Media Release

2012 New Zealand Champion Brewery Winner Announced

The Sutton Group Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards have been judged, with Harrington’s Breweries (Christchurch) taking out the top honours to become the Champion Brewery in New Zealand for 2012.

In its eleventh year, the Awards continued to be strongly contested with 460 entries in 2012. This year saw increased support from local breweries, with 20% more New Zealand entries than in 2011.

The New Zealand focus continued with Brian Watson returning as Head Judge for a second year, and the Awards being handed out at a gala evening in Wellington hosted by the iconic entertainer Te Radar.

In 2012 the Guild introduced a Beer Writer of the Year Award, voted on by Russell Brown (Public Address), Simon Morton and Richard Scott (This Way up) and James Smith (The Crafty Pint).

The Full Details of the Trophy Winners are below:

New Zealand Champion BreweryHarrington’s Breweries

Champion International BreweryBoston Beer Co

European Lager StylesWigram Brewing CompanyMunchner Dunkel

International Lager StylesTuatara Brewing CompanyTuatara Pilsner

British Ale StylesEmerson’s BreweryRegional Best Bitter

Other European Ale StylesGolden Bear BrewingPirate Peach Saison

US Ale StylesLiberty Brewing CoYakima Monster

International Ale StylesParrotDogBitterBitch

Stout & Porter StylesWigram Brewing CompanyThe Czar

Wheat & Other Grain StylesTuatara Brewing Co LtdTuatara Hefe

Flavoured & Aged Styles (incl. Fruit/Spice/Herb/ Honey/Smoke)Garage ProjectDark Arts

New Zealand Specific StylesBoundary Road BreweryNZ Pure

Specialty, Experimental, Aged, Barrel & Wood-Aged Styles8 Wired BrewingGrand Cru 2011

Cider & Perry StylesBulmer HarvestHarvest Pear Cider

Cask ConditionedTownshend BreweryHM’s Black Strap Porter

PackagingTuatara Brewing CompanyTuatara Range

Festive BrewGarage ProjectZiggy’s Carrot Cake

Morton Coutts Trophy for InnovationJames (Jim) Pollitt

Brewers Guild New Zealand Beer Writer of the Year 2012Phil Cook

Full results are available here.