Wellington, New Zealand, 2014-11-10— /EPR Retail News/ — The results of the inaugural New World Beer & Cider Awards, which celebrate the diversity and high standard of beer and cider available from around New Zealand and overseas, have been announced today.
“As well as recognising the rapidly growing local beer and cider market, the New World Beer & Cider Awards were established this year to help make the decision process a little easier for consumers,” says Chair of Judges Neil Miller, who was recently named Beer Writer of the Year at the Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Awards.
“Having that medal sticker on award-winning beer and cider in-store means people can try different styles with confidence that the brew is going to be a great example of its type.”
Recently, over two days in Wellington, a team of 12 industry leaders blind-tasted 351 beers and ciders from 56 breweries. Medals were awarded to the top scorers and resulted in 14 Best in Class, 32 Gold, 45 Silver and 77 Bronze winners. The Best in Class brews are:
Pale Ale – Epic Pale Ale
IPA & APA – Liberty Brewing Co. Yakima Monster
Strong Ale – Renaissance Brewing Company Stonecutter Scotch Ale
Speciality Ale – Bach Brewing Duskrider Red IPA
NZ Lager – Steinlager Classic
International Lager – Singha Premium Lager
Pilsner – Galbraith’s Special Edition Pilsner Czech Style
Speciality Lager – Wigram Brewing Co. Munchner Dunkel
Wheat Beer – Mac’s Great White Cloudy Wheat Beer
Stout & Porter – Three Boys Oyster Stout
Fruit, Flavoured & Specialty Beer – Garage Project VPA: Venusian Pale Ale
Lower Strength Beer – Tuatara ITI APA
Apple & Pear Cider – Zeffer Cider Co. Red Apple Cider
Fruit & Flavoured Cider – Old Mout Cider Feijoa & Cider
“I was incredibly impressed by not only the number, but the standard of entries from both new entrants and established players from all parts of the country and overseas,” says Neil Miller.
Each beverage was assessed against the style guide using the 50-point scoring system by a panel of four judges. The experienced and well respected judges included Kelly Ryan, Kieran Haslett-Moore, Stephanie Coutts, Joseph Wood, Hadyn Green, Mike Neilson, Colin Mallon, Greig McGill, Matt Warner, Jono Galuszka, Stephen Plowman and Shane Morley, with Craig Bowen as competition advisor.
The New World Beer & Cider Awards’ key point of difference from other competitions is that each of the 14 Best in Class brews must have 3,600 litres available around the time of results announcement, in order to ensure there is enough stock for New World customers nationwide. Even with this benchmark in place, Neil Miller believes the winning brews will sell out fast.
“Many of the winners are smaller, independent breweries from off the beaten track, which means that people will have to get in quick if they want to try some for themselves.”
All Best in Class brews are distributed and promoted in New World’s 136 supermarkets nationwide from 10 November, with full competition results available at newworld.co.nz/beerandcider.
“We’re now seeing more and more New Zealanders appreciating a great quality beer or cider just as much as they do a glass of wine. It’s fantastic that we can provided a competition much like our long-running New World Wine Awards to recognise and reward this growing sector,” says Steve Anderson, Managing Director, New World.
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