Introducing the Top 30 of the New World Beer & Cider Awards for 2023. Our expert judges have picked the standout brews from around the country, featuring a thirst-quenching range of sours, ales, ciders non-alcoholic beers and more.
These 2023 picks celebrate the best of the best beers and ciders from New Zealand’s very own breweries.
For something to talk about around the dinner table or the barbecue, you can’t go past our top NZ picks for 2023. We’ve even gone so far as to provide food pairing recommendations, to really highlight the flavours of each beer.
Best New Zealand hazy ales 2023
For the third year running, hazy ales are enjoying their own spotlight in the New World Beer & Cider Awards. As the name implies, these beers have a hazy or cloudy appearance, hinting at the fullness of flavour they deliver. Beloved for their maximum fruity and citrus character, they are perfect for the hottest summer day or an autumnal evening.
Double Vision Brewing Mouth Party
Type of beer: Hazy
Brewery: Double Vision Brewing Company
Flavours: Apricot, lime
Judges’ comments: Double Vision is based out of a popular brew bar in Miramar, Wellington. Mouth Party’s in-your-face can art is backed up by in-your-mouth flavour. Well-executed hop inclusions bring through apricot and lime flavours— like a sun-shower of fruit drizzled on your tongue. It’s an easy-drinker, with the judges saying it “invites you in — rather than jumping at you”.
Pairing Recommendation: Spritzy fruit and a light body will suit Malaysian noodles such as mee goreng or char kway teow.
For more on this beer visit: doublevisionbrewing.com
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Ruapehu Brewing Co. Unlimited Vis Hazy IPA
Type of beer: Hazy IPA
Brewery: Ruapehu Brewing Co.
Flavours: Hops
Judges’ comments: Ruapehu Brewing Co started out small, a tiny brewery in the heritage railway station building in Ohakune in 2017. The first brewery in the area, they focused on serving the local community. In 2022 they joined forces with Big Mountain Mead to build a brewery & meadery production facility in the heart of Ohakune, which has an off-licence for rigger fills. Unlimited Vis is one of the first brews off the new production line and it’s a testament to the investment. This is a robust hazy IPA, with a creamy, lush body overlaid with an assertive hop-driven flavour that comes with a raunchy bitterness, not always found in hazies, which makes it quite memorable.
Pairing Recommendation: For a beer from a town represented by a giant carrot? Carrot cake is perfect for the lush, sweet hops and slight bitterness.
For more on this beer visit: ruapehubrewing.co.nz/
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Shining Peak Petite Pegasus Session Hazy
Type of beer: Hazy
Brewery: Shining Peak Brewery
Flavours: Smooth tropical fruit yet light and dry
Judges’ comments: New Plymouth brewery Shining Peak uses their brews to tell local stories. Petite Pegasus is the namesake of a plane belonging to WWII fighter pilot, Harold Newton. It’s as light as air on your palate, but carries some big flavour. The judges loved it, “Pineapple and lime aroma, light in body but still lush and juicy. Vibrant hazy, nice!”
Pairing Recommendation: Lithe, tropical, juicy this sessionable hazy works well with fish n chips or grilled snapper sliders.
For more on this beer visit: shiningpeakbrewing.com/
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Urbanaut Newtown Hazy Pale Ale
Type of beer: Hazy Pale Ale
Brewery: Urbanaut Brewing Co.
Flavours: Pineapple, sweet orange, hops, honey malt
Judges’ comments: Urbanaut, who have a brewery and bustling taproom in Auckland’s Kingsland are all over this competition when it comes to hoppy beers. Their Newtown Hazy Pale Ale is one of three that made our Top 30 from 14 entries submitted. This is a rambunctious hazy, with a creamy, thick body that delivers a whoosh of tropical hop-notes. To pack this much flavour into a sub-5% ABV beer is no mean feat — making it balanced and drinkable is another level of skill. There’s pineapple and sweet orange hops but also some honey malt character underpinning it. “Big and juicy,” said the judges..
