.
Established in 2019 by the husband-and-wife duo DJ and Harriet McCready, Blue Mountains-based brewery Mountain Culture Beer Co has gained acclaim for its popular core range and frequent limited release brews. Notably, the brewery made history in 2023 by becoming the first Australian brewery to collaborate with the renowned American craft brewery, Sierra Nevada.
Securing the top spot with its Status Quo Pale Ale, Mountain Culture was followed by two previous champions – Balter XPA and BentSpoke Crankshaft IPA – claiming the second and third positions, respectively. This marked the third instance in the poll’s history where the top three positions repeated in the same order as the previous year.
Michael Bornholdt, Head of First Choice Liquor Market, extended congratulations to Mountain Culture for once again earning the prestigious honor. He noted that the winners represented the high-quality craft beer being produced across the country, with a clear preference for solid and consistent brews, particularly in the pale ale category.
The GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer poll is a significant celebration within the Australian craft beer industry, shedding light on consumer trends and the breweries shaping the landscape. The top 10 included two new entrants, Gage Roads Brewing Co’s Single Fin in sixth place and Pirate Life Brewing’s South Coast Pale Ale in tenth place.
The remaining top 10 beers comprised Your Mates Brewing Co’s Larry, Bridge Road Brewers’ Beechworth Pale Ale, Coopers Brewery’s Original Pale Ale, Stone & Wood Brewing Co’s Pacific Ale, and Young Henry’s Newtowner. Balter Brewing Co’s Cerveza claimed the distinction of being the most popular 2023 release on the Hottest 100 list, securing the 45th position.
East Coast breweries made a significant impact in this year’s poll, with NSW breweries appearing 27 times, QLD breweries 24 times, and Victoria 22 times. Meanwhile, WA secured 11 spots, and both ACT and SA scored eight positions each, showcasing the diversity and strength of Australia’s craft beer scene.
