Beer_Brewer_Award_Winners_for_New_Zealand_2012

Epic Brewing also scored big with Luke Nicholas taking home Brewer of the Year and Best Beer for his Epic Armageddon.

Young brewer of the Year went to the talent Matt Warner of ParrotDog while the hotly contested Beertender of the Year Award went to Scott Boswell of The Hop Garden in Wellington. And, finally, Best Large Pub was taken out by Galbraith’s Alehouse in Auckland and Best Bottleshop (more than 300 beers) was won by New World Thorndon inWellington.

The breadth of the talent and depth of the beer obsession across New Zealand made the competition even tougher in 2012 than in previous years, meaning that the winners are even more deserving – if that is possible!

In order to achieve victory, the winners of the awards are chosen by a strict set of criteria that takes into account judges opinions, industry information and relevant sales data. For full terms see the bottom of this article.

FULL WINNERS LIST – Beer & Brewer Awards – Category winners (NZ)

Overall Best Beer Venue – Hashigo Zake, Wellington
Runner Up – Little Beer Quarter, Wellington

Best Beer – Epic Armageddon
Runner Up – Yeastie Boys Pot Kettle Black

Brewer of the Year – Luke Nicholas, Epic Brewing
Runner Up – Mike Neilson, Tuatara

Young Brewer of the Year – Matt Warner, ParrotDog
Runner Up – Joe Wood, Liberty Brewing Co

Beertender of the Year – Scott Boswell – The Hop Garden, Wellington
Runner Up – Dave Wood, Hashigozake, Wellington

Best Small Bar (less than 150 patrons) – Hashigo Zake, Wellington
Runner Up – Little Beer Quarter, Wellington

Best Large Bar/Pub (more than 150 patrons) – Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland
Runner Up – The Volstead Trading Company, Christchurch

Best Beer List – Hashigo Zake, Wellington
Runner Up – Malthouse, Wellington

Best Bottleshop (Less than 300 beers) – Glengarry’s Grey Lynn, Auckland
Runner Up – Fresh Choice Parklands, Christchurch

Best Bottleshop (More than 300 beers) – New World Thorndon, Wellington
Runner Up – Regional Wines & Spirits, Wellington

Best Brew Bar/Pub – Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland
Runner Up – Sprig & Fern, Milton St, Nelson

Best Specialty Beer Venue – Pomeroy’s, Christchurch
Runner Up – The Free House, Nelson

Best Microbrewery/Cellar Door – Monteith’s, Greymouth
Runner Up – McCashin’s, Nelson

Best Restaurant/Café – Cook ‘n’ with Gas, Christchurch
Runner Up – Logan Brown, Wellington

Best Beer Event – Beervana, Wellington
Runner Up – Marchfest, Nelson

Best Cider -McCashin’s Rochdale Traditional Cider
Runner Up – Old Mout Boysencider

Best Homebrew Shop – The Brew House, Wellington
Runner Up – Brewers Coop, Auckland

Best Online Retailer – The Beer Cellar www.beercellar.co.nz
Runner Up – Cult Beer Store (Hashigo Zake online) – www.cultbeerstore.co.nz

Best eNewsletter –

Best Web site –

Past Results:

Beer & Brewer Awards 2011

Beer & Brewer Awards 2010

Judges
Craig Bowen (BeerNZ),Andrew Childs (imake), Doug Donelan (NZ Hops), David Lipman (Beer & Brewer).

Industry/Media that nominated
Geoff Griggs (SOBA and Beer Writer), Craig Bowen (BeerNZ), David Cryer (Cryermalt), Andrew Childs (imake), Stephanie Coutts (SOBA), Kieran Haslett-Moore (Regional Wines & Spirits), Colin Mallon (Malthouse, Fork & Brewer), Greig McGill (SOBA), Luke Nicholas (Epic Brewing), Neil McInnes (independent beer commentator and educator), Nick Page (SOBA), Tim Sugden (Brewers Guild of NZ).

Sales data received from
NZ – Brew on Quay (Auckland), Regional Wines & Spirits (Wellington), Malthouse (Wellington), Brewers Coop (Auckland)
Aus (that included NZ beers and ciders) – 1st Choice Liquor Stores (National), Albion Ale House (NSW), Archive Beer Boutique (Qld), Beer Cartel (NSW), Belair Fine Wines (SA), Cellarbrations Carlisle (WA), Chapel St Cellars (Vic), Crown Cellars (Tas), Grape Bar & Bottleshop (Tas), International Beer Shop (WA), Plonk Beer Store (ACT), Purvis Cellars (Vic), Sail & Anchor Hotel (WA), Slowbeer (Vic), The Local Taphouse (Vic), The Oak Barrel (NSW), The Scratch Bar (Qld), The Wheatsheaf (SA), Warners at the Bay (NSW).

