The beer, brewed at Boags Brewery in Launceston won a bronze medal in the English Ale category of the International Brewing Awards, held in the United Kingdom.

Boag's head brewer Nathan Calman said it was particularly exciting to receive a medal in the English Ale category because the awards originated in the UK.

"It's an absolute credit to the team, Wizard Smith is only sold in Tasmania so we are particularly proud of its achievement," he said.

Wizard Smith was one of three beers from Boags to win bronze medals - with Premium and Premium Light also taking out gongs.

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“I love seeing our visitors when they try Wizard Smith for the first time. It was well and truly ahead of its time before the current boom in IPA and XPA styles we are seeing today," Mr Calman said.

The awards were handed out at the oldest and most revered beer judging competition, which have been held since 1888. The competition is affectionately known as the 'beer Oscars'.

Mr Calman said it was amazing to receive awards like this, as Tasmania and the world are becoming more well known for beer and microbreweries continue to pop up around the world.

Boags entered five beers into the awards, which is judged by prestigious international beer and wine judges.

Mr Calman said Wizard Smith held a special place in Boags' and Tasmanians' hearts because of the story behind the ale.

Wizard Smith is a Launceston hero, who survived the Launceston floods in the autumn of 1920, and worked as a drayman at the brewery.

With 10 inches of rain across two sodden days, Launceston was inundated and 4000 residents left homeless.

James Boag’s kept heavy draft horses to deliver beer around town and malt to the brewery, and these hefty animals were stabled right in the thick of it on the town’s river flats.

Wizard Smith rushed to the river, waded through the rising floods, and led his valuable and much-loved charges to dry ground and safety after hearing their terrified screams from his home.

James Boag III, who knew quality just like his father and grandfather, awarded Wizard with a job for life and, eventually, a pale ale in his honour.

Boags has entered the International Brewing Awards every year for a number of years, to celebrate the success of its team and match the quality of its brews against its competitors.

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