New Zealand’s Beer Awards for 2021 have wrapped up, and winners have been announced following a ‘Virtual Awards’ ceremony that took place on Thursday 21st October.

Following a hiatus in 2020 organisers, Brewers Guild of New Zealand, were impressed with the 839 entries received, across 122 different style classes. Guild Executive Director, Sabrina Kunz said, “To receive this number of entries is a huge showing considering the impact that covid has continued to have on our industry over the past two years.”

With covid continuing to have an impact on the entry process and judge availability due to last minute alert level changes, it was a sign of relief for the team when the judging was wrapped up in just two and a half days. Chief Judge, David Nicholls, of DNA Brewery said, “that the calibre of entries were a reflection of the quality and creativity in the New Zealand Beer Awards.”

During a ‘normal’ year, over 500 people from across the industry and the country would gather to attend the NZ Beer Awards dinner to find out the trophy and medal winners across the 14 style classes, as well as the 7 Champion Awards and 5 Industry Awards.

Winners on the evening included Alibi Brewing as Champion Exhibitor, a micro brewery on Waiheke Island, and Tekapo based Burke’s Brewing who took out New Zealand’s Best Beer with their Unforgiven Porter,

The Brewers Guild of New Zealand are excited to see some new names amongst the winning breweries and all of the winners can be found on the NZ Ale Trail www.nzaletrail.com/nzbeerawards

Champion Award Winners

Champion Micro Brewery
Three Sisters Brewery, Taranaki

Champion Small Brewery
Altitude Brewing Co, Queenstown

Champion Medium Brewery
McLeod’s Brewery, Waipu, Northland

Champion Large Brewery
Garage Project, Te Aro, Wellington

Champion New Zealand Exhibitor
Alibi Brewing, Waiheke Island

Champion New Zealand Manufacturer
bStudio, Napier, Hawkes Bay

Champion New Zealand Beer
Burkes Brewing – Unforgiven Porter
Lake Tekapo, Mackenzie Country

Trophy Winners

Boneface Brewing Company
International Lager – Outlaw

Panhead Custom Ales
New Zealand Style – Port Road Pilsner

Alibi Brewing Company
Amber/Dark Lager – Temná Zima

The Emerson Brewing Company Ltd
British Ale – Emersons Bookbinder

Garage Project Brewery
European Ale – Chance, Luck & Magic

McLeod’s Brewery
Amber/Dark Ale – Harvest Moon Dark IPA

Garage Project Brewery
International Pale Ale – Proper IPA

Behemoth Brewing Company
Indian Pale Ale – Get Busy Hopping

Waitoa Beer
Juicy/Hazy – Afterglow Hazy IPA

Burkes Brewing Co
Stout & Porter – Unforgiven Porter

Three Sisters Brewery
Wheat & Other Grain – Roses & Rivets

Beer Baroness Brewing Company
Fruit & Flavoured – Dare to Diva

Lion
Specialty & Experimental – Speights Mid Ale

Kereru Brewing Company
Wood & Barrel Aged – Amberine

Industry Award Winners

Brewing Sustainability Award
Sawmill Brewery

Beer Tourism Award
Moa Brewing Company – Moa Tap Room

Beer Media Award
Alice Neville

Morton Coutts Award
Dr Ron Beatson

Packaging Award
Small Gods & Maltkult Brewing Co – The Satan Can
Trilogy