03/08/2025
Last night Laura and I had the privilege to join George Tunstall at the 2025 Beer Awards in Christchurch. It was a great evening filled with laughter and lots of clapping. It was humbling to see all the people who entered the competitions putting their best brews forward for judging. As the awards were announced, it became clear this wasn’t just about the beer, it has been a long grueling journey for some, who’ve made a break through and finally achieving the results they’ve been chasing for years! Passion, dedication and determination lead the years of research, trials and errors to get where they are today.
It was an honour to be part of it and to present the award for Best Large Brewery to Garage Project.
Congrats to all who entered and won medals, awards and the big trophies! 🏆
Thank you NZ Hops Ltd for having us.
🍻 Big cheers to Aotearoa’s brewers! 🍻
Last night, New Zealand;s brewing industry came together to celebrate excellence at the New Zealand Beer Awards 2025—with 25 trophies awarded across the country.
🏆 Over 600 beers were judged by a panel of experts across three days in Christchurch. The results? A showcase of innovation, flavour, and heart from our incredible brewing community.
✨ Brave Brewing Co led the charge, taking home five trophies including Champion New Zealand Brewing Company and three beer category wins—a feat not seen in 18 years!
🍺 Garage Project swept up the most medals overall (27!) and earned the coveted Champion New Zealand Beer with Chance, Luck and Magic 2021
🌱 Sawmill continues its impressive sustainability streak, winning the Brewing Sustainability Award for the sixth straight year.
🏞️ Altitude Brewing in Queenstown proved small can scale—claiming Champion Medium Brewery plus three category wins.
Other top honours went to Karamu Barrelworks, bStudio, Craft Beer Capital, and many more. From low-alc beers to barrel-aged wonders, the diversity on display was truly world-class. 🌍
📑 View the full list of winners here:https://brewersguild.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/NZBA-Catalogue-of-Results-2025-FINAL.pdf
