Penrith and the Blue Mountains are officially the home of the four-peat.
Not only did the Penrith Panthers create rugby league history by winning four NRL titles in a row, but local brewery Mountain Culture Beer Co has been named the best craft beer in the country for a fourth time.
Born in the Blue Mountains, Mountain Culture has a brewery site and tap room in Emu Plains, part of its extraordinary growth in recent years that has seen its beers gain national attention.
Mountain Culture's popular Status Quo topped the GABS Hottest 100 yet again, narrowly pipping out Coopers Brewery's Original Pale Ale and Gage Roads Brew Co's Single Fin Summer Ale.
“It’s such an amazing achievement for the team," said Mountain Culture CEO and co-founder DJ McCready.
"Being voted Australia’s #1 beer four years in a row has never been done before, and that’s a testament to how hard they all work, from the brewers that actually make Status Quo every week, to the sales team who are out on the road making our beers more readily available in pubs and bottle shops across Australia.”
McCready also credited those who voted and love the beer for their support.
“I can honestly say, we have the best fans. They have supported us since day one and I want to thank them, and also all our retailers for their support in 2025," he said.
"It was a record-breaking year for Mountain Culture sales, and it’s great to see so many new drinkers loving Status Quo.”
And the famous Status Quo was not the only Mountain Culture brew to make the GABS Hottest 100 list.
“Our Juice Trip Fruit Enhanced Hazy finished 16th on debut which is an unbelievable result," McCready said.
"We released that beer as a fun and exciting new innovation back in March. There was, and still is, nothing like it on the market, but as we always say, when everyone zigs, we zag. Look for lots more to come from Juice Trip in 2026.”
Its Cult IPA also made the list, finishing in 49th spot.
Troy has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.