WA's Feral pipped in national beer poll

Feral Brewing Company has been knocked off the top spot of a poll of Australia’s 100 best craft beers for the first time in five years, with the Swan Valley-based brewery’s Hop Hog named by punters as the second best brew in the nation.

New South Wales-based Stone & Wood topped the poll, which was held online by the Great Australasian Beer Spectacular in association with industry magazine The Crafty Pint, with its Pacific Ale.

The poll was first launched in 2011, with Feral's Hop Hog ruling since its inception.

Despite losing the number one spot for 2015, Feral still had a strong showing in the poll, with six of its beers getting a mention.

Ranked at 10 was Feral’s black IPA, Karma Citra, its War Hog IPA came in 17th, while its 9.8 per cent alcohol Tusk double IPA was ranked 46th.

Feral’s Watermelon Warhead was  54th, while its Sly Fox ale was ranked 93rd in the poll.

In total, 18 brews from WA’s 41 brewers made the nation’s top 100, including beers from Nail Brewing, Colonial Brewing Company, Mash Brewing and Gage Roads Brewing Company.

Little Creatures, which was established in WA but was bought out by international beverages giant Lion in 2012, also performed strongly, with six beers getting a mention, while its pale  ale rounded out the top five.

Last year, only 14 beers from WA were ranked in the poll.

The state with the most ranked beers this year was Victoria, with 35 varieties from its 59 brewers named in the top 100.

South Australia's Pirate Life Brewing, which was established in March last year, had an immediate impact on the poll, with its IIPA and pale ale ranked third and fourth, respectively, and its mid-strength Throwback IPA ranked 11th.

Overall, ales dominated the rankings, with just two lagers getting a run, while 46 of the brews in the top 100 were either pale ales or IPAs.