After a hugely successful GABS Hottest 100 countdown, the First Choice Liquor Market NEW Craft Beer list has been released which covers beers released for the very first time in 2023, as they ranked in the GABS Hottest 100. 

There was a strong international influence to this year’s podium with a touch of Mexican, American and Japanese inspiration. Gold Coast’s Balter Brewing took out top spot with their sensational new Cerveza. They were followed closely by Mountain Culture Beer Co’s Summer Pale Ale, a collaboration brew with one of America’s most renowned breweries, Sierra Nevada. Taking out bronze was the Sunshine Coast’s Heads of Noosa Brewing Co’s Black Japanese Lager! 

Craft brewed lagers showed they have struck a chord with beer drinkers this summer as this famed style dominated three of the top four new beers on the list with Coopers’ recently released Australian Lager taking 4th position. 

This year, the new beer list results are spread across an incredible 71 different breweries, of all sizes, with many limited releases grabbing the consumer’s imagination. It was fantastic to see the consumer appreciation rewarding the talented brewing from small and new emerging breweries such as The Uraidla Brewery, Cypher Brewing Co and Brendale Brewing Co. 

Queensland breweries seem to be setting the trend with most new brews with Brisbane’s Range Brewing claiming a whopping six new releases on the list, followed closely by Gold Coast’s Balter with four. There were three each from Black Hops Brewing, also from the Goldy, and Marrickville’s legendary One Drop Brewing Co.

Beers and breweries on this list are often future contenders for the Hottest 100, they all placed within the top third of the 1,877 beers nominated this year and are clearly ones to look out for in GABS Hottest 100 in 2024. 

It was fantastic to see Tasmanian beer lovers reward the state with 2 beers on the new list.  Queensland reversed the hottest 100 result as it claimed new brew state of origin honours with 33 beers, the blues of NSW 30, VIC 16, WA 10, SA 6 and ACT 3.

Head of First Choice Liquor Market, Michael Bornholdt said “This is the first year of the First Choice Liquor Market NEW Craft Beer list, which is an excellent way for craft beer lovers to discover the brand new brews to make the top 100.

“We’re celebrating craft beer month at First Choice Liquor Market and encourage everyone to head into store or online to sample the winners and support the breweries who are making such great-tasting drops, including exclusives like Young Henrys COLD XPA and CBCo Brewing’s Hazy New England Pale Ale.” 

See more at https://gabshottest100.com/au/