It’s that time of year again; it’s time for my Golden Pint Awards. If you’re new to the concept; it was a beer blogging movement started in the UK – where they challenged people to critically assess their best beer moments of the year. Basically it’s a celebration of best beers had during the year by people who know the most about beer, or at least think they do!
This is amazingly, the twelfth consecutive year I’ve done this now and, like I say every year, it’s getting harder rather than easier! We have once again managed to get this up as a composite piece, so if you want to hear some of our deliberating/thought process listen to the podcast before reading further. If you can’t be bothered/don’t want to hear me and Dylan talk about beer for almost 2 hours please continue reading below.
Show Notes
Best Beer Media (3:52)
Best Label Art (6:41)
Best Event (8:58)
Worst Beer (11:59)
Biggest Disappointment (15:18)
Best Non-Alcoholic Beer (20:33)
Best Australian Bottled Beer (23:06)
Best Australian Canned Beer (27:46)
Best International Bottled Beer (32:04)
Best International Canned Beer (38:33)
Best New Brewery (44:14)
Best International Brewery (47:12)
Best Australian Brewery (50:07)
- Top 27 Breweries in no particular order
- La Sirene
- Sobremesa
- Mountain Culture
- Boatrocker
- Banks
- Hawkers
- Bracket
- Deeds
- Fox Friday
- Kaiju
- Hop Nation
- Good Land
- White Bay
- Slow Lane
- Two Rupees
- Wildflower
- The Zythologist
- Moffat Beach
- Noodledoof
- The Albert
- Fortitude
- Exit
- Devilbend
- Burnley
- Bonehead
- Bojak
- Blackman’s
- Top 10 (1:25:40)
- Hawkers
- La Sirene
- Hop Nation
- Slow Lane
- Boatrocker
- Kaiju
- Wildflower
- Mountain Culture
- Fox Friday
- Good Land
Best Australian Draught Beer – Fox Friday Giles A Pilsner taking out Draught Beer of the Year? Shock Horror! Fox Friday had an absolutely terrific year and this traditional German Pilsner stood out to me. Enjoyed at Melbourne’s premier craft beer & food destination, Kekou, the beer was gorgeously bitter with enough malt to keep you coming back for more! Dylan: ???
Best Australian Bottled Beer – Boatrocker Jackjet (23:06) The best Australian Imperial Stout ever? I don’t think it’s hyperbole! The Jack Daniel’s barrels took Boatrocker’s Ramjet to another level – combined with drinking it at the golden 3 year mark, it was always destined for success. Dylan: Site Fermentation Barrel Aged Pineapple Sour Blonde
Best Australian Canned Beer – Mountain Culture Anna (27:46) If not for the intervention of the craft beer enthusiast at my local I would’ve passed this year’s Canned Beer of the year by. I really shouldn’t have been considering missing it given how consistent the Mountain Culture hoppy stuff has been recently. This was a stunning IPA, really dank with lots of pine as well as a pithy citrus note – which I’m going to put down as Pomello (but could be anything in that weird orange citrus family). Dylan: Mountain Culture Butthead
Best Cask Beer – Bentspoke Fugg N Chino Every year I keep wondering if this will be the last year we do Cask Beer, such is the dearth of options available to us. And every year I think we should reward one of the few places that still does one with an award. This year all of my cask offerings, at least that I remember, were at Bentspoke in Canberra. Fugg ‘N Chino was a lovely, roast English Porter which was balanced by the hops that gives the beer its name; Fuggles & Chinook. Dylan: None
Best Overseas Draught Beer – Side Project Satsuma (Blend 2) The Side Project tasting held at Carwyn in January 2023 is one of the best beer events held in Australia. The beer was unbelievably good across the board. Most notably, the sours, which I knew very little about held their own alongside some of the biggest whales there are in beer at the moment. The sweet citrus character in this beer alongside the oak, funk and acidity was close to perfect. Dylan: ???
Best Overseas Bottled Beer – Side Project Beer Barrel Time (Rye 2020) (32:04) When the aforementioned Side Project event was announced I said to Dylan that our Bottled Beer Awards for the year would almost certainly be done and dusted before Australia Day. Right I was. Beer Barrel Time (Rye 2020) is as close to perfection, for my taste buds, as you could make an Imperial Stout! Dylan: Side Project Beer Barrel Time (2021)
Best Overseas Canned Beer – Garage Project Descent to the Dungeon of Dankness (34:01) About 2 weeks before our hastily arranged wedding last year, I walked into Otter’s for some vow inspiration beers. Mick said I couldn’t leave without Descent to the Dungeon of Dankness from Garage Project. It was the perfect beer for the occassion; bitter, dank as anything and appropriately thought provoking. The vows went down a treat a few weeks later – as did several more of these as I found them over the ensuing weeks. Dylan: Beer Tree Brew Super Cat Daddy
Best Collaboration Beer – Third Moon X Beak Paste – It was a bit of a lean year on the collaboration beer front, whether that was a COVID hangover I’m not sure. Third Moon out of Canada & Beak from the UK teamed up to produce Paste; a stunning Imperial Pastry Stout that pairs the classic flavours of chocolate, vanilla and maple syrup together in a beautiful, decadent concoction – which for the life of me I don’t understand why it wasn’t cloying! Dylan: ???
