Melbourne, Australia, 17 December, 2024
Introducing Cider & Perry categories, four new trophies & three new beer classes.
Entries will open soon for the Melbourne Royal ® Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), the world’s largest annual beer competition evaluating both draught and packaged beer. In 2025, the Awards will introduce a Cider and Perry category, four new trophies and three new beer classes.
Entries open on Tuesday 21 January, inviting breweries and cideries from around the world to compete on a global stage, gain recognition for their craft, and benefit from invaluable feedback from a distinguished panel of Australian and international judges.
In 2024, the AIBA attracted 2,500 entries from a record 412 breweries across 22 countries. In 2025, the Awards will offer 14 major trophies, including the coveted Champion Australian Beer and Champion International Beer trophies, as well as 25 category trophies.
In an exciting development, the Independent Brewers Association (IBA) and Melbourne Royal will celebrate independent breweries on the world stage for the first time at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards, ensuring that quality independent beer continues to be celebrated despite the temporary hiatus of the Independent Beer Awards in 2025.
Four new trophies will be introduced, two of which will be presented to recognise and celebrate independent breweries – Champion Australian Independent Beer and Champion Australian Independent Brewery.
“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,” says Kirrily Waldhorn, Senior Manager F&B Awards at Melbourne Royal.
Further expanding its reach, the Awards will introduce a Cider and Perry category in 2025, with the following trophies awarded: Best Cider or Perry, and Champion Cider or Perry Producer. These additions provide cideries with a unique platform to showcase their innovations in both draught and packaged formats.
Reflecting industry trends, the Awards will also introduce 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% to 5.8%) ensure the Awards remain at the forefront of brewing innovation.
Entries to the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards formally open on 21 January 2025. The 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards trophy presentation dinner will be held on Thursday 15 May 2025 at Victoria Pavilion, Melbourne Showgrounds.
Key dates:
Entries Open: Tuesday 21 January
Entries Close: Friday 7 March
Judging: Tuesday 6 May – Friday 9 May
Awards Presentation: Thursday 15 May
For more information, visit melbourneroyal.com.au/beer
