Brewers and beer enthusiasts, time is running out! The countdown is on for submissions to the highly anticipated 2024 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA). With just a week remaining until entries close on March 8th, seize the opportunity to showcase your finest brews and compete for global recognition.

Regarded as the premier event in the beer industry, the Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards attracts participants from around the world, setting the standard for excellence in brewing. Whether you represent a small craft brewery or a large-scale commercial operation, this is your chance to benchmark your creations against the best.

Exciting updates await participants in the 2024 edition, including the introduction of two new categories based on the 2023 US Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale and Dessert or Pastry Stout. Additionally, the New World Lager category has been split into Modern Lager and Modern Pilsner, offering even more opportunities for recognition.

Don't miss the chance to be part of this prestigious event. Learn more about the submission process and new categories for 2024 by clicking here.

Kit NA Brewing, a pioneering force in the non-alcoholic craft beer realm based in Portland, Maine, is thrilled to reveal its latest innovation with the launch of Get Set Wheat. Formerly an IPA, Get Set has undergone a delightful metamorphosis, now embodying the tantalizing and invigorating essence of a wheat beer. Get Set Wheat boasts a vibrant and crushable profile, featuring hints of zesty orange peel and aromatic coriander, culminating in a velvety, satisfying finish.

This unveiling not only broadens Kit's product range but also caters to a diverse audience, meeting the escalating demand for this craft beer style. Get Set Wheat is now hitting shelves through distribution partners along the East Coast, as well as being conveniently available on Kit’s website and Amazon Prime. Consumers can indulge in Get Set Wheat through a 6-pack option or as part of Kit’s Starter Variety 12-pack.

In tandem with this exciting launch, Kit NA Brewing is debuting a fresh new look across its entire portfolio of cans, 6-pack cartons, and 12-pack cartons. The styles of On Your Mark, Get Set, Here We Go, and the Variety Pack are adorned with a brighter, more minimalist aesthetic, embodying vibrancy and accessibility. Notably, the revamped packaging prominently showcases the "non-alcoholic" label on the rim for effortless consumer recognition from any angle.

We spoke with Nine Pin Ciderworks Founder and Cider Maker Alejandro del Peral about Quince.

Who came up with this cider's recipe?
This one was mine.

What’s your favorite aspect of this cider (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
My favorite aspect of the cider is its aroma – it has some really unique notes of bubblegum and pineapple.

Where does this cider's name come from?
Quince is the third pomme fruit and many individuals are unaware of it or have never had the opportunity to try it. We wanted to highlight this delicious fruit in both the cider and the name.

Is this your “desert island cider?”
It would be one of a small group of ciders – our Signature would be another!

Can you describe this cider in 10 words or less?
Upstate New York meets tropical flavors.

Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this cider?
Our license requires that we use 100% New York pomme fruits. We had historically only used pear and apple as they’re easy to find and well-known to the public, but back in 2022 we found a farmer in Western New York who wholesales quince. This opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

What's a good food pairing for this cider?
We would pair this with roasted pork loin or a New York cheese platter.

We spoke with Shovel Town Brewery Head Brewer Andy Starsiak about Broad Blade.

Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
I did. The grain bill started with the soul of PB Crunch (our award-winning coffee-peanut butter dessert stout) which was designed by Will and Wyatt Hope, then I peppered in crystal malt and hopped accordingly.

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The complex richness of the malt aroma and flavor. I love the balance and full body too.

Where does this beer’s name come from?
It's a bit on the nose, but, well, we're Shovel Town, and I wanted to reflect both the brewery's heritage and the hefty nature of an American stout. A broadsword was involved in the initial imagery, but we came back to the utility and beauty of the shovel.

Is this your “desert island beer?”
I've given birth (for lack of a better term) to so many Shovel Town beers that excite me that it's hard to say absolutely, but it's definitely top 3. And yes, I would absolutely drink a 6.8% American stout all the time on a hot desert island.

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
The darkness within that we can't live without.

We spoke with Lawson's Finest Liquids CEO and Founding Brewer Sean Lawson about Double Sunshine.

Who came up with this beer’s recipe? 
I developed this recipe early in the trajectory of Lawson’s Finest Liquids, circa 2009. 

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
My favorite aspect of this beer is the punch of tropical aroma and the mélange of juicy tropical flavors (think pineapple, guava, grapefruit) that blend with a beautifully balanced dance of toasty malt sweetness and just enough bitterness to make this beer one of my favorites. 

Where does this beer’s name come from? 
The name comes from the first experimental beer that I brewed with Citra hops. The fruit-forward character and tropical flavors reminded me of chewing Juicy Fruit gum and I contemplated, thinking, “it’s like sipping sunshine….wait, it’s Liquid Sunshine!”  

When I quickly found that name was already trademarked, I changed the recipe to a double IPA, and voila! Double Sunshine was born. 

Is this your “desert island beer?” 
It could be…but I’d have to have some Scrag Mountain Pils to go with it! =) 

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
Slightly hazy, lupulin-laden, tropical fruity, balanced and delectable brew. 

We spoke with Lawson's Finest Liquids Director of Brewing Operations Scott Shirley about Hazy Rays.

Who came up with this beer’s recipe? 
This was a full team effort with a lot of input from the Sales and Marketing teams and it included many different perspectives, which created a lot of buy-in from everyone.  

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
The whole package. It’s a significant divergence in profile from our flagship Sip of Sunshine in many ways. 

Where does this beer’s name come from? 
It was a total group effort that was inspired by the fan-favorite, Sunshine-themed beers (Sip of Sunshine, Little Sip, Double Sunshine, etc.) in our lineup.  

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
Super juicy and fruity hazy IPA 

What's a good food pairing for this beer? 
It’s an easy-drinking beer and can be enjoyed with any meal. 

Read Review

We spoke with Lawson's Finest Liquids Brewer Brian Wendt about Super Lemonova.

Who came up with this beer’s recipe? 
I did! It was one of the first homebrew recipes I ever made, and I've been tweaking it a lot over the years, trying all sorts of different yeast strains and hop combinations. The one constant has been the lemon zest though; it really brightens the beer. 

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
The balance of citrus and fruity flavors and aromas from the hops and lemon zest, combined with some slight tartness from the yeast. It's fruity but not overpowering. 

Is this your “desert island beer?” 
Definitely! I've brewed this beer so many times both as a homebrewer and professional brewer because it's super easy to drink. If I had a second choice though, it would be a Belgian saison or a farmhouse ale. 

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
Super approachable, easy drinking and nicely balanced.   

What's a good food pairing for this beer? 
Good question! I would say a lot of things could work: tacos, fish, pasta or even a burger and fries.