Craft beer lovers of New Zealand have declared their favourite beers of the year in the annual GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers poll!

Upper Hutt brewery Panhead Custom Ales’ ‘Supercharger’ has reclaimed the title of New Zealand’s most popular craft beer in 2019 (after wins in 2016 and 2017). The 5.7% Pale Ale topped a list of more than 800 beers produced by over 70 craft breweries around the country.

Created by the team behind Auckland’s GABS Craft Beer & Cider Festival, the fourth edition of the Kiwi poll saw thousands of craft beer lovers around the country vote for their five favourite craft beers of the year and then celebrate as the results were counted down on Saturday 1 February. These results shine a spotlight on the trends, brands and breweries shaping the booming craft beer industry.

Previous winner Garage Project’s ‘Pernicious Weed’ (a double India Pale Ale), moved to second place in the poll, with the hugely popular Wellington brewer also claiming third on the podium with ‘Aro Street’, a New England (or Hazy) IPA brewed in collaboration with leading Boston brewery Trillium.

That beer was one of two new Garage Project collaborations with leading US brewers to make the top ten, the second being ‘No Dreams Till Brooklyn’ made in partnership with New York’s Other Half Brewing and coming in at #6. Both beers were part of a unique series celebrating the New Zealand hop harvest. In all, Garage Project proved to be the most dominant brewery on the list, with 22 beers making the top 100.

Demonstrating the fast pace of the nimble craft beer industry, these were just two of 46 beers that made their debut in the Hottest 100 list, with 38 of those beers only released for the first time in 2019. With demand for new craft beers at an all-time high, popular releases can attract a significant audience in a very short space of time.

Also prolific were Auckland’s Behemoth Brewing Co with 13 beers in the list, polling highest at #7 with ‘Lid Ripper’; and Deep Creek, coming in at #4 with ‘Misty Miyagi’ and claiming six places in the list altogether.

While hop-driven beer styles were again the most popular, making up 70% of the list (most of which being the New England IPA style), the poll shows the increasing popularity of sour beer styles such as Kettle Sours, Berliner Weisse and Gose beers. Wellington’s Maiden Brewery, which focuses on brewing and blending beers made using ‘wild’ or spontaneous fermentation techniques, led the charge for sour styles with five of its brews debuting in the list.

In the battle for craft beer dominance between Wellington and Auckland, Wellington took the spoils this year with a massive 51 beers from 9 different breweries (up from 41 beers in 2018) compared to 31 beers from 7 Auckland breweries. The Bay Of Plenty region was well represented by Funk Estate (4 beers) and Mount Brewing (3 beers), with Northland the next best region showcasing five entries from McLeod’s Brewery.

Craig Williams, Event Director of GABS Festival and organiser of the poll, said “To me, it’s a sign that the New Zealand craft beer industry is in a fantastic position. In the ‘old school’ beer world, mainstream brewers might only release the same four of five standard beers all year. Now you have this amazing ecosystem of hugely talented and prolific brewers pushing the boundaries of style and creativity in beer, and importantly, finding a market to support that. There really has been no better time for beer loversto expand their horizons and really explore what’s out there”.

GABS Auckland is regarded as one of the premier beer festivals in New Zealand and takes places at the ASB Showgrounds on Saturday 4 July. Tickets go on sale Wednesday 13 May. Visit www.gabsfestival.com for more info.

The GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers is proudly supported by Liquorland and The Crafty Pint.

