2 September 2014 - Best Beer HQ

New Zealand’s best beers crowned at 2014 Brewers’ Guild awards

New Zealand’s best beers crowned at 2014 Brewers’ Guild awards

Nelson craft brewery Townshend Brewery was named New Zealand’s best brewery at the 2014 Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards.

The one-man craft beer operation beat out 670 other beers from 84 different breweries around New Zealand.

Founder and brewer Martin Townshend commented: “Being named New Zealand’s Champion Brewery is a massive accolade.  It seems like only yesterday that I created my first brew in the shed.”

He added: “Like most things in life, the secret to success is passion, hard work and dedication to the task.  I still enjoy brewing now as much as I ever have and I think most brewers will tell you the same.  That said, it’s huge to be recognised and this award is the best possible recognition a brewer could get.”

Founded in 2005, the now award-winning Townshend Brewery remains a one-person operation, producing approximately 50,000 litres of beer per year.  The 650 litre brewery is still located at the Townshend family home in Rosedale, near Nelson.

Meanwhile, Townshend Brewery also won the New Zealand Specific Style award for its Oldhams Tap Riwaka Pilsner.

Competition manager Craig Bowen commented: “Each year, more New Zealanders are getting into beer and cider brewing.  And each year, the task of judging at these Awards becomes much harder.

“Whether it’s a one man band or the larger more established breweries, New Zealand is enjoying a golden period in terms of the variety and quality of beers produced.  That’s what the Awards are about – recognising and celebrating excellence in our profession.”

In other results, America’s Boston Beer Company was named best international brewery at the 2014 Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards, and DB Draught Brewery’s Montieth’s Black beer was named the best international lager.

Now in its eighth year, the Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards is an international competition, with entries from throughout New Zealand and the world.  All beer entries were rated against a style guide for each category for its aroma, colour, bitterness, flavour and presentation.

This year a grand total of 61 gold, 121 silver and 169 bronze medals were awarded.

The major award winners at the 2014 Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards were:

• Best European lager: Emersons Brewery, Gladiator Bock

• Best international lager: DB Draught Brewery, Monteith’s Black

• Best wheat and other grains: Renaissance Brewing, Black the RIPA

• Best British ale: Wigram Brewing Company, Tornado Strong Ale

• Best other European ale: Emersons Brewery, JP 2014

• Best cider and perry: Zeffer Cider Co., Slack ma Girdle Cider

• Best cask-conditioned beer: Moa Brewery, Moa Five Hop Handpull

• Best packaging: Tuatara Brewing, Delicious Neck

• Best festive Brew: Behemoth Brewing, Brave Bikkie Brown Ale

• Best US ale: ParrotDog, BloodyDingo

• Best international ale: Panhead Custom Ales, Boss Hog

• Best stout and porter: Three Boys Brewery, Three Boys Oyster Stout

• Best flavoured and aged: Wigram Brewing Company, Captain Cook Spruce Beer

• Best New Zealand-specific: Townshend Brewery, Oldhams Tap Riwaka Pilsner

• Best specialty, experimental, aged, barrel, wood-aged: Panhead Custom Ales, Black Sabbath

News beer awards / best beer / New Zealand /

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