FINALISTS

Overall Best Beer Venue Winner Hashigo Zake, Wellington Runner Up Little Beer Quarter, Wellington Finalists in order 1. Hashigo Zake, Wellington 2. Little Beer Quarter, Wellington 3. Malthouse, Wellington 4. Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland 5. The Hop Garden, Wellington 6. O’Carrols Freehouse, Auckland 7. Fork & Brewer, Wellington 8. Cook n with Gas, Christchurch 9. New World Thorndon, Wellington 10. Tonic, Dunedin Best Beer Winner Epic Armageddon IPA Runner Up Yeastie Boys Pot Kettle Black Finalists in order 1. Epic Armageddon IPA 2. Yeastie Boys Pot Kettle Black 3. Epic Hop Zombie 4. Croucher Pilsner 5. Croucher Patriot 6. Tuatara APA 7. 8 Wired Hopwired 8. Liberty Citra 9. Tuatara Pilsner 10. Emerson’s Pilsner Brewer of the Year Winner Luke Nicholas, Epic Runner Up Mike Neilson, Tuatara Finalists in order 1. Luke Nicholas, Epic 2. Mike Neilson, Tuatara 3. Martin Townshend, Townshend 4. Søren Eriksen, 8 Wired 5. Stu McKinlay, Yeastie Boys 6. Richard Emerson, Emerson’s 7. Mark White, Harringtons 8. Ralph Bungard, 3 Boys 9. Peter Gillespie, Garage Project 10. David Nicholls, Moa Brewing Co Young Brewer of the Year Winner Matt Warner, ParrotDog Runner Up Joe Wood, Liberty Brewing Co Best Beertender Winner Scott Boswell, The Hop Garden, Wellington Runner Up Dave Wood, Hashigozake, Wellington Finalists in order 1. Scott Boswell, The Hop Garden, Wellington 2. Dave Wood, Hashigozake, Wellington 3. Shigeo ‘Shiggy’ Takagi – Hashigo Zake, Wellington 4. Dan Hargreaves – Little Beer Quarter, Wellington 5. Colin Mallon, Malthouse, Wellington 6. Brent Edwards, Good George, Hamilton 7. Vicki Dale, Tonic, Dunedin 8. Jacob Plasmeyer, House on Hood, Hamilton 9. Sara Millard – O’Carroll’s Freehouse, Auckland 10. Dave Watson – The Moutere Inn Best Beer List (On-premise) Winner Hashigo Zake, Wellington Runner Up Malthouse, Wellington Finalists in order 1. Hashigo Zake, Wellington 2. Malthouse, Wellington 3. Brothers Beer, Auckland 4. Little Beer Quarter, Wellington 5. Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland 6. The Hop Garden, Wellington 7. O’Carroll’s Freehouse, Auckland 8. Fork & Brewer, Wellington 9. Brew on Quay, Auckland 10. Tonic, Dunedin Best Small Bar/Pub (<150 patrons) Winner Hashigo Zake, Wellington Runner Up Little Beer Quarter, Wellington Finalists in order 1. Hashigo Zake, Wellington 2. Little Beer Quarter, Wellington 3. Malthouse, Wellington 4. The Hop Garden, Wellington 5. O’Carroll’s Freehouse, Auckland 6. Tonic, Dunedin 7. Albar, Dunedin 8. Long Beach Pub, Waikanae Beach 9. Pintxos, Auckland Best Large Bar/Pub (>150 patrons) Winner Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland Runner Up The Volstead Trading Company, Christchurch Finalists in order 1. Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland 2. The Volstead Trading Company, Churchchurch 3. Fork & Brewer, Wellington 4. Eureka Café & Bar, Dunedin 5. Brothers Beer, Auckland 6. Hallertau, Auckland 7. Southern Cross, Wellington 8. House on Hood, Hamilton 9. The Golden Dawn, Auckland Best Bottleshop (<300 beers) Winner Glengarry’s Grey Lynn, Auckland Runner Up Fresh Choice Parklands, Christchurch Finalists in order 1. Glengarry’s Grey Lynn, Auckland 2. Fresh Choice Parklands – Christchurch 3. Hamilton Wine Company, Hamilton 4. New World Halswell – Christchurch 3. Glengarry’s Kingsland, Auckland 4. Village Winery – Auckland 5. Castle MacAdam Wine, Dunedin 6. Glengarry’s Thorndon, Wellington 7. Pembroke Wines & Spirits, Wanaka 8. Liquorland Palmeston North 9. Liquorland Forest Hill 10. New World Island Bay, Wellington Best Bottleshop (>300 beers) Winner New World Thorndon, Wellington Runner Up Regional Wines & Spirits, Wellington Finalists in order 1. New World Thorndon, Wellington 2. Regional Wines & Spirits, Wellington 3. New World Victoria Park, Auckland 4. Liquorland Newmarket 5. Central City Wines & Spirits, Wellington 6. Moore Wilson’s, Wellington 7. Brothers Beer, Auckland 8. New World, Hastings