Pairing Recommendation: TCreamy, lush body and fruity hops try it with spicy, Nashville-style chicken or deep fried pickles.
For more on this beer visit: urbanautbeer.com/
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Urbanaut Silver Palace Citra Hazy IPA
Type of beer: Hazy IPA
Brewery: Urbanaut Brewing Co.
Flavours: Mango, passion fruit, edgy lime, hops, fruity
Judges’ comments: Citra in the name of this beer refers to the Citra hop variety, the most popular hop in the world based on production volume. Adding a twist to an old favourite, the Urbanaut team have used a cryo version of Citra, which entails flash-freezing the hops to take out some of the astringency and bitterness Citra is known for. What’s left behind is a study in the essential oils that hops bring to a beer. The judges got mango and passionfruit as well as some edgy lime character, declaring the hop aroma “banging”. The bulging aroma compounds transfer over into a smooth and fruity palate with lots of “juice”.
Pairing Recommendation: Silky smooth and sweetly hoppy, give this beer something crunchy & spicy to work against: nachos!
For more on this beer visit: urbanautbeer.com/
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Best New Zealand IPAs 2023
Indian Pale Ales, or IPAs, are well loved for their strong hoppy flavour, combined tropical fruitiness with bold, bitter hops. Check out the best New Zealand-made IPAs for 2023 below.
Baylands Skull Cracker
Type of beer: IPA
Brewery: Baylands Brewery
Flavours: Resinous, peach, nectarine, malt, hops
Judges’ comments: Baylands Brewery are making a name for themselves for bold, hoppy beers. They won the famed West Coast IPA Challenge in 2021 and whenever there’s a hoppy beer contest they are always among the contenders. The brewery takes its name from the street in the Wellington suburb of Newlands where they started as a garage operation, but they are now based in food-centric Petone with a brand new taproom. This monstrous double IPA lives up to its name. While it’s a big IPA at 7.5% ABV it drinks super smoothly, with a punchy diesel nose followed by a sweet-resinous flavour that has peach and nectarine in the wings before finishing clean and balanced, the bitterness just edging the sweet malt and alcohol.
Pairing Recommendation: Big IPAs like this want indulgent food such as a cheeseburger with bacon and pickles
For more on this beer visit: baylands.beer
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Bootleg Apehanger IPA
Type of beer: IPA
Brewery: Bootleg Brewery
Flavours: Tropical/diesel NZ hops
Judges’ comments: Bootleg Brewery is based in an old dairy factory in Matangi, south of Hamilton. The brewery was not even a year old when they stunned the Kiwi beer scene with Apehanger IPA winning the champion IPA at the New Zealand Beer Awards in 2017. Six years later, and with a raft of other breweries now making plenty of IPAs, they’ve proved this beer is as good as ever with a Top 30 appearance. The name is a reference to the 1970s-style apehanger motorcycle handlebars and this is one revved-up beer the judges said, praising the “great intensity of tropical/diesel NZ hop flavour” in a “well-balanced, nicely made beer.”
Pairing Recommendation: Punchy but fruity hops & robust bitterness hold their own with the sweet richness of pulled pork.
For more on this beer visit: bootlegbrewery.co.nz
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Martinborough Brewery Hop Elixir IPA
Type of beer: IPA
Brewery: Martinborough Brewery
Flavours: Grapefruit, rockmelon
Judges’ comments: South Wairarapa’s only craft beer brewery cleverly describe themselves as “a carbonated thorn amongst a heck of a lot of rosé”. In the heart of wine country, Martinborough Brewery has a taproom in Ohio St, right in the town’s popular tourist area. Good beer amidst the brilliant wines is a welcome addition and their first appearance in the Top 30 shows that brewer Eugene Black, who learned his craft at Wellington’s Occasional Brewer, is on the right track. This spectacularly bright IPA is light and spritzy with grapefruit and rockmelon characteristics. The judges loved the good looks, silky mouthfeel and building bitterness, calling it “very drinkable”.
