Aussie brew beats Germans at their own game

An Australian couple has beaten German beer makers at their own game by taking out a top international brewing prize.

Brennan and Peta Fielding are raising their glasses after being recognised as the finest purveyors of south-German style beer in the world.

The Gold Coast couple claimed the title at this year's Brewers Association Beer World Cup in the United States.

Mr Fielding, the director of brewing operations, says the German media was astounded when they won the gong.

"Right after my wife and I walked off the stage after receiving the plaque, German TV was there in our face saying 'What have you done? Why have you taken the medal away from Germany?'," he said.

"I just had to explain how much I like the style, and how much respect I have for the style."

Mr Brennan says the winning brew - Burleigh Hef - is a combination of "recipes, ingredients, technique, times, oxygen levels, cell count levels".

"It was an amazing thing to put together," he said.

Photo: Beating them at their own game: Burleigh HEF won a gold medal in San Diego. (Supplied: Burleigh Brewing)

The award is a huge boost for the couple, who have only been operating the Burleigh Brewing Company since 2006.

This year 799 breweries from 54 countries entered in the awards, with 3,921 individual beers submitted into 95 categories.

"There were 220 judges from 40 countries - literally it is a global download of beer and it is the most highest award of beer I think you can get in the world," Mr Brennan said.

"Just because of the sheer size and the competition you're up against - no other competition has that many breweries involved, or that many countries involved.

"If you get a gold in that competition, it's the pinnacle, and I was very excited to receive the medal for that one."

Source: ABC News, 31 May 2012