New World Beer & Cider Awards

Speight’s Mid Ale was the somewhat controversial (in some circles) trophy winner of the Specialty & Experimental Category at the 2021 Brewers Guild Awards.  The secret to this unpretentious and affordable light beer’s (2.5 per cent ABV) success is its resolve to keep things simple.  Rather than trying to emulate some hop-driven style, Speights Mid is a largely malt-driven beer that replicates the Speight’s Gold Medal Ale experience with remarkable precision, given it’s almost half the strength.  Smooth, mild maltiness with just enough hop bitterness to keep the flavour refreshing.  It’s got plenty going on to keep the palate engaged, and with a typical price of less than $1.50 a bottle, it’s supreme affordability should not be understated.

New World Beer & Cider Awards Winners

The 2025 New World Beer & Cider Awards have been announced. Here's the list of the Top 25 winners which will be available in New World stores over the next month. Champion Beer Isthmus 3D IPA Isthmus Brewing is the Auckland creation of husband and wife team Hamish...

Isthmus 3D IPA Takes Top Award

Isthmus Brewing in Auckland have taken top spot at the annual New World Beer & Cider Awards with their 3D IPA. The awards, in their 10th year, feature some major changes with the Top 30 reduced to a Top 25, making it an ultra-competitive event. And this year,...

Red Sea Conflict Drives Garage Project-Mikkeller Deal

The congoing conflict in the Red Sea is driving an unusual beer hook-up, with Garage Project brewing and distributing beer into Asia on behalf of Danish craft giant Mikkeller. Yemen's Houthi organisation, in reprisal for Israel's attacks on Gaza, are firing missiles...

Brave Brewing — The Eye Of The Tiger

Just days before Brave Brewing won the Champion Brewery crown at the New Zealand Beer Awards, founder-brewer Matt Smith was wondering aloud about “imposter syndrome”. Talking to the Third Pint Theory podcast, Matt said that despite more than a decade of professional...

Brave Brewing Triumph At NZ Beer Awards

Brave Brewing and their cult IPA, Tigermilk, roared the loudest at last night's New Zealand Beer Awards in Christchurch. Brave Brewing, from Hastings, won a swag of trophies — with the most important being the title of overall Champion New Zealand Brewery. Moments...

Guinness 0.0 Set for Wider Distribution in NZ

Guinness 0.0 — the hard-to-get non-alcoholic version of Guinness — will become more widely available in New Zealand from later this year. Lion is the official brewing and distribution partner of Guinness in New Zealand but has not been able to get its hands on a...