Best Brew Bar/Pub Winner Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland Runner Up Sprig & Fern, Milton St, Nelson Finalists in order 1. Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland 2. Sprig and Fern, Milton St, Nelson 3. Hallertau, Auckland 4. Pomeroy’s, Christchurch 5. The Free House, Nelson 6. Fork & Brewer, Wellington 7. Cassells & Sons, Christchurch 8. Good George, Hamilton 9. The Twisted Hop, Christchurch 10. Deep Creek, Auckland Best Specialty (Themed) Beer Venue Winner Pomeroy’s, Christchurch Runner Up The Free House, Nelson Finalists in order 1. Pomeroy’s – Christchurch 2. The Free House, Nelson 3. Leuven Belgian Beer Café, Wellington 4. The Moutere Inn, Nelson 5. The Ponsonby Belgian Beer Café, Auckland 6. The Occidental Belgian Beer Café, Auckland 7. Deep Creek, Auckland 8. Monteith’s, Greymouth 9. The Mussel Inn, Onekaka 10. Cassells & Sons, Christchurch Best Microbrewery/Cellar Door Winner Monteith’s, Greymouth Runner Up McCashin’s, Nelson Finalists in order 1. Monteith’s, Greymouth 2. McCashin’s, Nelson 3. ParrotDog, Wellington 4. Golden Bear, Mapua 5. Tuatara, Wellington 6. Emerson’s Brewery, Dunedin 7. Galbraith’s Alehouse, Auckland 8. Hallertau, Auckland 9. Deep Creek, Auckland 10. The Mussel Inn, Onekaka Best Restaurant/Café Winner Cook ‘n’ with Gas, Christchurch Runner Up Logan Brown, Wellington Finalists in order 1. Cook ‘n’ with Gas, Christchurch 2. Logan Brown, Wellington 3. The Depot, Auckland 4. Riverstone Kitchen, Oamaru 5. Ortega Fish Shack & Bar, Wellington 6. Fork & Brewer, Wellington 7. Cassels & Sons, Christchurch 8. Ambelli, Wellington 9. Martin Bosley’s Yacht Club, Wellington 10. El Matador, Wellington and Bin 44, Wellington Best Beer Event Winner Beervana, Wellington Runner Up Marchfest, Nelson Finalists in order 1. Beervana, Wellington 2. Marchfest, Nelson 3. Great Kiwi Beer Fest, Christchurch 4. Hashigo Zake Pacific Beer Expo, Wellington 5. SOBA Matariki Festival, Wellington 7. SOBA City of Ales, Auckland 8. NZ Beer Fest, Auckland 9. Malthouse West Coast IPA Challenge, Wellington 10. Oktoberfest, Okere Falls General Store, near Rotorua Best Cider Winner McCashin’s Rochdale Traditional Cider Runner Up Old Mout Boysencider Finalists in order 1. McCashin’s Rochdale Traditional Cider 2. Old Mout Boysencider 3. Old Mout Scrumpy Cider 4. Moa Weka Pear 5. Monteith’s Crushed Apple 6. Old Mout The Strong Silent Type 7. Saxton Cider 8. The Pride Issac’s Apple Cider 9. Crooked Cider 10. Monteith’s Apple Pear Cider Best Homebrew Shop Winner The Brew House, Wellington Runner Up Brewers Coop, Auckland Finalists in order 1. The Brew House, Wellington 2. Brewers Coop, Auckland 3. Your Shout, Christchurch 4. The Brew Shop, Hamilton (online only – www.brewshop.co.nz) 5. Hauraki Brewing, Auckland 6. Brew Craft Mt Edan, Auckland 7. Bin Inn, Richmond, Nelson 8. Bin Inn, Whakatane 9. Simply Brewing, Palmerston North 10. Homebrew West, Auckland Best Online Retailer Winner The Beer Cellar Runner Up Cult Beer Store (Hashigo Zake online) – www.cultbeerstore.co.nz Finalists in order 1. The Beer Cellar 2. Cult Beer Store (Hashigo Zake online) – www.cultbeerstore.co.nz 3. Regional Wines & Spirits, Wellington (www.regionalwines.co.nz) 4. Liberty Brewing Best eNewsletter Winner Runner Up Best Web Site Winner Runner Up

