Record entries for 2023 New World Beer & Cider Awards

Judges in the 2023 New World Beer & Cider Awards are assessing a record number of entries, with more than 700 submissions received from around 100 local beverage makers and importers.

Top scorers will place in the Top 30 winners, which will be made available in New World stores nationwide. Results are to be announced in May.

Chair of Judges Michael Donaldson says it was a pleasant surprise to have such a large number of entries given the difficulties faced by many in recent months. “It’s been a challenging time for many brew businesses, not least with the recent CO2 shortages and weather upheaval,” says Donaldson.  

“To be celebrating a record-breaking year for entries really demonstrates the industry’s strength, persistence and belief in their products, and shows the value a win in these awards can offer. “ 

Organisers say that from 100 beers in 2020, the Hazy and Juicy beer class is now by far the largest with more than 140 entries, followed by IPA with around 90 entries and Pale Ale with around 80.   

In other classes, fruit is the clear trend, featuring strongly in entries to the Sour and Speciality Beer and cider classes.

Around 5% of the entries are in either the newly created ‘low carb’ class, or the low (under 1.15% ABV) and no alcohol class, both areas where brewers continue to innovate in response to rising consumer demand. 

Donaldson and Deputy Chair of Judges, Kelly Ryan, are leading an independent panel of 27 other senior judges to determine the top-ranked beers and ciders. A further nine junior judges ‘in training’ are working alongside them.

The judges work in small teams to blind-taste around 40 to 50 beers or ciders each, per day, over two days of intensive judging in Christchurch in mid-March. 

The 30 top ranked entries will make up the New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30 with a further 70 ‘Highly Commended’ brews celebrated in a combined Top 100 list on the New World website.