Ever since its launch in 2020, Heaps Normal’s Quiet XPA has proved to be one of the best zero-alcohol beers in the country. Last year it was named the Country Winner for Australia in the low-alcohol category at the World Beer Awards; it also outsold all other beers – alcoholic and non-alcoholic – at online store Beer Cartel. Now it’s been awarded World’s Best No & Low Alcohol Pale in the World Beer Awards 2022 – proving the low-alc beer is one of the best on the global market.
“It’s bloody exciting to be recognised as the world’s best,” Heaps Normal’s co-founder and head brewer Ben Holdstock tells Broadsheet. “We see this as not just a win for our whole team, but a win for the recognition and growth of the no- and low-alc category, especially in Australia.
“We’ve never measured our success in awards, but this recognition really caps off an amazing first two years and motivates us to keep creating delicious beers without the downsides.”
It was a good day for Aussie beer companies. In the same category, Australia’s Tinnies – owned by Coles – was awarded silver for its Ultra Low Alcohol Hoppy Ale. Tinnies also won gold in the World’s Best English Style Pale Ale category. McLaren Vale-based Vale Brewing was awarded World’s Best Pale Beer. And South Australia’s Fox Hat Brewing took the title of World’s Best Bitter Over 5.5%.