Pairing Recommendation: This elegant IPA is ideal for lighter meats with an edge, such as roast chicken or pork schnitzel.
For more on this beer visit: martinboroughbeer.com
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Urbanaut Bronx Double IPA
Type of beer: IPA
Brewery: Urbanaut Brewing Co.
Flavours: Nectarine, blueberry
Judges’ comments: Of the three Urbanaut beers in this line-up two of them are examples of “single hop” beers. While the Silver City Hazy showcases Citra, the Bronx Double IPA is all about Mosaic, the uber-popular hop of the moment. As the name suggests, Mosaic hops are multi-faceted and bring an array of flavours including some savoury notes of pine, capsicum and even sweet onion. Here, those savoury notes are swept away by a river of nectarine and blueberry. It’s a truly three-dimensional beer, with the 8% ABV not reflected in the athletic, lean body. There have been some great double IPAs come through this competition over the years and this is up there with the very best.
Pairing Recommendation: Big and bold, and with a New York state of mind? A NY-style hotdog with the works.
For more on this beer visit: urbanautbeer.com
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Best New Zealand pale ales 2023
For the perfect bridge between a dark stout and a light lager, grab one of NZ’s best pale ales. Boasting a light body that’s bursting with flavour, pale ales are approachable for the novice, yet still beloved by beer connoisseurs worldwide. Expect bright hops and toasty malt.
McLeod's Paradise Pale Ale
Type of beer: Pale Ale
Brewery: McLeod’s Brewery
Flavours: Hop aroma, caramel malt, resinous
Judges’ comments: McLeod’s are based in the Northland Scottish enclave of Waipu and named for the nearby McLeod Bay. Their Pizza Barn, attached to the brewery, is a must-visit for anyone travelling to Waipu for sun, surf or golf. They quite rightly claim they live in paradise and hence that’s the name they’ve given to their flagship pale ale, a beer that pops up in this competition on a regular basis and has won a number of gold medals and popularity contests. A sweet, juicy hop aroma bursts out of the glass and blends seamlessly with the light caramel malt to produce a resinous and smooth drinking experience before the bitterness and minerality sneak up to create a dry, moreish finish. An absolute classic.
Pairing Recommendation: Sweetly hoppy with a building bitterness that wants lean meat like venison or duck.
For more on this beer visit: mcleodsbrewery.co.nz
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Monteith's Tight Lines Pale Ale
Type of beer:Pale Ale
Brewery: Monteith’s Brewing Co.
Flavours: Stone fruit, citrus, tropical mandarin, biscuity malt
Judges’ comments: One of the biggest developments in the beer industry in the past few years is the growing strength of ‘mainstream craft’ — beers from big brands that offer the kind of flavour normally associated with hip craft breweries but for a lower price. That move says a lot about the changing palates of New Zealand beer drinkers and Monteith’s embraced that flavour revolution with last year’s new release, Tight Lines. The judges just raved about a well-made beer packed with stone fruit, citrus and tropical flavours: “Tropical mandarin aroma, hoppy but well integrated with clean biscuity malt flavour.” Give it a go.
Pairing Recommendation: Stonefruit and caramel malt make this a match for Moroccan lamb.
For more on this beer visit: monteiths.co.nz
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Panhead Supercharger APA
Type of beer: Pale Ale
Brewery: Panhead Brewery
Flavours: Malt, hops
Judges’ comments: Supercharger, aka the Orange One, is a force of nature in the Kiwi craft beer scene. Its huge popularity across a wide demographic of beer fans, from craft nerds to petrol heads, from corporate offices to building sites resulted in a multi-million dollar sale of Panhead Custom Ales to Lion in 2017. And there’s a reason Supercharger is so popular: it’s just so tasty and perfectly balanced between malt and hops. The judges couldn’t stop raving about it: “Great looking colour and foam. Nice hoppy-malty beer. Nice body and mouthfeel. A good hoppy pale ale and a great example of a drinkable beer.” In the pantheon of New Zealand craft beers this is one of the greats.
