By Deanna Harris
The top ale makers in the country have been crowned at the 2010 BrewNZ Awards.
In its ninth year, the awards run by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand, have attracted a record number of entries, 446 from national and international breweries.
DB Breweries was named the New Zealand Champion Brewery of the 2010 last night at the awards dinner in Wellington.
“Brewers from around the world competed with the best of New Zealand beers in a world class challenge. The results show that New Zealand stands tall amongst the best beers in the world,” says chief judge, David Logsdon from the US.
David Cryer, Chairman of the Brewers Guild of New Zealand, says the rise in entries reflects the growth of the premium craft brewing industry in New Zealand, as well as growing demand by consumers for premium quality craft beer.
"New Zealand now has more than 50 breweries around the country ranging from tiny enterprises from as far south as Invercargill, right through to the larger breweries such as Lion Nathan and DB," he says.
"Over the last year we've seen an 11 percent growth in premium craft beer sales, while overall beer consumption has declined by about 5 percent. This increase is following a similar pattern seen internationally with consumers' growing interest in craft beer."
DB Breweries also won the top prize in the European Lager Styles class for their Monteith’s Black, the New Zealand Lager and Premium Lager Styles class for their Tui Blonde, Export 33 took the trophy in the reduced alcohol, reduced carbohydrate and gluten-free styles class and Tui won the New Zealand Draught class.
The Champion International Brewery was given to Boston Beer Company and the International Lager Styles class winner went to The Croucher Brewing Company’s Pilsner.
Steam Brewing Company won the European Ale Styles class for their Cock & Bull Fuggles and their Cock & Bull Monks Habit won the New Zealand, US and International Ale Styles class.
The Morton Coutts Trophy for Innovation was awarded to Independent Liquor NZ Ltd.
Other winners include the Three Boys Brewery for Three Boys Oyster Stout, Emerson’s Brewery for Emerson’s Dunkelweiss, 8 Wired Brewing’s The Big Smoke, Epic Brewing Company’s Epic Barrel Aged IPA, Bulmer Harvest Cidery (Foster’s NZ Ltd) for Bulmers Original Pear Cider and Three Boys Brewery’s Three Boys Pineapple Lump Porter.
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