Best Branding – Fox Friday In the modern beer market with so much competition for shelf space it is so unusual to immediately be able to tell what brewery a beer is from. That isn’t an issue for Tasmania’s star brewer Fox Friday – there branding is instantly recognizable, clear, easy to access and identify what the beer you’re about to buy is going to do. Dylan: ???
Best Label Art – Mountain Culture X Sierra Nevada Summer Ale (6:41) I recommend you go and listen to the audio for this one. It’s hard to put into words, but this label somehow captures the essence of a ~5 year old brewery and a brewery nudging 50 (45 this year) at the same time! Dylan: Mountain Culture X Sierra Nevada Summer Ale
Best Australian Brewery – Fox Friday (50:07) What a year for Fox Friday. The Tassie brewery have been known to aficionados for years, but have really catapulted into the consciousness of most craft drinkers this year. With taprooms opening in Melbourne & Perth in 2024 we can only hope they will go from strength to strength!
Top 10 Finishing Order (1:25:40)
- Fox Friday
- Mountain Culture
- La Sirene
- Hop Nation
- Slow Lane
- Kaiju
- Boatrocker
- Hawkers
- Wildflower
- Good Land
Best Overseas Brewery – Side Project (47:12) Possibly the simplest award I’ve ever given in a Golden Pints. 11 Beers, the worst of which was one of the highest beers on Untappd ever. It really couldn’t be anything other than Side Project. Dylan: Side Project
Best New Brewery Opening 2023 – Devilbend Farm Beer Co (44:14) If this is the first time you’re hearing of Devilbend, I guarantee you it won’t be the last time. The brewery is producing really good, to style, offerings with plans in place involving estate beers & coolships. Their taproom on the Mornington Peninsula is wonderful and is serving really good food. Keep your eye’s peeled and don’t sleep on their beers if you see them. Dylan: Devilbend Farm Beer Co
Pub/Bar of the Year – La Sirene – Reservoir Normally I avoid giving this award to a brewery bar, but so devastated was I with the loss of their Alphington brewery/cellar door I couldn’t not give it to La Sirene after they opened a new, better cellar door – albeit even further away in Reservoir. The beer I’m sure you all know, was exceptional. The fit out is slightly rustic, yet chic and really fits with the vibe. The food? Next level. Could be some of the best a brewery offers in Victoria. Dylan: ???
Beer Festival of the Year – Pint of Origin As Good Beer Week has struggled over the years since COVID first hit, Pint of Origin has become bigger, better and able to stand on it’s own as a festival. Trekking around to too many venues one weekend in May has become an annual tradition & one I hope doesn’t end anytime soon! Dylan: ???
Independent Retailer of the Year – Otter’s Promise Otter’s Promise is simply the best craft beer bottle shop; online or physical in Victoria. The staff are always friendly and helpful, the range is really well curated & the snacks/hot sauce options are always on point. You haven’t been? What’s wrong with you! Dylan: ???
Best Beer Media – Brews News – Brews News (3:52) To call it a longevity award would be a disservice. Brews News publish the best industry news, which in turn makes the news section at Beer O’Clock so much easier to do! Their website makeover this year also makes it really clear and easy to navigate. Dylan: Good Beer Hunting
Best Event – Lager is King (8:58) Carwyn really are the kings of throwing events. Lager is King is their annual ode to the greatest arm of beer styles. Kicking off with a private tasting from The Albert Brewing, before taking in the best lagers the country has to offer. If you’re a Melbourne local, make sure you get to a Carwyn event in 2024! Dylan: Side Project @ Carwyn
Worst Beer – Sierra Nevada Spiced Barrel – Aged Bigfoot (11:59) I can’t believe I’m putting a Sierra Nevada beer here, but it was downright undrinkable. Calling it a disgusting clove bomb is being kind to it! I know cloves can be overpowering in cooking, but I don’t know how they possibly released this barleywine after QC! Dylan: Sierra Nevada Spiced Barrel – Aged Bigfoot
Biggest Disappointment – Robelinda2 Shut Down (15:18) This is incredibly niche, even for a podcast that occasionally (read regularly) delves a little off the beaten path. However, when I come home from imbibing a beer or two too many, I’m often wont to put on some 90’s cricket highlights. Sadly, that will now be much harder thanks to the Bangladeshi Cricket Club that (falsely) claimed copyright over some of Robelinda2’s Youtube videos and have had his account taken down. It’s was very much a sad day for me & for cricket! Dylan: State of Classic Victorian Craft Breweries
Best Non-Alcoholic Beer – Banks NOPE (20:33) Banks NOPE packed as much hop character into a NA beer as any I’ve had the chance to sample. The body was pretty impressive, to the point that I don’t think you’d know it was NA if you weren’t explicitly told. Is there any greater compliment than that? Dylan: Heaps Normal Half Day Hazy
I know it’s been a while between drinks, but I think we’re finally at a point where we might get things back on track. Dylan & I have a few podcasts recorded, which we’ll hopefully get up in the next few weeks!
Remember it’s always Beer O’Clock somewhere in the world!