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CATEGORY CRITERIA FOR NOMINATIONS

Industry/Medianeed to nominate their top 5-10 per state/region and then top 5-10 for the country (NZ country only is good) with number 1 being the best and can nominate in any category, excluding their own products/events/staff, & not judge categories related to/conflict of interest. Where a venue, beer or person seems to win year on year, other venues will be given preference to share the accolades as we want to recognize as many venues as possible, year on year.
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People’s Choice Awards
oMost votes wins
oVoting received via www.beerandbrewerawards.com.au, June 4 – July 31, 2012.
oAwarded to Best Beer Venue (over all categories excl. beer and cider), Best Beer (Local), Best Beer (Imported)
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BEST BEER VENUE/BAR/BOTTLESHOP/BEER LIST (ON-PREMISE ONLY)
25% people’s choice, 75% industry/media nominations, with final awards decided by judging panel:
Criteria:
Venues can only win if serving a combination of local and imported beers, a good selection of draught and bottled beer, and no or minimal signs of selling parallel/grey market imported beers. As well as: In-store tastings and events/dinners, beer of the month, No sign of a majority of taps in contract with just two-three suppliers, Beer & food pairing on the menu, Glassware for different brands or styles, Staff knowledge and good storage / rotation of stock / clean lines, Ambience of the venue is conducive to beer – hard for a wine/cocktail bar to win, Beer list is conducive to local customers, includes limited/seasonal releases, Best beer venue includes all venue categories and web site, eDM, beer list, beertender, brewer, ads, promotions, events. Beer layout by style for on-premise and store layout by country and brand for off-premise. Added points for cider and whisky selection, Growler/Rigger fills and selling Beer & Brewer magazine.
For next year we plan on asking the breweries and distributors for their Top 10 customers, which will provide another criteria for the best beer venue categories.
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BEST SPECIALTY (THEMED) BEER VENUE
Created to recognize venues that don’t sell a combination of local and imported beers, rather specializing in local or imported beer, including brew bars/pubs, microbreweries, venues that have beer theme such as in their venue name, or venues that class themselves as beer cafes. A bar that also sells cocktails and wine in any great proportion to the beer selection can’t be a specialty beer venue – same goes for its events and interior decorating, everything needs to be beer centric.
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BEST MICROBREWERY/CELLAR DOOR
Looks at the tourism of the industry, with the best microbrewery being open to the public with a cellar door or retail environment, offering food, takeaway sales, consuming on site, the beers are great, served draught and bottled, you can experience a brewery tour, meet the brewer. This can also be a brew bar or pub.
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BEST RESTAURANT/CAFÉ
A venue, preferably a restaurant, that has great food, and a great beer list with local and imported beers, ideally making beer & food matching suggestions on the menu, knowledgeable staff, serving in the correct style glassware.
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BEST BREW BAR/PUB
Can be a venue that is owned by a brewery, not brewing on site (bar) or a venue that brews on site (pub). Looking for serving guest beers and imported beers (not essential), draught and bottle. Events, ambience, staff knowledge. Glassware, Good food.
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BEST BEER (LOCAL-AUSTRALIA, LOCAL-NEW ZEALAND, IMPORTED), BEST HOMEBREW CAN KIT
25% people’s choice, 25% industry/media nominations, 25% previous best beer venue retailer sales on- and off-premise (qty of beers in lists and rank), 25% beer awards, gold medals and trophy wins (qty of beers and
Criteria:
Awards – success of winning a trophy or gold medal over the past 12 months to September 2012, across beer, brewing, liquor and hospitality awards.
Only beers that are available in Australia or New Zealand are eligible to win the Best Beer category.
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BEST BEERTENDER (on- and off-premise)
The Beertenders are the gatekeepers for beer suppliers to the on- and off-premise venues and ultimately consumers. They need to ensure the customers are the ones that decide if a beer gains a chance, rather than the buyer. Obviously this is not always the case when space is limited, it’s the buyer’s decision. The important characteristic of a Beertender is being impartial to local, imported and mainstream beer. After all, tasting beer is a journey which usually begins with mainstream beer and over time from friends, travelling or beertenders offering a craft or imported beer, does a customers awareness of the world of beer grow. Meaning beer snobbery will not win this category, rather a beertender that accepts a customers choice and challenges their palate to move to craft and imported beer where the GP and revenue growth is.

