Media Release

2012 New Zealand Champion Brewery Winner Announced

The Sutton Group Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards have been judged, with Harrington’s Breweries (Christchurch) taking out the top honours to become the Champion Brewery in New Zealand for 2012.

In its eleventh year, the Awards continued to be strongly contested with 460 entries in 2012. This year saw increased support from local breweries, with 20% more New Zealand entries than in 2011.

The New Zealand focus continued with Brian Watson returning as Head Judge for a second year, and the Awards being handed out at a gala evening in Wellington hosted by the iconic entertainer Te Radar.

In 2012 the Guild introduced a Beer Writer of the Year Award, voted on by Russell Brown (Public Address), Simon Morton and Richard Scott (This Way up) and James Smith (The Crafty Pint).

The Full Details of the Trophy Winners are below:

New Zealand Champion Brewery
Harrington’s Breweries

Champion International Brewery
Boston Beer Co

European Lager Styles
Wigram Brewing Company
Munchner Dunkel

International Lager Styles
Tuatara Brewing Company
Tuatara Pilsner

British Ale Styles
Emerson’s Brewery
Regional Best Bitter

Other European Ale Styles
Golden Bear Brewing
Pirate Peach Saison

US Ale Styles
Liberty Brewing Co
Yakima Monster

International Ale Styles
ParrotDog
BitterBitch

Stout & Porter Styles
Wigram Brewing Company
The Czar

Wheat & Other Grain Styles
Tuatara Brewing Co Ltd
Tuatara Hefe

Flavoured & Aged Styles (incl. Fruit/Spice/Herb/ Honey/Smoke)
Garage Project
Dark Arts

New Zealand Specific Styles
Boundary Road Brewery
NZ Pure

Specialty, Experimental, Aged, Barrel & Wood-Aged Styles
8 Wired Brewing
Grand Cru 2011

Cider & Perry Styles
Bulmer Harvest
Harvest Pear Cider

Cask Conditioned
Townshend Brewery
HM’s Black Strap Porter

Packaging
Tuatara Brewing Company
Tuatara Range

Festive Brew
Garage Project
Ziggy’s Carrot Cake

Morton Coutts Trophy for Innovation
James (Jim) Pollitt

Brewers Guild New Zealand Beer Writer of the Year 2012
Phil Cook

Full results are available here.