News

The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) and Melbourne Royal will celebrate independent breweries on the world stage for the first time at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards.

Two new trophies will be presented at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards in 2025 to recognise and celebrate independent breweries – Champion Australian Independent Beer and Champion Australian Independent Brewery.

The Independent Beer Awards were first held in 2014 to raise awareness of quality independent beer and has evolved over the last decade to be considered a professional national competition that provides valued recognition and feedback for entrants and judges alike.

Due to the challenging economic climate experienced by independent brewers over the last year, the IBA has had to make the very difficult decision to put the Independent Beer Awards on hold in 2025.

“Even though the situation is not ideal, this hiatus gives us the opportunity to work with our stakeholders to reinvent ‘The Indies’ – to realise our commitment to pursue a more consumer-friendly program and to avoid duplication with other awards.

And when considering our alternate options, partnering with the Melbourne Royal AIBA’s made sense. 

The Australian International Beer Awards are well respected as the largest annual beer competition in the world, where independent brewers are already acknowledged with medals and champion trophies.

So while we shelve the Independent Beer Awards for a year – these two new trophies will ensure that quality independent beer is still celebrated in 2025 and gives us an opportunity to come together at the presentation dinner to cheer our pals on.

It has historically been a week where the beer industry gets together so we look forward to seeing as many of our members as possible at these consumer and industry events.”  says Kylie Lethbridge, Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Brewers Association.

Since being established in 1993, the Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards have grown and evolved into the world’s largest annual beer competition that assesses both draught and packaged beer, as well as design and media. In 2025, Cider and Perry will also be included, recognising the synergy between beer and cider production.

The awards bring the beer, cider and brewing communities together to celebrate excellence, share knowledge, improve quality and inspire innovation.

“Melbourne Royal are proud supporters of the Australian independent brewing industry and we are excited to judge the indies and present two trophies for the first time in 2025 as part of the Australian International Beer Awards,” says Kirrily Waldhorn, Senior Manager F&B Awards at Melbourne Royal.

The 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards will offer 14 major trophies, including the coveted Champion Australian Beer and Champion International Beer trophies, as well as 25 category trophies.

Entries to the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards formally open on 21 January 2025. The 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards trophy presentation dinner will be held on Thursday, 15 May 2025 at the Victoria Pavilion, Melbourne Showgrounds. Details can be found here: For more information, visit melbourneroyal.com.au/beer