The New Zealand Beer Awards wrapped its 13th year on the weekend, with 500 people from the NZ brewing industry attending the gala dinner in Wellington.
With a record number of beers and ciders entered – 955 to be exact – there was a 13% increase in entries from Kiwi breweries, 57% of which were from small breweries.
The gala dinner at Te Papa in Wellington presented the trophy and medal winners of the 15 beer and cider categories, as well as the six champion awards, and five industry awards.
Wellington’s Fork Brewcorp, Auckland’s Liberty Brewing Co. and Auckland’s Lion were named Champion Small, Medium and Large Brewery respectively.
The Champion New Zealand Beer award was presented to Deep Creek’s Diep Kriek.
Winners on the evening ranged in size and experience in brewing, with one winner (Shining Peak Brewing, Taranaki) only in its sixth month of operation. The criteria for judging was strict as usual, with beer guidelines set by the American Brewing Association, and judged to by 35 judges, overseen by Chief Judge, Tina Panoutsos, Associate Director of Beer Knowledge for CUB, ABInBev.
Champion Award Winners
Champion Small Brewery
Fork Brewcorp
Te Aro, Wellington
Champion Medium Brewery
Liberty Brewing Co.
Helensville, Auckland
Champion Large Brewery
Lion NZ
East Tamaki, Auckland
Champion New Zealand Exhibitor
Liberty Brewing Co.
Helensville, Auckland
Champion New Zealand Manufacturer
Steam Brewing
Otahuhu, Auckland
Champion New Zealand Beer Deep Creek Brewing – Diep Kriek
Silverdale, Auckland
Industry Award Winners
Brewing Sustainability Award
Sawmill Brewing Co.
Beer Tourism Award
Brewbus NZ
Morton Coutts Award
Froth Technologies Ltd.
Beer Media Award
Denise Garland
Packaging Award
Liberty Brewing Co.
Trophy Winners
DB Breweries Ltd.
International Lager – Tiger Crystal
Liberty Brewing Co.
New Zealand Style – Halo Pilsner
Shining Peak Brewing
Amber/Dark Lager – Octopus Clamp Dark Lager
Wigram Brewing Company
British Ale – Wee Reeky
Sunshine Brewing Limited
European Ale – East Coast Saison
Heyday Beer Co.
Amber/Dark Ale – Game Day
Liberty Brewing Co.
International Pale Ale – Yakima Monster
Behemoth Brewing
Indian Pale Ale – Me Time – Mosaic
Panhead Custom Ales
Stout & Porter – Panhead Blacktop
Emerson’s Brewing Company
Wheat & Other Grain – Emerson’s Brewery Long Night
Garage Project
Fruit & Flavoured – Wabi Sabi
Deep Creek Brewing
Specialty, Experimental & Aged – Diep Kriek
Lakeman Brewing
Barrel & Wood Aged – Hairy Craic Imperial Stout
Paynter’s Cider
Cider & Perry – The Huntress
For a full list of winners, head to https://www.brewersguild.org.nz/awards/
