Dedication to quality paid off when the Malt Shovel Brewery won Champion Australasian Brewery for the second time in the Australian International Beer Awards held in Melbourne this year. Every beer in the James Squire range won medals in the competition that attracted over 590 entries from 22 countries.

Amber Ale, the first of the James Squire beers is the top selling beer in the range, and there has been a jump in interest in the Pilsener since it took out the trophy for champion lager for the second time.

Keeping up with the market demand is always a major challenge for the small but innovative team at the Malt Shovel Brewery. Nevertheless, hard work and determination resulted in a 40 per cent increase in production over the last 12 months, and this year the brewery is already 26 per cent ahead of the annual production plan.

Sales and Marketing Manager, Tony Johansson, believes that the secret to the Malt Shovel Brewery's growth and performance is directly linked to the company's greatest asset - its people.

"It's a highly accountable and focused team. We're always conscious of the bottom line, and stick to the basics of business and brewing," explains Johansson.

"Our brewers are craftsmen who design distinctive, flavoursome beers. It's their passion and skill that gives us the edge - the final result is unsurpassed quality beers. James Squire Australian Strong Ale was released in early June and sold out as soon as it arrived in the warehouse. Last summer's James Squire Colonial Wheat Beer saw record sales for the period, and we have plans in the pipeline for a new summer limited edition," he added.

The Malt Shovel Brewery prefers to let the product speak for itself rather than relying on the power of major advertising campaigns, and the James Squire family is quietly gaining ground in Victoria and other Australian states. Awareness in Melbourne was heightened significantly by the recent launch of the James Squire Brewhouse at the newly refurbished Portland Hotel corner of Russell and Little Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne. The beers are also enjoyed in New Zealand and on the west coast of the USA.

For information on matching fine food with any James Squire Beer OR to become a member of the Malt Shovel Beer Club OR for information on the upcoming events click on www.maltshovel.com.au