The South Coast Ale Trail is celebrating a major milestone, with several of its breweries claiming top honours at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA’s) — the world’s largest annual beer competition. Judged by an expert panel from across the global beer industry, the awards recognise technical excellence, creativity and consistency across all styles of beer, and this year’s results confirm what locals and visitors have long known: the South Coast is brewing some of Australia’s best beer.
At the southern tip of the trail, Longstocking Brewery in Pambula earned five medals, showcasing both variety and quality across its core range. Known for its eclectic tap list and bold flavour choices, Longstocking’s Espresso Porter and Irish Red Ale were each awarded silver, reflecting the brewery’s flair for darker, malt-driven styles. Their IPA, which also took home silver, balances resinous bitterness with tropical hops , a feature of Longstocking’s approach to hop-forward beers. Even their design skills were recognised, with their Sapphire Coast Lager taking bronze for can design, proving that the brewery’s creativity extends beyond the glass.
In the North, Wollongong’s Seeker Brewing was the most awarded brewery on the South Coast, claiming six silver medals and 2 bronze medals. Seeker continues to make a statement as a leader in hop-focused brewing, with their hazy beer range. With an ever-evolving lineup of juicy, aromatic hazies, Seeker continues to push the envelope with new world hops and modern brewing techniques. Their success at the AIBA’s cements their position as one of the country’s top producers of this sought-after style and a must-visit stop for hazy IPA lovers.
Further south, Broulee Brewhouse delivered an impressive four-medal haul that speaks to the strength of their flagship beers. Their XPA, which won gold, stands out for its vibrant citrus profile and a refreshing go-to for coastal afternoons. Their IPA took silver, offering a bolder hop hit for those who want to step it up, while the Lager and Mexican-inspired Surfveza each claimed bronze, showcasing the brewery’s ability to nail both craft nuance and drinkability.
Tilba Brewing Co earned silver for their Mystery Bay IPA, a beer that reflects their passion for big flavours and local character. Mystery Bay IPA is a full-bodied, biscuity IPA with clean bitterness and a burst of citrus and pine, thanks to an all-Australian malt and hops line-up
In Gerringong, Stoic Brewing lived up to its name with a confident performance, claiming two golds and a bronze. Their XPA and New Zealand Pilsner both took gold, with the Pilsner highlighting the brewery’s mastery of clean, precise lagers. The Pale Ale, which was awarded bronze, rounded out their core range built on balance and quality.
Big Niles Brewing Co, based in Dalmeny, picked up three medals with a strong showing in their seasonal and core offerings. Their Gus Gold, which is a West Coast IPA, earned silver, while their Rowdys and Doghouse brought home bronzes. Each beer reflects the brewery’s no-nonsense, flavour-first approach to.
Up in Huskisson, Jervis Bay Brewing Co securing six medals. Their 15 Fathoms Black IPA and Roggy Style Roggenbier both won gold, showcasing their skill in balancing bold, unconventional styles with finesse. Their Bay of Plenty IPA, 11 Days Pale Ale, and JB Lager each took silver, while the crisp Point Perp Pils earned a bronze, a testament to the brewery’s consistent excellence across both hop-driven and lagered styles.
These wins across such a diverse range of styles reflect the depth and quality of the brewing scene along the South Coast. From bright IPAs to malt-rich reds, lagers, and innovative dark beers, the region’s breweries are not only standing out locally but making waves on a national and international stage.
“This is a huge achievement for the South Coast brewing community,” said Founder of the South Coast Ale Trail, Nigel Ayling. “South Coast brewers are not just country cousins, they are pushing boundaries, creating hop forward ales, crisp lagers and delivering world-class beer. These awards recognise the passion and craft that visitors experience every day when they visit an Ale trail brewery.”
With 30 breweries along the coast from Wollongong in the North to Pambula in the South, the South Coast Ale Trail offers the perfect mix of beers with something for everyone.
As they say, The South Coast Ale Trail is not a destination, it’s a Journey, and now, with so many award winning beers, it’s no surprise that it is becoming the number one Ale Trail in the country.
