9 More Gluten Free Beer Medals at The Indies!
We're on a gluten free beer journey. And while we brew so that nobody misses out on great beer; winning awards along the way is a lot of fun.
It's the moment that we get to pitch ourselves up against other breweries – Australia's Independent Breweries in the case of the Independent Brewers Association Awards – The Indies.
And it's the moment that our brew team, Kristian, Ajay, Erin and Grant get the limelight they deserve; for raising the bar and creating some of Australia's best gluten free beer, with incredible quality, consistency and innovation.
Not only did we win two gold medals (IPA's second gold and Session Ale first gold), we won five silver medals and two bronze medals – and we were a finalist for national Champion Medium Brewery (selected from the hundreds of breweries that entered) alongside some of the finest breweries in the land; Wolf of the Willows, Barossa Valley Brewing, Moffat Beach Brewing Co. and Range Brewing.
We've now won 41 medals at eight awards ceremonies, including an incredible eight gold medals, 15 silver and 18 bronze medals.
It's not easy to win awards. With the help of 49 stewards, 55 of the best and emerging judges from Australia & New Zealand blind taste the beers and rate them on appearance, aroma, balance, mouthfeel and taste against the specialty beer category we enter our beers into.
We're judged in the gluten free beer class against underlying styles (e.g. Pale Ale, IPA, etc.), but when it comes to Champion Medium Brewery – we're judged against every medium-sized brewery in the land.
Last year 8% of 1,389 beers won gold, 23% won silver, 43% won bronze, and 25% didn't win a medal at all. This year, 1,458 beers were entered from 207 breweries.
"Our team is growing and it's so good to see the hard work we've put into development and processes pay off," said Head Brewer Kristian Martin.
"We've added Erin and Grant to our team this year and they've helped us to go to the next level. I'm really proud to have the quality and consistency of our beers recognised at the Indies.
"That's back-to-back Indies gold for IPA and Session Ale's first gold in only its second entry – absolutely stoked that these beers are getting such great feedback. To be a finalist for national Champion Medium Brewery is a real credit for TWØBAYS and elevates the Gluten Free category more broadly."
We've now brought home two gold medals at back-to-back Indies ceremonies and at the two major awards this year. That's IPA's second consecutive Indies gold, having picked up two silver medals and four bronze medals along the way.
"I'm blown away," said CEO and Founder Richard Jeffares.
"To win nine medals is incredible. To be a finalist for national Champion Medium Brewery is outstanding. To reach this podium is a real mark of consistent quality and we were in very good company alongside some of Australia's finest breweries.
"I'm extremely proud of what we're achieving as a team, and especially pleased that our brew team is receiving the recognition they deserve."
In addition to Pulp Fusion Passionfruit Sour winning gold at the 2022 AIBAs and No Doubt Stout winning gold at the 2021 AIBAs, four of our core range beers (Pale Ale, Session Ale, IPA and GFB) have now won gold medals at major Australian awards.
Thank you to all the awesome people at the IBA who make these awards – and the celebration of independent Australian breweries – possible!