On Monday 10 November, the AHA(WA) hosted the 2025 AHA & Coca-Cola Hospitality Awards for Excellence, with more than 1100 industry stakeholders in attendance.
This year’s awards attracted a record 605 nominations across more than 40 categories, highlighting the strength and depth of the state’s hospitality talent and honouring local breweries.
AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods said this year’s awards reflected the innovation, resilience and dedication that continue to define WA’s world-class hospitality industry.
“Western Australia’s hospitality venues and professionals continue to set the national standard for excellence,” Mr Woods said.
“This year’s winners showcase the incredible diversity and creativity across our industry, from vibrant regional pubs and boutique breweries to sophisticated dining venues and dynamic hotel bars.
“Each award recipient embodies the spirit of WA hospitality: welcoming, innovative and committed to delivering unforgettable experiences for guests. Their achievements strengthen our tourism offering, support local jobs and help cement WA’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier destinations for food, drink and travel.”
Throughout the night, several breweries were recognised for their contribution to WA’s hospitality industry, including Metricup brewery Beerfarm, which took home the Craft Brewery Award. Set on an old dairy farm in the Margaret River region, Beerfarm opened in 2015 having converted the hay shed into a tavern and built a brewery in the round house. Over the last decade, the brewery has grown its presence across the country and implemented a national growth strategy that includes an expansion into New South Wales.
Coinciding with Beerfarm’s 10th birthday, Head of Operations Emma Locke said the timing of the award couldn’t have been better.
“We’re absolutely stoked to have taken out the Craft Brewery Award at the AHA(WA) Awards. It’s such a huge honour and a real credit to our whole team.
“It’s been a decade of building something that reflects who we are, a community of people who love good beer, good times, and doing things the right way. Beerfarm is more than a brewery; it’s a destination and experience that brings people together and I think that few breweries can offer guests such a holistic connection between farm, beer, and plate.
“Over the past year, we’ve focused on our commitment to WA. We’re concentrating on refining our core range with consistency and quality, pushing the boundaries of our limited-release program, and continuing to grow the events we host both at the farm and offsite. This recognition feels like a nod to all of that, the passion, the hard work, and the commitment of our whole team. We couldn’t be prouder of the crew and the community that have backed us from day one,” Locke told Beer & Brewer.
While Wedgetail Brewing in Falcon claimed the Draught Beer Quality Award, the state’s breweries also shone across the food categories. BrewDog Perth accepted the Bar Menu Award, while Boundary Island Brewery in Erskine and Froth Craft Bunbrewery in Bunbury accepted the metropolitan and regional Casual Pub Dining Awards respectively. Jules Schliesser of Boundary Island Brewery was also highly commended in the Head Chef category.
Another win for WA’s craft breweries was the Outdoor Area Award, which was handed to Gage Roads’ Freo Brewery. More than 17 years since launching Gage Roads Brew Co, the brewery opened its “spiritual home” and first venue in Fremantle in January 2022.
Good Drinks’ Venue Marketing Manager Reiniera de Vos van Steenwijk told Beer & Brewer that the brewery is stoked to have taken home the award for a second time.
“We were first awarded the Outdoor Area Award in 2022, the year we opened our venue, so to take it home again in our third year is pretty amazing.
“Whether you’re a family hanging out in our epic playground in the backyard, sipping beers with your mates in our front garden, or boat watching with your better half on the front deck, Gage Roads Freo really does have something for everyone. More than just a shed with a good view, we’ve created spaces in our home that make people from all walks of life feel welcome.”
