What's New in 2025

In 2025, the Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards welcomes a number of refinements to the program.

New Champion Australian Independent Trophies

With The Indies put on hold for 2025, Melbourne Royal and the Independent Brewers Association (IBA) will celebrate Australian independent beer on the world stage at the Awards, with two new trophies presented - Champion Australian Independent Beer and Champion Australian Independent Brewery.

Updates to the 2024 US Brewers Association Edition Beer Style Guidelines

The 2024 guidelines feature one newly added style, Italian-Style Pilsner. Originating in northern Italy, the beer combines what is considered a traditional German-Style Pilsner with a significant addition of noble- variety dry hops. The result is a light, refreshing lager-style beer with a more subtle, herbal hop aroma than the aggressively fruity or tropical aromas found in many dry-hopped American- or West Coast-Style India Pale Ales. The unique combination of OldWorld tradition and New World innovation makes the beer stand out as a singular style.

Along with the addition of Italian-Style Pilsner this year, adjustments have been made to several European styles to adequately reflect traditional and current trends, particularly of beer styles originating in Belgium and Germany.

The Beer Style Guidelines are a direct product and blend of historical significance, traditional authenticity, and popularity in the current craft beer consumer market. Adding in a style or modifying an existing style of beer is taken very seriously and is done after extensive expert consultation, research, and analysis of market factors. Another consideration when adding or modifying a style guideline is that commercially available examples are always in flux and may not be representative of historical versions or records of the style

Release, November 6, 2024. To read the full Press Release, click here.

Introduction of Cider and Perry categories into the Australian International Beer Awards

Recognizing the synergy between beer and cider production, the 2025 Awards will debut a Cider and Perry category. These will include two new trophies:

Best Cider or Perry
Champion Cider or Perry Producer

This exciting addition provides cideries with a platform to showcase their innovation in both draught and packaged formats in front of a specialised judging panel.

Cider and Perry Category and Classes

Best Cider or Perry

22A – Traditional Cider

22B – New World Cider

22C – Experimentaotherl Cider

22D – Reduced / Low Alcohol Cider

22E – Non-Alcohol Cider

22D – Traditional Perry

22E – New World Perry

22F – Experimental Perry

22G – Reduced / Low Alcohol Cider or Perry

22H – Non-Alcohol Cider or Perry

Cider and Perry entries will be categorised within the class by residual sugar content.

Dry (<9g/L)
Medium (9-25g/L)
Medium Sweet (25-40g/L
Sweet (>40g/L)

New Classes and Style Updates

The AIBA are now expanding the competition with three new classes and fine-tuning existing classes to reflect industry trends:

1B - Australian-Style Low Carbohydrate Lager (Best Australian Style Lager)

4G - Italian-Style Pilsner (Best Pilsner)

11D - Red India Pale Ale (Best Modern India Pale Ale)

Additionally, European beer styles definitions have been updated in the 2024 Edition US Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines.

Updated ABV for India Pale Ale Classes

In line with contemporary brewing trends, the minimum ABV for the following India Pale Ale classes has been adjusted from 6.3% to 5.8%.

for the following India Pale Ale classes:

10B - American Style India Pale Ale

10D - New Zealand Style India Pale Ale

10E - West Coast Style India Pale Ale

11A - Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale

11D – Red India Pale Ale

11E - Experimental India Pale Ale