Merri Mashers 2026 IPA Competition 22 March 2026

Merri Mashers 2026 IPA Competition 22 March 2026

Dermott Dowling

Getting your hops ready for the 2026 season? We certainly are!

At BeerCo.com.au, we live for the craft, the community, and the perfectly executed hop profile. That’s why we are thrilled to announce that we are once again a proud sponsor of the legendary Merri Mashers IPA Competition for 2026!

As one of the biggest dates on the Melbourne homebrew calendar, this competition is a celebration of all things lupulin. Whether you’re a fan of the classic West Coast bitterness, the juice-bomb haze of a NEIPA, or the dark complexities of a Black IPA, this is your time to shine.

What’s at Stake?

We aren’t just cheering from the sidelines—we’re putting our malt where our mouth is. This year, BeerCo is the official sponsor of the Best Novice Award.

We believe in supporting the next generation of brewing talent, so if you’re relatively new to the game, there’s no better time to enter. Last year’s winner walked away with a massive prize pack of equipment and ingredients, and for 2026, we’re looking to help another rising star level up their brewhouse.

Key Dates for Your Brew Schedule:

  • Saturday, 14th March: Online entry submission deadline (11:00 AM).

  • Saturday, 15th March: Entry drop-off deadline (11:00 AM).

  • Sunday, 22nd March: Judging Day & Awards Party.

The Awards Party & Livestream

The competition culminates in an epic Sunday session on March 22nd at The Woodlands in Coburg.

If you can’t make it down to clink glasses with the Merri Mashers crew in person, you can catch the action via the Live Stream here. We’ll be watching closely to see who takes home the hardware (and the hops!).

Get Competition-Ready

Need to fine-tune your water profile? Looking for the freshest 2025/26 hop harvest or that specific Bluestone Yeast strain to make your IPA pop? We’ve got you covered. Head over to our IPA Collection to stock up on everything you need to brew a gold-medal winner.

To the Merri Mashers: Thanks for hosting such a fantastic event for the community.

To the Brewers: Good luck, keep it clean, and may the best IPA win!

Want to learn more about the competition rules or register your entry? Head over to merrimashers.org for all the official details.