New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30 revealed
For the first time in the eight-year history of the New World Beer & Cider Awards, the Top 30 winner list is made up entirely of New Zealand brands, including nine first-time winners.
The announcement of the Top 30 (plus 70 Highly Commended) follows the independent expert judging of nearly 700 entries from around New Zealand and the world. The Top 30 brews are now available in New World supermarkets nationwide.
2022 marked the first year of a Supreme Winner Award, with judges tasting and re-tasting the best-scoring entries. It was awarded to Emerson’s Weissbier, which Chair of Judges Michael Donaldson describes as a “classic masterpiece”.
A reincarnation of a wheat beer Emerson’s founder Richard Emerson first brewed in 1995, the traditionally cloudy German-style beer is described as fruit-driven with a hint of “banana lollies”, full and creamy but clean and coherent.
Two non-alcoholic beers made the Top 30 in 2022: ALL DAY Non-Alcoholic IPA from Auckland’s Bach Brewing and Garage Project’s ‘Tiny’ Non-Alcoholic Hazy IPA.
Michael Donaldson, says the wins are great news for beer drinkers of all persuasions. “Creating a full-flavour beer without the alcohol is no easy feat. To make the Top 30, an entry has to not just impress, but must reach the threshold of being a world-class example of its style, and these certainly do. Both are non-alcoholic options that don’t make you feel as if you’re missing out on anything.”
This year also sees the first low carb beer – another fast-growing trend – to make it into the Top 30 with Epic Blue. “We judged the low carb entries alongside their peers in each style class, and it’s a real credit to the skill of the Epic team to have created such a full-flavour competitor,” says Donaldson.
2022 New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30 (in alphabetical order)
8 Wired Brewing (Warkworth/Matakana) – 8 Wired A Fistful of Raspberries
8 Wired Brewing (Warkworth/Matakana) – 8 Wired iStout
Bach Brewing Co. (Auckland) – Bach ALL DAY Non-Alcoholic IPA
Bach Brewing Co. (Auckland) – Bach PEACH PUCKER Berliner Sour Beer
Beer Baroness (Christchurch) – Beer Baroness Sunshine & Spaceships
Behemoth Brewing Company (Auckland) – Behemoth Brewing Hop Buddies Homer and Marge Hazy IPA
Bootleg Brewery Ltd (Hamilton) – Bootleg T-Straight Burnout Smokey Stout
Brave Brewing Co (Hawke's Bay) – Brave Brewing Co Bottle Rocket Extra Pale Ale
Burkes Brewing Co (Tekapo) – Burkes Brewing Co #Fakenews Hazy IPA
Emerson's Brewery (Dunedin) – Emerson's Weissbier
Epic Beer (Auckland) – Epic Blue Low Carb Pale Ale
Epic Beer (Auckland) – Epic Cryopop
Garage Project Brewery (Wellington) – Garage Project Hatsukoi Lager
Garage Project Brewery (Wellington) – Garage Project Pernicious Weed IIPA
Garage Project Brewery (Wellington) – Garage Project Proper Crisp IPA
Garage Project Brewery (Wellington) – Garage Project Tiny Non-Alcoholic Hazy IPA
Morningcider (Auckland) – Morningcider Strawberry Rosé Cider
Mount Brewing Co (Mount Maunganui) – Mount Brewing Co Golden Hour Hazy XPA
North End Brewery (Kapiti Coast/Waikanae) – North End Bones of the Land Saison
DB Breweries Ltd (Nelson) – Orchard Thieves Rosé
Panhead Custom Ales (Wellington - Upper Hutt) – Panhead Port Road Pilsner
Ranga / Brand Evolution (Gisborne) – Ranga Alcoholic Gingerbeer
Rhyme X Reason Brewery (Wanaka) – Rhyme X Reason Space Monkey
Sawmill Brewery (Matakana) – Sawmill Extra Pale Ale
Sawmill Brewery (Matakana) – Sawmill West Coast IPA
Southpaw Brewing Company (Christchurch) – Southpaw Brewing Say Hey Kid IPA
Lion (Auckland) – Steinlager Pure
The Theoretical Brewer (New Plymouth) – The Theoretical Brewer Mad Hatter
Urbanaut Brewing Co (Auckland) – Urbanaut Hacienda Disco Beer
Volstead Brewing Company (Christchurch) – Volstead Brewing Company Riwaka Hazy
W: Full results at newworld.co.nz/discover/beer-and-cider-awards
