A FOUR month old brewery from the New South Wales North Coast is one of several Australian winners at this year’s New Zealand International Beer Awards.

Murray’s Craft Brewing Company grabbed two silver medals at the toughly judged awards winning in the New World and American Pale Ale category with its Nirvana Pale Ale, and in the Imperial or Double India Pale Ale with its Icon Imperial IPA.

The Taylors Arm-based brewery was competing in its first beer awards and had submitted just the two entries. Head Head brewer, Graeme Mahy, said that so far the brewery had only made vie beers. “To have a two out of two win for these is fantastic,” Mahy said.

Owner, Murray Howe, said the awards were a strong endorsement that his company was on track to achieve its vision of creating Australia’s leading craft brewing business. “We’re building a reputation for world-class ales locally and now internationally,” Howe said.

“Our patrons and now beer judges appreciate our full-flavoured, big-aroma, and somewhat unconventional beers.”

Other Australian winners at the awards included WA brewery Matilda Bay Brewing Co and Tasmania’s J Boag & Son Brewing.

Matilda Bay Brewing won four awards including silver in the European Style Pilsner category with its Bohemian Pilsener brand, silver in the French-Belgian Style Saison category with its Barking Duck brand, bronze in the German Style Pale Wheat Ale, South German-Style Kristal Wiezen/Kistal Wessbier with its Redback Original, and Class Winner in the Fruit/Spiced/Herb/Wood Aged category with its Barking Duck.

J Boag & Son picked up a bronze with its James Boag’s Premium Lager.