American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
(Courtesy Brewers Guild of New Zealand)
New Zealand is fantastic country, home to “Lord of the Rings” and an impressive craft beer scene. They recently celebrated their best and we’ve all some of the highlights.
Put on by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand, this year’s awards saw 828 beers entered in the competition across 119 different style classes, which, according to Brewers Guild Executive Director Melanie Kees, was just a handful off the 2021 number of entries…
“We’re thrilled that the entry numbers continue to stay strong, and it was also great to see many new breweries enter this year, many of whom received medals – In fact this year’s success rate at gaining a medal was 62%, up 10% from last year.”
Judging took place, just over two weeks ago in Christchurch where 29 judges, 22 stewards and 6 support staff poured, delivered and tasted the 800 plus beers.
The big winners on the evening included Christchurch Brewery, Three Boys, taking out the top gong as Champion Exhibitor, and Garage Project wining New Zealand’s Best Beer with Chance, Luck and Magic.
The New Zealand Beer Awards also celebrate the wider brewing industry including awards for Beer Media, Sustainability in Brewing, the Packaging Award and Beer.
And here are this year’s biggest winners…
Champion Award Winners
Champion Micro Brewery
Kainui Brew Co
Kerikeri
Champion Small Brewery
Three Sisters
New Plymouth
Champion Medium Brewery
Behemoth Brewing Company
Auckland
Champion Large Brewery
Garage Project
Te Aro, Wellington
Champion New Zealand Exhibitor
Three Boys Brewery
Christchurch
Champion New Zealand Manufacturer
Steam Brewing Co
Auckland
Champion New Zealand Beer
Garage Project – Chance, Luck & Magic
Te Aro, Wellington
Trophy Winners
Three Boys Brewery
International Lager – Three Boys Lager
Baylands Brewery
New Zealand Style – Slope Shredder
Sawmill Brewery
Amber/Dark Lager – Sawmill the Doctor
The Emerson Brewing Company Ltd
British Ale – Emerson’s Old 95
Garage Project Brewery
European Ale – Chance, Luck & Magic
Altitude Brewing
Amber/Dark Ale – Snow Dance
McLeod’s Brewery
International Pale Ale – Paradise Pale Ale
Behemoth Brewing Company
No & Reduced Alcohol – Low Hanging Fruit – Blood
Orange and Passionfruit Edition
Liberty Brewing Company
Indian Pale Ale – C!tra
Good George Brewing
Juicy/Hazy – Haze of Glory
Altitude Brewing
Stout & Porter – Starlight Highway
Badass Beverages
Wheat & Other Grain – Hefe Metal
Kainui Brew Co
Fruit & Flavoured – Rose Saison
Brood Fermentation
Specialty & Experimental – Fejoa & rye
Lumberjack Brewing
Wood & Barrel Aged – From the Woods – 2020
Saison
Industry Award Winners
Brewing Sustainability Award
Sawmill Brewery
Beer Tourism Award
Wellington Culinary Events Trust – Beervana
Packaging Award
Double Vision Brewing
Beer Media Award
Michael Donaldson
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You can find a complete list of all this year’s winners HERE
(All image credits: Brewers Guild of New Zealand)
