Gage Roads brewing manager Dirk Penny.
Camera IconGage Roads brewing manager Dirk Penny. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Gage Roads’ Little Dove crowned Champion Australian Beer at Australian International Beer Awards

Headshot of Josh Zimmerman
Josh ZimmermanMelville Gazette

PALMYRA can lay claim to birthing the best brew in the nation after Little Dove pale ale, produced by Gage Roads Brewing, was crowned Champion Australian Beer at the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards earlier this month.

Named after the small Dutch ship Duyfken, a replica of which is moored in Fremantle, Little Dove was a collaborative effort between all of the brewers at Gage Roads.

Brewing manager Dirk Penny said the group had been planning to develop a New World pale ale for some time but Little Dove had not been created specifically with the Australian International Beer Awards in mind.

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“New World pale ales are an Australian and New Zealand style typically exhibiting tropical and citrus aromas and flavours,” Mr Penny said.

“When we first decided we were going to make a beer in that category we got all the brewers involved and everyone brought in their favourite beers for a homework session or two.

“We basically sat around tasting the beers and listed all the characteristics we really liked and then created a new beer using those parameters.”

Little Dove was the result and it was apparent early on the Gage Roads brewers were on to a winner.

“When it was still in tank we thought it was a pretty special beer; although all brewers are probably pretty proud of every beer they make,” Mr Penny said.

“We were pretty happy with it but that is definitely not to say we thought we would win.

“That said, we won champion low alcohol beer with our pils last year and we continually put up medal winning beers so I’m not surprised that it won.

“I’m extremely proud that it won and I think the brewers are happy that a beer that we all had a hand in was able to do what it did.”

Little Dove is currently only available on tap at select pubs throughout Perth, but Mr Penny said the brewery would now also consider a bottled version.