Top 10 Australian Craft Beers of 2024

…according to me, paul (certified cicerone). So, in no particular order (and counting down from 10), here they are!

As 2025 begins, it's time to reflect on some of the best craft beers I had the pleasure of drinking last year. From hop-heavy IPAs to rich stouts and funky sours, these beers stood out for their craftsmanship and flavour. Whether you're a seasoned craft beer enthusiast or just looking for your next favourite drop, these were my top 10 beers of 2024. Cheers! 🍻

10. Bridge Road: Pale Ale.

This beer sneaks into my top 10 because although I told myself I would not put any core range on the list - this beer is one of my favourites... of all time. It's so easy to drink, on any day, at any time of the year; that to me is a sure sign of a well made beer. Boasting a massive hop profile (I think there is nine different varieties) that balance together to bring out some vibrant aromas, finishing as clean and crisp as you can get in ale, this beer is too good to pass on when given the option. As such, it might be the only core range that makes my top 10🍻

9. Dainton: Beer Kong Juice.

I tried this beer on tap at my mate Hamish's bar (The Meating Room) and thought to myself, if I made this beer I'd be quite happy - and I don't immediately think things like that when drinking beer, so for conjuring that thought alone, this beer gets in at number 9. It's juicy and hazy but with the extra bitterness (which I loved!) We can't be calling it a NEIPA. Boasting an abv of 7.5% this double IPA was indeed one of my favourite beers of 2024🍻

8. Behemoth: You Come To Work, You Do Not Work, You Eat the Fruit Salad Sour.

This was an easy one to put in my top 10 because of its popularity amongst my mates. It takes alot to impress my Great Northern drinking friends. So usually when I pull out a 4pack of my craft beer, I'm safe to leave them in the communal fridge without fear of theft. Not this beer, and it wasn't just the once either 😂. Passionfruit and Kiwi makes this fruited sour one of the most refreshing beers to enjoy on a hot summers day.

7. Garage Project : Pickle Beer

This is only a beer for those that love pickles.... and I love pickles! It's a great example of how you can infuse flavours in a kettle sour, It's got cucumber, dill, and pickle spice. But the best reason? It's a great substitute for pickle juice if you like a Pickleback or three. Isn't that right, Tim😉.

6. Reckless Brewing: Central West Double IPA

What a great play on this American style beer, and I love a good bitter West Coast IPA. Now this one from Reckless may not as bitter as some l've tried. But it's subtle; smooth; and oh so delicious! Golden colour from the malts; a soft tropical display of hops on the pallet. It's like grapefruit and citrus have been combined perfectly, for my taste anyway. This was hands down one of the best beers of this style I tried in 2024.

5. Eden Brewery: Gumnut Vanilla Pastry Stout

What a great beer! Even on a hot November afternoon😂. Stouts are probably my favourite beer style to brew myself. Saying that, I'm not usually a big drinker of the sweeter stouts. So for a pastry stout, this one from Eden Brewery had me coming back time and time again🍻 It's sweet, but not too sweet, and the lactose sits quite well with the vanilla notes making this beer of my favourite stouts of the year. I hope they make it again🤞.

4. Fox Friday: Shock Value.

Great Beer! And this is just a classic WCIPA. It has a lovely balance of base and Vienna malts paired with some El Dorado and Mosaic hop additions giving me citrus and sweet pine notes; a generous ammount of fresh resin; and a back palette that has just the perfect chewy bite. If you like WCIPA's then you wouldn't be disappointed with this purchase. I certainly wasn't!

3. Blackman's Brewery: Barrel Farm Flanders Red

I love a good Flanders Red! The art of blending barrel aged beers together is tricky. But Blackman's have hit the mark with this one. It's sour (of course, it's a Flanders!) but not too sour. Ripe Plum, sultanas, and raisins shine through with all the woody goodness that barell aging bring to this style of beer! It really was a pleasure to drink this one and that's why it makes my top 10.

2. Ambush Brewing/To All My friends: Equinox Ale.

This beer makes my list because not only is it a great beer, but I also helped the lads at Ambush design the recipe and brew the beer. It's proper collab in every sense of the word! We wanted to brew a low-carb ale and boy did we ever😂 all of us are pretty proud of this beer and plan to make many more in 2025🍻

The Winner… Ambush Brewing: Enter the Nectardome NEIPA!!

The only brewery to make it on my top 10 list twice! And for good reason because this New England IPA they banged out was phenomenal. Pacted full of Nectaron hops (hence the name) it certainly lives up to the term 'juice bomb' that has become synonymous with NEIPA's the world over. So congrats to Ambush brewing for making my number 1 beer of 2024. Keep up the great work Ambush Brewing

Conclusion

From easy-drinking pale ales to complex barrel-aged sours, 2024 delivered some incredible beers. Here’s to another year of great beer—bring on 2025! 🍻