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 Brewery Harrington’s Breweries

Champion International Brewery Boston Beer Co

European Lager Styles Wigram Brewing Company Munchner Dunkel

International Lager Styles Tuatara Brewing Company Tuatara Pilsner

British Ale Styles Emerson’s Brewery Regional Best Bitter

Other European Ale Styles Golden Bear Brewing Pirate Peach Saison

US Ale Styles Liberty Brewing Co Yakima Monster

International Ale Styles ParrotDog BitterBitch

Stout & Porter Styles Wigram Brewing Company The Czar

Wheat & Other Grain Styles Tuatara Brewing Co Ltd Tuatara Hefe

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

New Zealand Specific Styles Boundary Road Brewery NZ Pure

Specialty, Experimental, Aged, Barrel & Wood-Aged Styles 8 Wired Brewing Grand Cru 2011

Cider & Perry Styles Bulmer Harvest Harvest Pear Cider

Cask Conditioned Townshend Brewery HM’s Black Strap Porter

Packaging Tuatara Brewing Company Tuatara Range

Festive Brew Garage Project Ziggy’s Carrot Cake

Morton Coutts Trophy for Innovation James (Jim) Pollitt

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

Full results are available here.