The winners in the New Zealand Beer Awards 2024 have been revealed, with a Christchurch brewery taking out the top honour.

More than 300 industry professionals gathered for the awards ceremony in Auckland, with Trophies awarded to those judged the best of more than 700 entries from around the country.

The prestigious Overall Champion Brewing Company award went to Three Boys Brewery from Christchurch, a title they also held in 2022. McLeod’s Brewery from Waipu received the Champion New Zealand Beer trophy for their India Pale Ale, Tropical Cyclone, and also won the Champion Medium Brewery title.

The Brewers Guild says that the quality and quantity of the entries exceeded expectations, marking a significant milestone for the awards.

“We’re over the moon with both the number of entries and their quality in the 2024 competition,” said Melanie Kees, Executive Director of the Brewers Guild of New Zealand. “One of the key drivers behind the New Zealand Beer Awards, apart from celebrating our exceptional local beers, is to recognize and uphold high standards. This year, we saw a 14% increase in the success rate for medals, with 77% of all entries receiving a medal. This is a testament to the outstanding quality of New Zealand beer, which is fantastic news for both brewers and consumers.”

The Specialty & Experimental category emerged as the largest, followed closely by the Stout & Porter, and NZ Lager & NZ Pilsner categories.

Champion Award Winners

Champion Micro Brewery: Fork & Brewer, Wellington

Champion Small Brewery: Shining Peak Brewing, New Plymouth

Champion Medium Brewery: McLeod’s Brewery, Waipu

Champion Large Brewery: Parrotdog, Wellington

Overall Champion New Zealand Brewing Company: Three Boys Brewery, Christchurch 

Champion New Zealand Manufacturer: Steam Brewing, Auckland

Champion New Zealand Beer: McLeod’s Brewery, Waipu – Tropical Cyclone

Beer Trophy Winners

International Lager: Parrotdog L.B. Cold IPA

NZ IPA, NZ Pale & NZ Draughts: Shining Peak Brewing Detained & Fabulous

NZ Lager & NZ Pilsner: Parrotdog Sundog

British & European Ale: Isthmus Brewing Gone Troppo

Amber/Dark Lager & Ale: Sprig + Fern Brewing Co The G.O.A.T Doppelbock

International Pale Ale: McLeod’s Brewery Blue Sky

No, Low & Reduced Alcohol: Good George Brewing Virtual Reality Non Alcoholic Pale Ale

Indian Pale Ale: McLeod’s Brewery Tropical Cyclone

Juicy/Hazy Pale Ale: Beer Baroness Slice of Heaven

Juicy/Hazy IPA: Bach Brewing Co. Bungy Smuggler NZ Hazy IPA

Stout & Porter: Mount Brewing Co. Shades of the Pacific

Wheat & Other Grain: Panhead Custom Ales Batch 293, German Wheat

Fruit & Flavoured: Behemoth Brewing Company Ltd Triple Chocolate Milk Stout

Specialty & Experimental: Three Boys Brewery Three Boys Raspberry Gose

Wood & Barrel Aged: Shining Peak Brewing Vintage Stout 2021

Industry Award Winners

Brewing Sustainability Award: Sawmill Brewery

Beer Tourism Award: Altitude Brewing

Packaging Award: Hop Federation

Morton Coutts Award for Innovation: Clayton Hops

W: For a full list of Trophy and medal winners visit brewersguild.org.nz