Last Saturday, January 25, the results of Australian drinks’ other annual Top 100 – GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers – were announced. For the third year running, Mountain Culture’s Status Quo Pale Ale topped the list, beating out just under 1500 beers from around 400 breweries to claim the number one spot.
But while it’s only the second time in the competition’s 17 years that a beer has achieved three back-to-back wins – Feral’s Hop Hog was ranked first from 2012 to 2014 – it's not the first time the Blue Mountains-based brewery’s flagship pale ale has made GABS history. In 2022, it became the first beer ever to debut at number one.
“Winning the GABS Hottest 100 for the third year is an honour," says Mountain Culture co-founder DJ McCready. "It means the world to us that our fans love what we are putting out there. It is a great way to celebrate how far we have come in the five short years since we opened our doors and our team who've helped make it happen."
In second place was an exciting first, however, with Coopers Original Pale Ale making its podium premiere. The closest the iconic green tinny has previously finished was seventh in 2023 and eighth in 2022.
"This is a significant accolade for our 163-year brewing heritage," says managing director Dr Tim Cooper. "Since it was introduced in 1989, Original Pale Ale has been lauded by beer devotees and brewers alike for its brilliant balance and drinkability."
In third and fourth place were two previous competition winners, Balter’s XPA and BentSpoke’s Crankshaft. Rounding up the top 10 were Gage Roads, Range, Your Mates, Philter, 4 Pines, and, interestingly among the sea of lagers and XPAs, One Drop’s double-fruited smoothie sour, We Jammin’.
GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers 2024 Top 10
1. Mountain Culture Status Quo (NSW)
2. Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale (SA)
3. Balter Brewing XPA (QLD)
4. BentSpoke Brewing Crankshaft (ACT)
5. Gage Roads Single Fin Summer Ale (WA)
6. Range Brewing Disco (QLD)
7. Your Mates Brewing Larry (QLD)
8. Philter Brewing XPA (NSW)
9. 4 Pines Japanese Lager (NSW)
10. One Drop We Jammin’ (NSW)
For the full results, visit gabshottest100.com.
