The Amateur Brewing Competition of the NT has wrapped up for 2025, and we’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who took part.

This year’s competition featured 75 entries judged across a broad range of beer, mead and a few ginger beer styles, with 37 registered participants, judges, and stewards contributing to a smooth and successful event.

The overall quality of entries was excellent, showcasing not just the variety but also the creativity and skill of the Territory’s homebrewing community.

🏆 Best of Show – Beer

Stuart McLay
Salty Plum Sour
Straight Sour Beer (BJCP 28D)

Entries with two bottles were eligible for the best of show, with the top scorers in each category and special judge nominations placed into a knock-out judging session by a panel of judges. Unlike other flights this was not scored according to category but a vote of judge preference across the panel. With the final selection earning Stuart’s Salty Plum Sour the title of Best of Show.

🍺 Overall Brewer

Jon Clark – Overall Brewer

With multiple category wins and placings across the competition, Jon Clark was awarded Overall Brewer for 2025.

🥇 Category Winners

Porter and Stout

Chris Keppie – Big Fella Porter
American Porter (BJCP 20A)

Pale Lager

Jon Clark – Nz Hop Purge
New Zealand Pilsner (BJCP X5)

Low Alcohol

Jon Clark – Southern Type
London Brown Ale; Historical Beer (BJCP 27)

Wheat and Rye Beer

Jon Clark – Spice And Malt
Roggenbier; Historical Beer (BJCP 27)

Fruit and Spice Beer

Jon Clark – Plum From The Barrel
Specialty Fruit Beer (BJCP 29C)

Indian Pale Ale

Damon Murray – IPA
American IPA (BJCP 21A)

Belgian and Strong Ale

Damon Murray – Doppelbock
Doppelbock (BJCP 9A)

Mead

Luca Leschi – Sweet Mead Traditional
Sweet Mead (BJCP M1C)

Sour, Wild and Specialty Beer

Stuart McLay – Salty Plum Sour
Straight Sour Beer (BJCP 28D)

Pale Ale

Chris Keppie – Cream Ale Cravin’
Cream Ale (BJCP 1C)

Amber, Dark Lager and Ale

Josh Keating – Aa’s
American Amber Ale (BJCP 19A)

Ginger Beer

Chris Keppie – Ginger Kegs
Specialty Cider/Perry (BJCP C2F)

Thank You

A sincere thank you to:

  • All entrants for sharing their beers, meads, and creativity
  • Our judges and stewards for their time, expertise, and thoughtful feedback
  • Our sponsors and supporters who help make this competition possible

Full results, including placings and scoresheets, are available via the competition website.

We look forward to doing it all again next year — and to tasting what you’re brewing next