Australian Amateur Brewing Competition 2025
Thank you for your interest in the Australian Amateur Brewing Competition 2025 organized by .
You only need to register your information once and can return to this site to enter more brews or edit the brews you've entered. You can even pay your entry fees online if you wish.
Entry Registration is Open
41 entries have been added to the system as of 7:33 AM, AWST, Tuesday 16 September, 2025.
6 paid entries are in the system as of 7:33 AM, AWST, Tuesday 16 September, 2025. There is a limit of 420 paid entries for this competition.
Current entry count by style type and associated limits:
To add your entries into the system, please proceed through the registration process or log in if you already have an account.
Judge and Steward Registration is Open
If you have not registered and are willing to be a volunteer, please register.
If you have registered, log in and then choose Edit Account from the My Account menu indicated by the icon on the top menu.
Rules
RULES OF THE AABC (Australian Amateur Brewing Championship)
Except for the rules that specifically apply to the AABC (D1, D4, and D10–Champion State), these rules shall also be used by the State/Territory Qualifying Championships.
D1. QUALIFICATION.
The first three placegetters at State/Territory Championships automatically qualify for entry to the Australian Amateur Brewing Championship in the same year (see D8 for resolving tied scores).
A maximum of three entries in any category will be accepted from each State/Territory. Entrants may enter only those categories in which their placings were achieved. If the original beer is no longer available, entrants may submit a different beer in the same or a different style in that category. The beer style nominated must be a designated style for the category, as listed on AABC Entry Form available at www.aabc.asn.au
Organizers reserve the right to reclassify or disqualify non-conforming entries. In the event that a qualifying entrant is unable to submit a beer in a particular category, State/Territory organizers may invite the next highest scoring entrant in that category to do so, in his/her own name, in order to fill the quota of three entries for AABC.
D2. ENTRIES.
No more than two entries are allowed from each entrant in any one Category. Within this rule, no more than one entry is allowed in any one style. (This rule would normally be enforced in State/Territory Qualifying Championships.)
D3. AMATEUR BREWS.
The competition is restricted to amateur brews, that is to beers not subject to excise duty. This means any beer not fermented on licensed brewing premises is eligible, including beers made using extract kits, wort kits, or any other source of fresh wort. Brew-On-Premises beers are ineligible as these are subject to excise duty. Entries must be submitted under the brewer's own name.
D4. ONE QUALIFYING CHAMPIONSHIP PER BREWER.
Entrants can only qualify from one State/Territory Qualifying Championship.
D5. BOTTLES.
Each entry must consist of a single bottle of at least 500 mL in volume or two smaller bottles to make up at least 500 mL. Both glass and plastic bottles are acceptable. Bottles should not have any unique identifying features other than possibly a batch code on the bottle cap.
D6. JUDGING.
Judging will be by blind tasting. Where possible, each judging panel will include at least one BJCP-qualified judge. Neither the judges nor the stewards serving the judges should know the name of the brewer whose beer is being served. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. Completed judging/score sheets will be returned to the brewers within three weeks of completion of judging.
D7. CATEGORY AWARDS.
Prizes will be awarded for the first, second and third placed beers in each category based on the judging scores.
D8. TIED SCORES.
In the event of tied scores in determining the first three placegetters, placings will be resolved either by the judging panel during judging or using a progressive countback until the tie is resolved based on: a) highest score for Overall Impression; b) highest score for Flavour; c) lowest range of individual judge scores (smallest spread of scores across panel); d) the judging panel will be requested to resolve the tie.
D9. CHAMPION BEER.
The award of the Champion Beer of the Show will be to the beer that receives the highest number of judging points in the championship. If awarded, the Champion Kit/Extract Beer of the Show will be awarded to the kit/extract beer (identified on the entry form) that receives the highest number of judging points in the championship. In the event of equal top scores for two or more beers, the Champion Beer will be decided using the criteria for resolving tied scores given in rule D8. The same rules apply for resolving ties for the Champion Kit/Extract Beer.
D10. CHAMPION BREWER / STATE.
The sum of category placing points is to be used for deciding Champion Brewer and Champion State. Category placing points are 3 points for first place, 2 points for second place, and 1 point for third place. If there is a tie (in the number of placing points) for Champion Brewer or Champion State then the sum of the placing points times the judging points will be used to decide the winners. For example, a win (3 placing points) for a beer receiving 130 judging points and a third place (1 placing point) for a beer receiving 110 judging points would have a total of 500 points. If there is still a tie, then joint winners will be declared.
D11. PRIVACY.
Personal information (names, addresses, and other contact details, etc) provided by brewers on the entry form will only be used for the conduct of the competition. This information will not be released to third parties, other than the names of brewers, which will be published in the results lists for the competition.
D12. RESULTS.
The full results for all beers entered in the AABC will be published on the AABC web site within one week of completion of the judging. The results will include score, brewer, category, style and state, as well as the judges for each category and their BJCP Rank where applicable.
Entry Acceptance Rules
Number of Bottles Required Per Entry: 1
Every entry is to consist of:
- One (1) bottle/can, with a total minimum of 330 to 750 millilitres per container.
- Entries can be in cans, PET bottles, capped or corked bottles.
- Entries must not contain any distinguishing marks, apart from unique ID number and label.
Bottles/cans will not be returned to contest entrants.
Be meticulous about noting any special ingredients that must be specified. Failure to note such ingredients may impact the judges' scoring of your entry.
IDENTIFICATION LABELS ON PACKAGING
- Once payments have been processed, entrants will receive AABC Identification labels within the login portal. You must print these yourself.
- These Identification Labels contain the Category / Style number and unique ID number for each entry.
- Please ensure that this label is attached to each entry with clear packing tape completely covering the label to avoid peeling and contamination with ice and water.
- The lid must also be marked with the unique ID number that corresponds to the entry as per the label for that beer.
- These requirements must be completed prior to delivery as no provision is made at the drop off locations to accommodate entries that do not meet the labelling requirements.
- The labels can be printed multiple times through the competition portal if required.
Competition Officials
You can send an email to any of the following individuals via Contact.
- George Copley — Competition Coordinator
- Andrew Walsh — Head Judge
- Garth Wilkosz — Competition Administrator
Sponsors
West Coast Brewers is proud to have the following sponsors for the Australian Amateur Brewing Competition 2025.
