Beers’ gold gong

Wagga’s very own microbrewery won three gold medals from its four entries into the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), the country’s largest annual draft and packed beer competition.

Thirsty Crow’s German Golden Ale and most popular brew, Sporting Ale, was awarded the best European Ale.

The Vanilla Milk Stout and Dark Alleyway IPA both also claimed the top gong, winning gold medals for the second consecutive year.

Thirsty Crow cemented its reputation as one of the country’s leading breweries, claiming more titles than any of the 344 exhibitors and 1700 submissions from 35 countries in the largest competition to date.

Head brewer Craig Wealands said the win against breweries that mass-produced beer with unlimited resources was “a good nod to the people involved”.

“To come out on top of that is fairly incredible,” he said.

“It actually creates beer tourism.”

Mr Wealands started crafting beer in 2006 around the Hunter Valley and Sunshine Coast regions, before making the move to Wagga and opening the Kincaid Street brewpub in 2011.

Thirsty Crow’s two brewers and 20 staff sell about 40,000 litres of beer a year, brewing at capacity five times a fortnight.

It sells six brews all year round and about 20 rotating seasonals each year.

He points to being “a bit OCD about everything and a lot of taste-testing” as the backbones of his success.

“There are no secrets,” Mr Wealands said.

“You’ve got to know your ingredients.

“It’s about selling beer.

“For such a small brewery, (we have) a big name out there.”

Conducted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, beers were assessed by an expert industry panel of 58 judges from around the world across the three-day competition held at Melbourne Showgrounds, with 28 champion and major trophies awarded.

Thirsty Crow has also claimed several international awards since opening.