This family-run NSW brewery has won Australia's top craft beer prize for the fourth year in a row

Pour a pint and grab a bar stool because Mountain Culture Beer Co has done it again (and again and again). This brewery, which operates in the Blue Mountains and Redfern, has become the first brewery ever to win the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll four years in a row, cementing its place in Australian beer history. If you enjoy taking a swig of their Status Quo Pale Ale, you’ll be "hoppy" to learn that it has taken out the number one spot yet again, proving its staying power with Aussie beer lovers.

The result was unveiled during the 18th annual GABS Hottest 100 countdown – a fixture on the craft beer calendar that now attracts tens of thousands of votes from lovers of pale ales, lagers, stouts and porters across Australia. This year’s poll played out like a heavyweight bout, finally pitting Australia’s oldest independent brewery Coopers Brewing Co against the more modern Mountain Culture, which managed to grab gold as Australia’s most popular craft beer producer for yet another year.

What makes the win especially notable is its consistency. While the Hottest 100 is known for surprise shake-ups and shifting trends, Status Quo has managed to remain a favourite in a fiercely competitive field, reflecting both its broad appeal and the loyalty of the brewery’s growing fan base. 

Says DJ McCready, CEO and co-founder of Mountain Culture Beer Co, "Being voted Australia’s number one beer four years in a row… is a testament to how hard everyone works – from the brewers crafting Status Quo every week, to the sales team making sure our beers are pouring in pubs and bottle shops across the country." McCready also credited the brewery’s loyal fan base and retail partners, noting that 2025 was a record-breaking year for sales. 

As the Australian craft beer scene continues to evolve, we’ll say cheers to that! 

Top 10 Aussie craft beers (as voted by consumers):

1. Mountain Culture Beer Co, Status Quo – NSW
2. Coopers Brewery, Original Pale Ale – SA
3. Gage Roads Brewing Co, Single Fin Summer Ale – WA
4. BentSpoke Brewing Co, Crankshaft – ACT
5. Philter Brewing, XPA – NSW
6. Range Brewing, Disco – QLD
7. Balter Brewing, XPA – QLD
8. One Drop Brewing Co, We Jammin’ – NSW
9. BeerFarm, Royal Haze – WA
10. Seeker Brewing, Mystic – NSW

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