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The New Zealand Beer Awards 2022 winners have been announced, as New Zealand’s brewing industry celebrated last night at multiple locations across the country.

This year the Guild saw 828 beers entered in the competition across 119 different style classes, which, according to Brewers Guild Executive Director Melanie Kees, was just a handful off the 2021 number of entries. “We’re thrilled that the entry numbers continue to stay strong, and it was also great to see many new breweries enter this year, many of whom received medals – In fact this year’s success rate at gaining a medal was 62%, up 10% from last year.”

The addition of a new trophy, No & Reduced Alcohol also proved popular, with 29 entries in its first year.

Judging took place, just over two weeks ago in Christchurch where 29 judges, 22 stewards and 6 support staff poured, delivered and tasted the 800 plus beers. With travel across the Tasman back to normal, the judging team were joined by 4 Australian judges, including Head Judge Tina Panoutsos.

Last night’s main celebration was based at Emerson’s brewery in Dunedin and was live streamed to 6 other locations across New Zealand.

The big winners on the evening included Christchurch Brewery, Three Boys, taking out the top gong as Champion Exhibitor, and Garage Project wining New Zealand’s Best Beer with Chance, Luck and Magic.

The Awards also celebrate the wider brewing industry and including Awards for Beer Media,

Sustainability in Brewing, the Packaging Award and Beer Tourism – the Tourism award was taken out by the Wellington Culinary Events Trust’s Beervana.

Please find the list of Champion, Trophy, and Industry Award winners below and click here for the full catalogue of results.

Champion Award Winners

Champion Micro Brewery

Kainui Brew Co
Kerikeri

Champion Small Brewery

Three Sisters
New Plymouth

Champion Medium Brewery

Behemoth Brewing Company
Auckland

Champion Large Brewery

Garage Project
Te Aro, Wellington

Champion New Zealand Exhibitor

Three Boys Brewery
Christchurch

Champion New Zealand Manufacturer

Steam Brewing Co
Auckland

Champion New Zealand Beer

Garage Project – Chance, Luck & Magic
Te Aro, Wellington

Trophy Winners

Three Boys Brewery

International Lager – Three Boys Lager

Baylands Brewery

New Zealand Style – Slope Shredder

Sawmill Brewery

Amber/Dark Lager – Sawmill the Doctor

The Emerson Brewing Company Ltd

British Ale – Emerson’s Old 95

Garage Project Brewery

European Ale – Chance, Luck & Magic

Altitude Brewing

Amber/Dark Ale – Snow Dance

McLeod’s Brewery

International Pale Ale – Paradise Pale Ale

Behemoth Brewing Company

No & Reduced Alcohol – Low Hanging Fruit – Blood
Orange and Passionfruit Edition

Liberty Brewing Company

Indian Pale Ale – C!tra

Good George Brewing

Juicy/Hazy – Haze of Glory

Altitude Brewing

Stout & Porter – Starlight Highway

Badass Beverages

Wheat & Other Grain – Hefe Metal

Kainui Brew Co

Fruit & Flavoured – Rose Saison

Brood Fermentation

Specialty & Experimental – Fejoa & rye

Lumberjack Brewing

Wood & Barrel Aged – From the Woods – 2020
Saison

Industry Award Winners

Brewing Sustainability Award

Sawmill Brewery

Beer Tourism Award

Wellington Culinary Events Trust – Beervana

Packaging Award

Double Vision Brewing

Beer Media Award

Michael Donaldson