1. Panhead SUPERCHARGER (American Pale Ale) WGN ↑ 2
2. Garage Project PERNICIOUS WEED (Imperial IPA) WGN * ↓ 1
3. Garage Project / Trillium ARO STREET (New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
4. Deep Creek MISTY MIYAGI (New England IPA) AUK * ↑ 20
5. McLeod’s 802 #19 FRESH UNFILTERED IPA (New England IPA) NTL * NEW ☆
6. Garage Project / Other Half NO DREAMS TILL BROOKLYN (New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
7. Behemoth LID RIPPER (New England IPA) AUK * ↓ 3
8. Garage Project HĀPI DAZE (New Zealand Pale Ale) WGN * ↑ 1
9. Panhead RAT ROD HAZY IPA (New England IPA) WGN ↑ 19
10. Tuatara HAZY PALE ALE (Hazy Pale Ale) WGN NEW ☆
11. Parrotdog BITTERBITCH (New Zealand IPA) WGN * ↑ 8
12. Deep Creek BREWTIFUL HAZE (New England IPA) AUK * ↓ 4
13. Garage Project PARTY & BULLSHIT (New England IPA) WGN * ↓ 7
14. Funk Estate JUNGLE BOOGIE (Kettle Sour) BOP * GABS ↑ 4
15. Behemoth DREAMS OF GREEN (Double New England IPA) AUK * NEW ☆
16. Garage Project DFA (Specialty Beer) WGN * GABS ↓ 14
17. Behemoth BRAIN SMILES (New England IPA) AUK * ↑ 51
18. Deep Creek ALOHA GUAVA PASSIONFRUIT SOUR (Berliner Weisse) AUK * ↑ 56
19. Fortune Favours THE WELLINGTONIAN (New Zealand IPA) WGN ↑ 30
20. 8 Wired iSTOUT AFFOGATO (Imperial Stout) AUK * ↑ 9
21. 8 Wired CUCUMBER HIPPY (Berliner Weisse) AUK * ↓ 5
22. Parrotdog KEITH (New England IPA) WGN * ↓ 7
23. Garage Project WHITE MISCHIEF (Gose) WGN * ↓ 6
24. Garage Project TURBO FUZZ (Hazy Pale Ale) WGN * NEW ☆
25. Garage Project SUPER FRESH VOL. 2 (Double New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
26. Fortune Favours THE NATURALIST (New Zealand Pale Ale) WGN ↑ 16
27. Panhead QUICKCHANGE XPA (Pale Ale) WGN ↑ 5
28. JuiceHead Beer DETONATOR (American Pale Ale) WGN * ☆
29. Deep Creek SENSEI (New England IPA) AUK * NEW ☆
30. Emerson’s HAZED & CONFUSED (Pale Ale) OTA ↑ 35
31. Garage Project SUPER FRESH (Double New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
32. Mount Brewing CRAZY HAZY DAZE (New England IPA) BOP * NEW ☆
33. Emerson’s ORANGE ROUGHY (Hazy Pale Ale) OTA NEW ☆
34. Garage Project GARAGISTA (American IPA) WGN * ↓ 21
35. Behemoth ME TIME MOSAIC (New England IPA) AUK * NEW ☆
36. 8 Wired A FISTFUL OF CHERRIES (Wild Fermentation Sour) AUK * ↔
37. 8 Wired WILD FEIJOA (Wild Fermentation Sour) AUK * NEW ↑ 14
38. Emerson’s BIRD DOG (American IPA) OTA ↑ 48
39. Behemoth 6 FOOT 5 (American IPA) AUK * ↑ 6
40. Behemoth CHUR (New Zealand Pale Ale) AUK * ↑ 56
41. Fortune Favours THE ADVENTURER (New Zealand Pilsner) WGN ☆
42. Maiden Brewing MULTIVERSE PASSIONFRUIT (Kettle Sour) WGN * NEW ☆
43. Duncan’s RASPBERRY RIPPLE ICE CREAM SOUR (Kettle Sour) WGN * NEW ☆
44. Parrotdog FALCON (American Pale Ale) WGN * ↓ 11
45. Brave TIGERMILK IPA (American IPA) HKB * ↑ 32
46. McLeod’s PARADISE PALE ALE (Pale Ale) NTL * ↑ 4
47. Garage Project SLAY RIDE (Imperial Stout) WGN * NEW ☆
48. Garage Project FRESH DEC (New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
49. Garage Project FUZZ BOX (New England IPA) WGN * ↓ 24
50. 8 Wired HOPWIRED (New Zealand IPA) AUK * ↓ 11
51. Behemoth NORTH BORDER BRUNCH (Imperial Stout) AUK * NEW ☆
52. Behemoth SNOW MEXICAN (Imperial Stout) AUK * ↓ 47
