Bentspoke's Crankshaft IPA came in third place in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers for 2017, while its Sprocket was ranked 24th and Barley Griffin 27th. It's a move up for Crankshaft, which came in at eighth last year, but down for Barley Griffin, which was 19th a year ago.

Two other Canberra brewers also placed in the list.

Fyshwick-based Capital Brewery's Coast Ale came in at 25th, its Trail Pale Ale at 28th and Evil Eye red IPA at 68. Pact's Mount Tennent Australian Pale Ale was 50th, up from 52nd in the 2016 list.

BentSpoke co-owner and head brewer Richard Watkins said the results would help his Braddon brewery.

"The poll has a big influence on the beer people are buying, and no doubt for a brewery in its early stages this is extremely helpful," he said.

"When making great beer is your passion it means the world to know that so many people around Australia have tried, and enjoyed, your work."

The number one spot went to the 'XPA' American pale ale from Balter, a Gold Coast-based brewery part-owned by surfing stars Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbridge.

Co-founder of the GABS Hottest 100 Steve Jeffares said Balter's ownership has helped build support for the brand, which has operated for just under two years.

However, he believes its XPA, an unofficial style suggesting the beer has a bigger profile than a typical pale ale, is undoubtedly a "very worthy winner".

"There's a lot of fruitiness in the beer, it's a very easy-drinking beer," Mr Jeffares said.

"A lot of critics would put it in their top three beers in Australia at the moment as well."

The 'Pacific Ale' Australian pale ale from Byron Bay-based Stone & Wood came in second place in the poll, which drew tens of thousands of votes.

The drink has topped the ranking three times since the GABS Hottest 100 began in 2008, as an ode to the more famous Triple J music poll, and consistently made the top three.

Mr Jeffares said it also seemed apparent this year that Australian beer lovers take notice when independently owned breweries are purchased by big players.

Some major acquisitions in the past year have included NSW's 4 Pines and SA's Pirate Life being sold to the world's largest brewery AB InBev, while WA's Feral Brewing was purchased by Coca-Cola Amatil.

"I think there might be a couple of exceptions but most of them saw their beers drop from where they were in the poll last year," Mr Jeffares said.

In total, 71 per cent of the beers that made the list were produced by independent breweries.

Source: GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers

AAP