The Pelican Pub & Brewery has just won the top prize, "Grand Champion Beer," from the Australian International Beer Awards, held May fifth in Melbourne, Australia. In addition, the brewery won Champion International Brewery, and Champion Ale.

Doryman’s Dark Ale won a Gold in the Dark Ales category, a best in class trophy, the "Champion Ale" award, and finally the "Grand Champion Beer" trophy. Doryman’s Dark Ale is an American-Style Brown Ale with a deep red-brown color, an assertive but balanced floral and roasted aroma, and a clean, snappy finish balanced with a subtle coffee and caramel notes.

"I’m absolutely thrilled and amazed to win such a huge award again!" commented Darron Welch, head brewer of the Pelican Pub & Brewery, "For Doryman’s Dark Ale to be chosen as the best beer among 885 international beers is an honor! To win Champion International Brewery on top of that, well, it just doesn’t get much better."

"In Australia we call this a Trifecta," said director of judges Rob Grieg. This is the first time a brewery has won three major awards in one year!

The Pelican Pub & Brewery also won Grand Champion Beer at the AIBA in 2004 for India Pelican Ale. The craft brewer also makes Kiwanda Cream Ale, MacPelican’s Scottish Ale, Tsunami Stout, and a host of ever-changing seasonal beers. Past awards and honors for the Pelican Pub & Brewery include winning ten medals at the Great American Beer Festival, four medals at the World Beer Cup, "Champion American Ale" at the Real Ale Festival, and winning "Small Brewpub of the Year" and "Brewer of the Year, Small Brewpub" honors at the 2000 Great American Beer Festival.

The Australian International Beer Awards is the third largest annual professional beer competition in the world. Held in Melbourne each year, the AIBA is Australia’s most prestigious beer event. It is now firmly established on the international brewing calendar as a renowned and recognized barometer of diversity and quality in beer brewing across the world. The awards are run by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RAS) in conjunction with the University of Ballarat, which offers the only accredited brewing courses in the Southern Hemisphere. The RAS and the University of Ballarat established the Australian International Beer Awards in 1993. The beers are judged by professional brewers using strict controls to ensure impartiality and "blind" tasting. This year 111 breweries participated, sending 885 beers from thirty countries.