Dunedin’s Emerson’s Brewery are home-town heroes after a golden night at the New Zealand Beer Awards on July 25.
Emerson’s won the champion large brewery title, ending Garage Project’s five-year streak as the most prolific gold medallist in the country.
Emerson’s also took out the champion beer of the event with their Pride Of The Plains Pilsner, the modern tribute the original style-bending Emerson’s Pilsner. They won six gold medals, five silver and five bronze from 17 entries.
Tiny Waikato farm-based brewery Karamu Barrelworks was named the overall champion brewery after netting one gold and three silver medals from their four entries.
Mount Brewing had a fantastic night, claiming the champion medium brewery title and taking home two style trophies, for their Harley’s Irish Stout and The Trifecta, a New Zealand IPA. Taranaki’s Shining Peak brought home 20 medals from 20 entries on the way to taking out the champion small brewery title, and adding a trophy with their just-released West Coast IPA Bravo!
New operation Neck of the Woods won the champion microbrewery title. Steam Brewing retained their champion manufacturer title.
Australian gluten-free specialists Two Bays won the champion Australian brewery title with an impressive haul of three gold medals and a bronze from their four entries.
Last year’s over champion brewery, Brave, had another stellar awards night, with two trophies — for Happy Go Lager and Float On Hazy IPA. Good George also had a double trophy night through Fog City Hazy IPA and Frankton Bright IPA.
Bach Brewing, after winning the trophy in the low and reduced alcohol class at the Australian International Beer Awards with their All Day Hazy, won the equivalent trophy here with the Original All Day IPA, a pretty impressive feat given that they were up against higher alcohol beers such as Speight’s Mid Ale and Steinlager Light.
It was a special night for Emerson’s as it marked the 20th anniversary of the Brewers Guild of New Zealand, created in 2006 when Richard Emerson sent off the paperwork to form the incorporated society.
Pride Of The Plains Pilsner was brewed last year to celebrate 30 years since the original ushered in the New Zealand pilsner style that is now recognised world-wide. The beer, named the 2025 Beer of the Year by Pursuit of Hoppiness, was rebrewed this year and is available on draught at the Emerson’s taproom. A packaged version will be released this summer.
Emerson’s also won a trophy for their just-released Weizenbock, the second in the Ingrid wheat beer series, brewed to honour Richard Emerson’s late mother. Curiously when Emerson’s last won the champion brewery title, in 2009, they also won trophies for their Pilsner and a Weizenbock.
And in another twist, the brewery won gold medals with beers named after the founder’s parents with Taieri George (in honour of George Emerson) also winning a gold.
Karamu Barrelworks is a boutique operation on a Waikato lifestyle block, where Daryl Bryant brews spontaneously fermented beers inspired by classic Belgian brewing methods. This year’s overall triumph comes a year after Karamu won the champion microbrewery title.
The champion overall brewery is decided by a points average. Points are awarded to each medal-winning beers (gold = 3, silver = 2, bronze = 1) and the total is divided by brewery’s number of entries.
Karamu scored 9 points, divided by four entries for a 2.25 total.
Good George went within a whisker of taking out the big prize, picking up 4 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze from 10 entries for a score of 2.10 while Shining Peak (6 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze) scored 40 points from 20 entries for a score of 2.0. Urbanaut (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) also averaged 2.0.
It was also a night that celebrated some classic New Zealand beers, both craft and mainstream, with gold medals going to the likes of Epic Armageddon, Sawmill The Doctor, Three Boys Oyster Stout, Emerson’s London Porter as well as Steinlager Classi and Lion Red.
Head judge Tina Panoutsos made special mention of NZ IPA, NZ Pale Ale and NZ Draught and Specialty and Experimental classes as standout categories. “These classes received a high proportion of gold medals, which speaks to the strength and the creativity and technical capability developing in the NZ industry. NZ hop-driven styles continue to show real confidence and definition, while the Specialty and Experimental beers demonstrated how brewers are pushing flavour, ingredients and process in thoughtful and well-executed ways.”
On the night of the 20th anniversary Brewers Guild chair, Brian Watson had an optimistic tone. “Over the last 20 years, the world has changed tremendously, and our industry has seen incredible growth. New Zealand brewers consistently prove themselves to be highly resilient, passionate people driven by tenacity and integrity. While we’re facing a challenging economic climate — like many other sectors — that inherent resilience puts us in a remarkably strong position moving forward.”
“What’s more, the Guild is in an excellent position with money in the bank, allowing us to deliver a wide range of benefits to our members and champion our industry on the national stage. It’s this solid foundation that will see our brewers thrive through the next two decades,” Watson said.
There were a number of new awards with Tracy Banner from Sprig + Fern taking out the People Award for her “empowering, hands-on leadership and her commitment to creating a warm, supportive culture where people can grow and thrive”. Judges praised her dedication to mentoring talent, fostering collaboration, and empowering others to lead, while staff described her as a caring and inspiring leader with a lasting impact on those she works with.
Sawmill, who had dominated the old sustainability award, continued their excellence in the Community award for their outstanding commitment to supporting people, the environment, and local communities. Judges praised the breadth of its impact, from long-term educational partnerships and school support programmes to environmental initiatives and fundraising efforts, demonstrating that giving back is embedded in the way the business operates.
Garage Project’s Hāpi Research Programme won the Future award with judges praising its success in developing new hop varieties, innovative thiol testing, and long-term collaboration across the brewing industry, making it a standout for vision, research, and innovation.
Wanaka’s b.effect took out the packaging award for its distinctive illustrations, clear regional brand story, and standout artist collaboration.
NEW ZEALAND BEER AWARDS 2026 CHAMPION AWARD WINNERS
Karamu Barrelworks, Overall Champion NZ Brewing Company
Emerson Brewing, Champion NZ Large Brewery
Mount Brewing Co, Champion NZ Medium Brewery
Shining Peak Brewing, Champion NZ Small Brewery
Neck Of The Woods Beer Co, Champion NZ Micro Brewery
Two Bays Brewing Co, Champion Australian Brewery
Steam Brewing Company, Champion NZ Manufacturer
Emerson’s Pride of the Plains, Champion New Zealand Beer,
NEW ZEALAND BEER AWARDS 2026 TROPHY WINNERS
International Lager — Brave Brewing Happy Go Lager
NZ Lager & NZ Pilsner — Emerson’s Pride of the Plains
NZ IPA, Pale Ale & Draught — Mount Brewing The Trifecta
Amber/Dark Lager & Ale — Parrotdog Limited Release 44 – Red IPA
British & European Ale — North End Super Alpha Pacific Pale Ale
International Pale Ale — Good George Frankton Bright IPA
India Pale Ale — Shining Peak Brewing Bravo!
Juicy/Hazy IPA — Brave Brewing Float On
Juicy/Hazy Pale Ale — Good George Fog City
Stout & Porter — Mount Brewing Harley’s Irish Stout
Wheat & Other Grain — Emerson’s Ingrid Weizenbock
Fruit & Flavoured — Sprig + Fern Norty Porter
Specialty & Experimental — Alchemy Street Brewing Hot Box
No, Low & Reduced Alcohol — Bach Brewing All Day Original Non-alcoholic IPA
Wood & Barrel Aged — Behemoth Victory at Churly’s
NEW ZEALAND BEER AWARDS 2026 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
Garage Project, Hāpi Research Programme, Future Award
Sawmill Brewery, Community Award
b.effect Brewing Co, Packaging Award
Tracy Banner, People Award