Pilbara's Wedgetail Brewery turns shed brew beer into Australia's best with top honour
Wedgetail Brewing started as a dream from mates Howie Croft and Pete 'Macca' McDonald, who built a brewery in their shed, and came full circle on Thursday when their Dark Lager earnt Champion Australian Beer and Champion Australian Independent Beer at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards.
The brewery name was inspired by the wedge-tailed eagles the duo would cross paths with regularly on their flights.
The prestigious win comes as they beat out just under 2300 entries, with past winners including popular names Stone & Wood and 4 Pines Brewing.
McDonald, who was in Melbourne to accept the award, said they didn't give themselves a shot of winning against the industry big dogs.
'We came down and were excited to benchmark our beer, and to win is amazing,' he said.
Melbourne Royal senior manager Kirrily Waldhorn said the awards highlight the best that the country has to offer from all corners.
'Winning at this level shows that world-class beer isn't limited to scale — it's driven by commitment to craft and consistency,' she said.
'To be recognised among the best in the world speaks volumes about the quality and ambition of our brewers.'
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