Media Release: WOODEND’S HOLGATE BREWHOUSE TAKES PREMIER’S AWARD AT AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL BEER AWARDS

FROM THE MINISTER FOR REGIONAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

DATE: Thursday, March 27, 2008

WOODEND’S HOLGATE BREWHOUSE TAKES PREMIER’S AWARD AT AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL BEER AWARDS

A beer from a Woodend brewery has been named Victoria’s best for 2008 at the Australian International Beer Awards.

At the annual awards in Melbourne, Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Jacinta Allan, presented Woodend’s Holgate Brewhouse with the 2008 Premier’s Trophy for ‘Best Victorian Beer’ for its Big Red Lager.

“This is the seventh year that the Premier’s trophy for Best Victorian Beer has been awarded and four of the winners have been craft breweries from provincial Victoria,” Ms Allan said.

“Craft brewing is a thriving niche industry leading the way in developing innovative, full-flavoured premium products that cater for the adventurous tastes of the most discerning beer drinkers.

“Victoria leads the craft brewing sector, boasting 34 of Australia’s 120 craft breweries, including 19 in provincial Victoria.

“It is expected that by 2010, Victoria will have 50 craft breweries that sustain 260 full-time jobs and contribute more than $180 million to the state’s economy.”

Ms Allan said Victoria’s craft breweries were rapidly developing into a significant industry.

“For example, in north-east Victoria a group of craft breweries have banded together to establish the High Country Brewery Trail that takes in a host of local breweries,” she said.

“The establishment of the trail underlines the fact that breweries, especially craft breweries, have become increasingly popular in recent years as beer-lovers explore more individual tastes in beer.”

Ms Allan said the brewing industry produced about $4.2 billion worth of product, or 1.7 billion litres across Australia in 2006-07.

“The Australian International Beer Awards have become a wonderful showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence,” Ms Allan said.

“The awards, which were established in 1987 to reward excellence in brewing and to help promote the brewing industry, have grown to become the biggest showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific region.

“They have become so prestigious that this year they attracted 1084 beers from across Australia and 41 countries around the globe.”