Some of New Zealand’s newest and smallest breweries have been recognised – alongside many of the country’s most-loved names in beer – in the 2021 New World Beer & Cider Awards.
Seven first-time winners from the regions have made this year’s Top 30 list, including Burkes Brewing Co from Tekapō – one of the country’s smallest and most remote craft beer producers; Baylands Brewery – a fast-growing family business from Petone; and Crooked Cider – a mother/daughters team based in Ōtaki and Gisborne.
Beer writer, author and Chair of Judges for the Awards Michael Donaldson says beer-lovers and novices alike can get excited by the range of beers and ciders that have come to the fore in this year’s competition.
“New Zealand’s most experienced and celebrated brewers and cidermakers judged their way through more than 650 entries over two days to discover these best-of-the-best beers and ciders,” he says.
“Judged blind – the independent panel weren’t privy to any brands along the way, so beer-lovers can have confidence that these winners really stack up based on their quality and taste alone.”
As well as new brew brands to explore, Behemoth Brewing, Deep Creek Brewing, Garage Project and Sawmill Brewery each have two winning beers in the Top 30, while Matakana’s 8 Wired Brewing, Upper Hutt’s Boneface Brewing Company, Kaikōura’s Emporium Brewing, Waipū’s McLeod’s Brewery, Blenheim’s Renaissance Brewing and Zeffer Cider in the Hawke’s Bay all celebrated repeat success.
“We also have two standout trifectas,” says Donaldson.
“Liberty Brewing Company built on all its previous years with a triple Top 30 win this year – another feat from these craft beer darlings who were named the country’s best brewery in the last Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards.
“And Panhead’s Port Road Pilsner raced into to the Top 30 for the third year running – making it arguably New Zealand’s best Pilsner.”
New World Beer & Cider Awards 2021 Top 30:
8 WIRED Wild Feijoa
BACH DUSKRIDER Red
IPA BAYLANDS Offshore Bandit
BAYLANDS Sky Surfer
BEHEMOTH Be Hoppy #3 Hazy Pale Ale
BONEFACE The Darkness India Stout
BURKES #Fakenews Hazy IPA CASSELS APA
CROOKED Apple & Blackcurrant Cider
CROOKED Apple Cider
DEEP CREEK Aloha
DEEP CREEK Redwood APA
EMPORIUM BREWING Get To Da Choppa
GARAGE PROJECT Party & Bullsh#*t
GARAGE PROJECT White Mischief
HEART OF DARKNESS Some Sorcerer Hazy
IPA ISTHMUS 3D IPA
LIBERTY Citra
LIBERTY Knife Party
LIBERTY Oh Brother
MCLEOD’S Paradise Pale Ale
PANHEAD Port Road Pilsner
RENAISSANCE Stonecutter Scotch Ale
SAWMILL Baltic Porter
SAWMILL The Doctor
STEINLAGER Tokyo Dry
TOWNSHEND Sutton Hoo American Amber Ale
URBANAUT Copacabana Brut IPA URBANAUT Miami Brut Lager
ZEFFER Alcoholic Ginger Beer
For more information, including the top 100 winners by brewery and award, click here.
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