Some of Aotearoa’s newest, smallest and most remote craft breweries have won a place in the just-announced New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30, making the prestigious list alongside the country’s biggest names.

There were more than 700 local and international entries for this year’s competition, with an independent panel of 29 expert judges whittling the field down to a Top 30 and 70 Highly Commended. 

The Supreme Winner was Taupo’s Lakeman with their ‘Primate Pilsner’, which Chair of Judges Michael Donaldson says came out on top in the final taste-off against some of the bigger beers in the competition because of its outstanding execution.

“This win is a great story of Kiwi can-do attitude. Lakeman has gone from beginner to absolute winner in just ten years. There isn’t anything to hide behind in a crisp, light pilsner, and they’ve created a pitch perfect New Zealand style pilsner that beer fans are sure to love.”

Donaldson says that while there are always a few surprises in the Top 30, he’s never seen a year like this one. Alongside global brands like Asahi and Tiger, homegrown names like Mac’s, Monteith’s and Steinlager, the 2023 Top 30 includes well-known local craft brewers and first-time winners.

New faces on the awards podium this year include Ruapehu Brewing Co with ‘Unlimited Vis Hazy IPA’, one of the first beers off their new production line in Ohakune; Double Vision with their Miramar-made Mouth Party; and Otago Brew School – a hands-on learning environment for students at Otago Polytech Te Pūkenga brewing school, making the grade with their classic dark wheat beer Klassenbester Dunkelweizen.

Kingsland’s Urbanaut snagged three places in the Top 30 for their ‘Silver Palace Citra Hazy IPA’, ‘Newtown Hazy IPA’ and ‘Bronx Double IPA’, each showing off different hop varieties.

The Top 30 winners earn shelf space and promotion in New World stores nationwide.

The 2023 New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30

8 WIRED Baltic Smoke
ASAHI Super Dry 0.0%
BAYLANDS BREWERY Skull Cracker
BOOTLEG Apehanger IPA
BOOTLEG Late Night Monk Fight Quad
BURKES BREWING CO Unforgiven Porter
DEEP CREEK Aloha Guava Passionfruit Sour
DOUBLE VISION BREWING Mouth Party
LAKEMAN BREWING Primate Pilsner (Supreme Champion)
MAC'S Gold
MARTINBOROUGH BREWERY Hop Elixir IPA
MCLEOD'S Paradise Pale Ale
MONTEITH'S Tight Lines Pale Ale
MORNINGCIDER Cherry Bomb Cider
MOUNT BREWING CO Tart Rhubarb Cider
OTAGO BREW SCHOOL Klassenbester Dunkelweizen
PANHEAD Supercharger
PARROTDOG Sundog
PAYNTER'S CIDER The Pilgrim Dry Cider
RUAPEHU BREWING CO Unlimited Vis Hazy IPA
SHINING PEAK BREWING Petite Pegasus Session Hazy
SPRIG + FERN BREWING CO Norty Porter
STEINLAGER Pure
THREE SISTERS BREWERY Rumours in the Dark
TIGER Ultra Low Carb
URBANAUT Bronx Double IPA
URBANAUT Newtown Hazy Pale Ale
URBANAUT Silver Palace Citra Hazy IPA
ZEFFER 0% Passionfruit Cider
ZEFFER Alcoholic Ginger Beer

W: Find the full list at newworld.co.nz/Top30