The 2026 New World Beer & Cider Awards have been announced with Panhead’s Port Road Pilsner named the supreme winner.

It’s a welcome return to the awards stage for this beer — for a number of years it was an annual inclusion in this event (and a regular gold medallist elsewhere) but had dropped off the pace for a short while.

Among the other talking points is the inclusion of Waikato Draught in the Top 25. This has been highly commended in the past but it’s the first time a mainstream NZ draught style has pushed its way into the elite category.

Huge congratulations go to Lakeman Brewing in Taupo and Garage Project for each delivering three beers in the Top 25 — it’s impressive effort in a cut-throat competition to have almost 1/8th of the shelf space! Lakeman did it with Taupo Thunder NZIPA, Rogue Hog IPA and Chocness Monster Stout while Garage Project are back again with Spicy Pickle Beer while two of their Tiny Range (IPA and XPA) are among the three non-alcs in the lineup.

Brave Brewing’s Bottle Rocket also continued its amazing run as an under-the-radar high achiever.

There’s also a People’s Choice award this year, with fans having opportunity to vote for their favourite in the Top 25.

Beer and Cider Peoples Choice Awards | New World

Here’s the list of the Top 25 winners which will be available in New World stores over the next month.

Supreme Winner

Panhead Port Road Pilsner

Upper Hutt legends are back on the podium with this snappy modern pilsner with bright citrus-passionfruit hops and a clean, crackery malt base.

Lagers

Duncan’s Yum YUM YUZU

A cult favourite from Duncan’s of Paraparaumu — a crisp Japanese-style lager with a splash of yuzu. Light, clean, and zingy with bright citrus.

Steinlager Tokyo Dry

A modern Kiwi take on a Japanese-style dry lager. Light, crisp, and dry.

Steinlager Ultra Low Carb

All the Steinlager crispness, with 99% less carbs. Ultra-refreshing at 4.2%, just 88 calories.

Rhyme X Reason Italian Stallion Euro Lager

Out of Wanaka comes this smooth, malty Munich Helles lager with subtle hops and a clean finish.

Hazies

Behemoth Me Time Mosaic

Behemoth are back with a beer that’s been recently added to the core range: a single-hop Mosaic IPA that delivers a fruit bowl in every sip.

Beer Baroness Queer BeAr

The pride of Christchurch — this ha sbig peachy, tropical vibes from Peacherine and Nelson Sauvin hops. Juicy and soft.

Behemoth Haze Juice IPA

Loaded with juicy NZ and US hops, sessionable and tropical from start to finish.

IPA

Altitude Built For Speed

Brewed lakeside in Queenstown, this is modern West Coast IPA, done in San Diego style. Lean, crisp, dry, crystal clear and hop-laden.

Lakeman Rogue hog

Lakeman Brewing deliver a proper West Coast IPA orange pith, pine and a diesel edge all built on a toasty malt base.

Parrotdog Double IPA

Celebrating their 15th birthday in style, Parrotdog are redoing a bold double IPA that pulls no punches. Big hop character for true IPA devotees.

Kiwi Styles

Brave Brewing Bottle Rocket

This pale ale is reaching legendary status with its list of awards — a vibrant Kiwi pale ale, packed with punchy hops and bright aromatics.

Lakeman Taupo Thunder

Not the first time around in the Top 25 for this classic Riwaka-Moutere hop combo that brings big passionfruit, grapefruit and pine.

Waikato Draught

A true Kiwi classic. Robust malt, gentle hop bitterness and a clean, satisfying finish.

8 Wired Pinnacle Pilsner

Out of Warkworth comes a bright, thirst-quenching NZ pilsner showcasing experimental NZH-106 hops.

Sours

Double Vision Colar Beer

From Miramar in Wellington, this is a surprising sour beer that tastes like adult cola — crisp, refreshing and balanced.

Garage Project Spicy Pickle Beer

Garage Project’s are onto a consistent award-winner with this: loaded with cucumber, dill, pickle spice and chilli. Spicy and refreshing.

Three Sisters Dragonfruit Smoothie Sour

New Plymouth’s Three Sisters have this style nailed. Rich dragonfruit with creamy banana, vanilla, and lactose sweetness. Thick, tropical.

Stouts

Lakeman Chocness Monster

Another in the mix for Lakeman — a rich, malt-driven stout with inviting chocolate, honey, caramel aromas and a hint of almond.

Epic Coming of Age Imperial Stout

An imperial stout built for Epic’s 21st birthday and designed to age. Chocolate and roasted malt with a firm body and clean finish.

Non Alcoholic Beer

Garage Project Tiny XPA

A lesser-known star in the Tiny range gets time to shine with tropical hops, big aromatics, and a whole lot of attitude.

Garage Project Tiny IPA

All the juicy IPA flavour, with less than 0.5% alcohol. Punchy hops, mouthwatering bitterness.

Cider

Peckham’s Boysenberry Cider

Peckham’s never miss a beat in these events. Real boysenberries get the star treatment here, layered over freshly pressed Kiwi cider apples.

Zeffer 0% Apple Cider

Hawke’s Bay apples, carefully crafted and spun alcohol-free. Lightly sparkling, off-dry and only 39 calories.

Zeffer Bramble Spritz

Zeffer have a Hawke’s Bay twist on the classic bramble cocktail — raspberries, blackberries, and a juniper twist.