MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Stoic Brewery from Gerringong has achieved significant acclaim at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBAs), securing three medals, including two golds, at one of the world’s largest annual beer competitions.
The brewery’s standout performance comes amid fierce competition, with this year’s AIBAs drawing 2,300 entries from 391 breweries across 22 countries. Among them were 242 Australian submissions, underscoring the depth of talent in the national brewing scene.
Stoic Brewery’s head brewer, Brent Edwards, expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting the dedication behind each beer. “You know how much hard work goes into creating every brew,” Edwards said. “When you write a recipe, you start with a vision of what you want in the glass and work backwards. It doesn’t always come together on the first try—it takes small adjustments with each batch.”
Originally from New Zealand, Edwards has been with Stoic for 18 months. One of his earliest creations at the brewery—a New Zealand-style Pilsner—took home a gold medal. The beer features 100% New Zealand ingredients, including native hops and malt, and is dry-hopped for added character—an uncommon technique for Pilsners.
“That was the first beer I brewed at Stoic,” Edwards explained. “NZ hops are punchy—they bring flavours like white grape and passionfruit. It’s been so popular it’s stayed on as a core beer.”
Stoic also earned gold in the Australian Style Pale Ale category for its XPA, a clean, tropical-flavoured brew made with a combination of New Zealand, Australian, and American hops. The brewery’s American-style Pale Ale won bronze, rounding out a successful showing.
“The XPA is refreshing and approachable,” said Edwards. “The Pale Ale is more classic, using all-American hops to deliver that traditional American character.”
With the craft beer industry continuing to grow across Australia, Edwards praised the collaborative nature of the brewing community.
“Brewers become mates—there’s a lot of knowledge-sharing and collaboration,” he said. “It’s also about changing perceptions. There are over a hundred beer styles out there—there’s something for everyone.”
Innovation remains central to Stoic Brewing’s philosophy. The brewery recently launched an oyster stout made with locally sourced oysters and hosted a special tasting event featuring a portable oyster bar. It continues to explore unique offerings, with a pickle sour beer set to release on 1 June.
All of Stoic’s beers are brewed fresh on site, offering customers a direct experience of craft brewing among the tanks where the beers are made. The brewery also engages in creative pairings, matching beers with desserts and cheeses to enhance the tasting experience.
As Stoic Brewing continues to evolve and experiment, its success at the AIBAs affirms its place among Australia’s leading craft beer innovators.
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