Top 20 Aussie Beers

Here are my top 20 Australian micro brews (that are bottled - sadly because of this condition, Son of Beast cannot be considered.)

20 Little Creatures - Rogers Amber Ale

One of the nicest Amber Ales available, and certainly the best midstrength beer being brewed in Australia at the moment.

19 3 Ravens Black

A really solid Stout, nice bitter coffee flavours, very smooth.

18 Wils Witbier

A shame this is only brewed sporadically, this is one of the only decent Belgian style wheat beers made in Australia, Tasmanian mountain pepper leaves a nice warming sensation in the back of the throat after the initial zing of the coriander is gone.

17 Port Dock Brewery 'Ginja'

One of the best brewed ginger beers in the world, low alcohol, but exceptionally full flavoured.

16 Red Hill Scotch Ale

Big and Malty, the flagship beer of their regular range.

15 Baron's Black Wattle Original Ale

Benefits from the use of toasted Black Wattle seeds, this is the most distinctive Australian beer.

14 Bootleg Brewery Raging Bull

A really ballsy porter - enough said.

13 3 Ravens 55

'American Style Pale Ale' isn't completely accurate, however this wholesome Pale is still top notch. Oats, Corn, Barley - lots of things to sink your teeth into.

12 Redoak Belgian Chocolate Stout

The second best stout in Australia, which is an achievement given the range.

11 Bridge Road Brewers 'Chevalier' Saison

Along with the Temple Saison, this is the best Aussie attempt at the traditional Belgian style. spicy and hoppy, but also nice and light - not much beats this on a hot day.

10 Knappstein Lager

The best Lager in the country, because it is much more flavoursome than any other lager. Big and fruity, their choice of hops is genius.

9 Bootleg Brewery Wils Pils

The best pilsener in the country, hands down. More of a Czech/Austrian style, getting a fresh bottle of this is one of the great Aussie beer experiences.

8 Little Creatures Pale Ale

The original, and still one of the best.

7 Temple Pale Ale

Shares the title of best Australian pale with Hargreaves Hill, a must have.

6 Hargreaves Hill Pale

See above.

5 Sweetwater Golden Bitter

The lush malts in this beer are unbelievable. Truly the best ESB in bottle. The Golden Bitter is dark and rich but it's easy to get through a six pack like it's water.

4 Red Hill Hop Harvest

The Autumn seasonal from Red Hill is a magnificent English Style bitter. Brewed to celebrate the harvest of the hops at Red Hill, I would love to taste this out of a hand pump.

3 Jamieson 'Beast' India Pale Ale

A huge bastard of an IPA, its massive hops are balanced by good malt. Not a beer to be taken lightly, truly the king of Aussie IPAs.

2 Malt Shovel Abbey Ale

I was hesitant to open this beer, as most things from Malt Shovel disappoint me. This was a revelation. Cellared in a Benedictine Monastery in WA, this is an elegant attempt at a Belgian Abbey Ale. Fruity and spicy, with a perfect hop finish, it is not lighter than the Belgian ones, just more subtle. An absolute killer.

1 Red Hill Imperial Stout

This is not only the best Australian beer, it's one of the best in the world. A creamy mouth filler with plenty of nice alcohol driven flavours, this seasonal ale flies of shelves so quickly it's best to preorder. I can't explain how important it is to try this beer. If you're a beer lover, missing this is like missing Woodstock.