53. Emerson’s NZ PILSNER (New Zealand Pilsner) OTA
54. Epic Beer / Hallertau BABY HAZE IPA (New England IPA) AUK * NEW GABS ☆
55. Fortune Favours LEEDS ST ESTATE – ROSÉ BIER (Experimental Beer) WGN ☆
56. Behemoth HAZY HOLIDAYS (New England IPA) AUK * NEW ☆
57. Deep Creek HAIKU (Double New England IPA) AUK * NEW ☆
58. Fortune Favours THE OREGONIAN (American Amber/Red) WGN ☆
59. Garage Project BOSS LEVEL (Imperial IPA) WGN * ↓ 47
60. Funk Estate SOUL TRAIN PEACH TEA IPA (American IPA) BOP *
61. Garage Project BEER (Pale Lager) WGN * ↑ 2
62. Maiden Brewing MULTIVERSE PLUM (Kettle Sour) WGN * NEW ☆
63. Tuatara IPA (American IPA) WGN ☆
64. Behemoth IM-PEACH-MENT (Kettle Sour) AUK * ↓ 6
65. Boneface HOPTRON (American Pale Ale) WGN * ↑ 18
66. Tuatara APA (American Pale Ale) WGN ☆
67. Behemoth CHEECH & CHONG BLAZY IPA (New England IPA) AUK * ↑ 26
68. McLeod’s TROPICAL CYCLONE DIPA (Imperial IPA) NTL * ↑ 24
69. Maiden Brewing MULTIVERSE PEACH (Kettle Sour) WGN * NEW ☆
70. Garage Project DAY OF THE DEAD (Specialty Beer) WGN * ↓ 15
71. Garage Project FRESH FEB (New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
72. McLeod’s 802 #20 FRESH UNFILTERED IPA (New England IPA) NTL * NEW ☆
73. Epic Beer HOP ZOMBIE (Imperial IPA) AUK * ↓ 63
74. Funk Estate COSMIC HUSTLE (Kettle Sour) BOP * ☆
75. Mount Brewing BLACKBEARD COFFEE STOUT (American Stout) BOP * ☆
76. Tuatara ROUGHNECK (New England IPA) WGN NEW ☆
77. Alibi KISSN’ COUSINS’ (New England IPA) AUK * NEW ☆
78. Mount Brewing MERMAIDS MIRTH (American Pale Ale) BOP *
79. McLeod’s 802 #15 FRESH UNFILTERED IPA (New England IPA) NTL * NEW ☆
80. Garage Project CEREAL MILK STOUT (Sweet Stout) WGN * ↓ 46
81. Panhead PORT RD PILSNER (New Zealand Pilsner) WGN
82. Sawmill JUICEBOX EAST COAST IPA (New England IPA) AUK * ↑ 3
83. Tuatara AOTEAROA PALE ALE (New Zealand Pale Ale) WGN ☆
84. Garage Project FRESH NOV (New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
85. Lakeman CRAZY HAZY IPA (New England IPA) WKO * NEW GABS ☆
86. Maiden Brewing MULTIVERSE KIWIFRUIT & LIME (Kettle Sour) WGN * NEW ☆
87. Sawmill HAZY PALE ALE (New Zealand Pale Ale) AUK * NEW ☆
88. Funk Estate B-BOY MANGO TEA SOUR ALE (Kettle Sour) BOP * NEW GABS ☆
89. Garage Project FRESH JUN (New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
90. Parrotdog DEADCANARY (New Zealand Pale Ale) WGN *
91. Garage Project LA CALAVERA CATRINA (Specialty Beer) WGN *
92. Boneface UNIT (New Zealand IPA) WGN * ↓ 10
93. Maiden Brewing MULTIVERSE BLANC (Hoppy Sour) WGN * NEW ☆
94. Behemoth DUMP THE TRUMP (American IPA) AUK * ↓ 87
95. Epic Beer ARMAGEDDON (American IPA) AUK * ↓ 69
96. Behemoth SO JUICY RIGHT MEOW (Double New England IPA) AUK * NEW ☆
97. Parrotdog COLIN (American IPA) WGN * ↓ 67
98. Urbanaut COPACABANA BRUT IPA (Brut IPA) AUK * ↓ 41
99. Boneface MEGA UNIT (Double New England IPA) WGN * NEW ☆
100. Deep Creek WISDOM IPA (American IPA) AUK * NEW ☆

Key

↔ Maintained position from 2018
↑X Up X places from 2018
↓X Down X places from 2018
☆ First Hottest 100 appearance
* Brewed by an independently owned brewery
NEW Brewed for the first time in 2019
GABS A ‘Festival Beer’ brewed especially for GABS Craft Beer & Cider Festival