Shortlisting finalists – 25% people’s choice, 75% industry/media nominations, Winners jduged – 50% written, 50% practical tests (this was not done for the 2012, will start for the 2013).
Criteria:
Product knowledge of the venues draught and bottled beer, what styles and ABVs they are, and if lesser known beers, then able to mention similar well known brands to assure customers decision. Beer knowledge of beer styles & characteristics, brewing process, key ingredients, able to pick up main beer faults or cardboard (oxidised/aged), butterscotch (diacytel) and xxx. Service – glassware by beer style, beer & food pairing, personality and passion. Being able to recommend beers based on occasion and tastes. Hosts events like beer dinners and beer of the month tastings. Able to change kegs, clean beer lines, understands cask beer and beer engines/hand pumps, hoppinators, growlers, riggers, all the different options available these days for pouring beer on and off-premise
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BREWER OF THE YEAR / YOUNG BREWER OF THE YEAR
25% people’s choice, 25% industry/media nominations, 25% previous best beer venue retailer sales on- and off-premise (qty of beers in lists and rank), 25% beer awards, gold medals and trophy wins (qty of beers and rank)
Notes:
Beer awards include (Australian International Beer Awards (Vic), Sydney Royal Beer Competition (NSW), Perth Royal Beer Show (WA), Royal Adelaide Beer Show (SA), Royal Qld Beer Show (Qld), Brewers Guild of NZ Awards, International Beer Challenge (UK), World Beer Awards (UK), European Beer Star (Germany), Word Beer Cup (USA), Australian Cider Awards (NSW). Packaging awards are not taken into consideration. A brewer is only eligible to win the award when they have been listed in at least two of the above three criteria. When a beer has been nominated, the head brewer who is responsible for signing off the brew on a day to day basis has been listed as the brewer. We recognise a team of brewers are ultimately responsible for the beer in some cases and the team should share in the success.
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BEST ADVERTISING PROMOTION/OFFER/GWP/ BEER/RETAIL AD (PRINT, RADIO, TVC, ONLINE)
25% people’s choice, 75% industry/media nominations, then judged by Beer & Brewer Editor and Publisher.
For venues and breweries/distributors coming up with effective and entertaining P.O.S. offers to drive sales of beer.
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BEST BEER EVENT
A good selection of exhibitors of local and imported beers, food exhibitors, educational sessions for tasting beer, meet the brewer, food pairing, optional homebrewing, can be conferences, festivals, dinners, expo’s. Good RSA, value for money for visitors, well attended based on the festival capacity. Live entertainment is optional as applicable mainly to festivals.
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BEST E-NEWSLETTER / BEST WEB SITE / BEST ONLINE RETAILER
25% people’s choice, 75% industry/media nominations, then judged by Beer & Brewer Editor and Publisher.
eDM – news heavy for new beers, events, offers. Templated/consistent, frequency at least monthly, able to show click through and open rate stats
Web site – functional, good layout and balance of text/images, SEO, e-commerce, content rich about venue or brewery and beers, search function. Able to show growth stats
Online Retailer – same as web site, focusing on the e-commerce, plus they should have an eDM min monthly frequency, good selection of local and imported beers, well priced delivery. Able to show revenue grow stats.

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BEST HOMEBREW SHOP
25% people’s choice, 75% industry/media nominations, then judged by Andrew Childs and David Lipman.
Criteria:
Selling local and imported beers is a bonus, instore education classes, staff knowledge. Range for concentrate, extract, partial and all grain brewers.

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2013 Beer & Brewer Awards – Key Dates

Voting opens April 24, 2013

Voting closesJuly 24, 2013

Finalists announced August 24, 2013

Awards Presentation Dinner October 24, 2013, The Sebel Hotel, Surry Hills (NSW)

www.beerandbrewerawards.com.au