Gerringong’s Stoic Brewery has taken home three medals - including two golds - at the prestigious 2025 Australian International Beer Awards in Melbourne.

The AIBAs are one of the largest annual beer competitions in the world. There were 2300 entries from 391 breweries across 22 countries, including 242 from Australia for this year's competition.

“It's such a good feeling,” said Stoic’s head brewer Brent Edwards.

“Because you know how much hard work goes into creating every brew. When you write a recipe for a beer, you start with the vision of what you want in the glass, then deconstruct it and work backwards.

“You don’t always get it right the first time. You make little tweaks with each batch - maybe try a different yeast strain - and slowly build toward a better result. It’s all about always trying to be better.”

Originally from New Zealand, Edwards has spent the last year and a half brewing at Stoic.

One of the first beers he created with the team was inspired by his homeland - an NZ Pilsner - which earned gold at the awards.

“That was the first beer I brewed at Stoic. They asked me early on what I wanted to make and I said, ‘Let’s do a New Zealand Pilsner.’ It uses all New Zealand hops, all New Zealand malt, and a lager yeast strain,” he said. 

“NZ hops are punchy - they bring flavours like white grape and passionfruit. Most Pilsners aren’t dry-hopped, but we dry-hopped this one. And it has stuck around because it’s been so popular.”

The brewery’s XPA also won gold in the Australian Style Pale Ale category, while its American-style Pale Ale took home bronze.

“The XPA is a clean, refreshing beer - quite tropical,” said Edwards. “It uses New Zealand malt, with a mix of American, New Zealand, and Australian hops. The pale ale is all-American hops and designed in that classic American style.”

With Australia’s growing love of craft beer, Edwards says he’s excited to be part of such a collaborative and creative industry.

“One of the great things about craft beer is the community. Brewers become mates, and there’s a lot of collaboration - people helping each other out. Not many industries work like that,” he said.

“And it’s also about educating people who say, ‘I don’t like beer.’ There are over a hundred beer styles out there— - here’s something for everyone.”

He also loves how Stoic Brewing are embracing innovation to keep the beer experience fresh - quite literally.

Some of the ingredients and material on the top floor of Stoic Brewery.

“We’re doing more beer and food pairings - matching beer with desserts and cheeses.

"We just launched our oyster stout, using oysters from down the coast. We even had a portable oyster bar in the brewery for it. It was such a cool day,” said Edwards.

All of Stoic’s beers are brewed fresh and on site, and customers can enjoy them right among the tanks where they’re made. Their next limited release, a pickle sour beer, launches 1 June.

Find out more or plan your visit: www.stoicbrewing.com.au.