Pairing Recommendation: Robust, well-rounded and looking for something similar like pepperoni pizza.
For more on this beer visit: panheadcustomales.com
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Best New Zealand lagers and pilsners 2023
Looking for something accessible with clean, bright flavours? Lagers are your answer. While lagers can come light, amber, or dark, they are unified by their cool fermentation process. This results in a more malt-forward flavour, often less fruity than their ale counterparts.Among lagers, pilsners are the lightest and brightest, promising refreshingly crisp, clean flavours perfect for summer.
Lakeman Primate Pilsner
Type of beer: Pilsner
Brewery: Lakeman Brewing
Flavours: Hops, citrus, dank, herbaceous
Judges’ comments: Brewer James Cooper and his wife Elissa run a small beef and lamb farm above Lake Taupo, but 10 years ago decided they needed to supplement their farming revenue, so James taught himself how to brew. In the past decade, Lakeman have built a cult following but are now ready to break out onto the national stage with this absolute belter of a New Zealand-style pilsner that is also the awards’ Supreme Winner. Described as “vibrant and bright” by the judges, it has delicious hop aromas and flavours that swivel between zesty citrus and deeper, dank, herbaceous notes. It pushes close to pale ale territory but remains a pitch-perfect example of a modern New Zealand pilsner. “Clean, simple and balanced,” the judges added.
Pairing Recommendation: A classic Kiwi-hopped Pilsner from a Taupo farm, so give it some lamb chops and beef sausages off the BBQ.
For more on this beer visit: lakemanbrewing.co.nz/
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Mac's Gold
Type of beer: Larger
Brewery: Mac's
Flavours: Polished, clean, malt
Judges’ comments: You could call Mac’s Gold the original New Zealand craft beer. After all it was the beer that the late Terry McCashin first brewed in 1981 when he launched Mac’s, the first in a wave of independent microbreweries that started to pop up in the 1980s and 1990s. Four decades later, and with the brand now owned by Lion, Mac’s Gold remains a steadfast part of our beer culture and one of the best lagers produced in this country. Highly-polished, flavoursome and most importantly in a lager, “clean and refreshing”, said the judges who praised the beer as a “solid lager” with great balance and easy drinkability.
Pairing Recommendation: Light lager is perfect for Indian takeaway on a Friday night, ideal with samosas, pakoras and onion bhaji.
For more on this beer visit: macs.co.nz/
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Parrotdog Sundog
Type of beer: Pilsner
Brewery: Parrotdog
Flavours: Passion fruit, white grapes, hoppy-sweet
Judges’ comments: Parrotdog have just come off their third round of crowd-funded capital raising, getting an injection of $2.35 million from investors who believe they are set to grow even bigger. The Lyall Bay, Wellington, brewery started by three friends all called Matt (Kristofski, Warner and Stevens) is already one of New Zealand’s most reliable and popular craft brands and you’re going to see more of them in the future. Their Sundog Pilsner offers everything you want in a New Zealand-style pilsner, with loads of passionfruit and white grapes. It’s vibrant and bright and bursting with hop aroma. The flavour remains hoppy-sweet but buttons off to a snappy finish.
Pairing Recommendation: Passionfruit and white wine hop notes suggest fish tacos or corn chips with guacamole.
For more on this beer visit: parrotdog.co.nz/
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Steinlager Pure
Type of beer: Lager
Brewery: Steinlager
Flavours: Malt, bread, apple, floral-citrus hop
Judges’ comments: Steinlager Pure is the only returnee from last year’s Top 30 which tells you all you need to know about the consistency and quality from New Zealand’s biggest brewery, Lion, and its most popular brand. First up, take a moment to admire the absolute beauty of this beer in the glass. It shines like a diamond with crystal clarity and the finest of bubbles. The malt expresses the crust of just-baked bread, with a light apple note that gives way to a gentle floral-citrus hop note. The balance is just this side of sweet over bitter, with a dry finish making for an ultimate lager that is Kiwi-made world-class.
Pairing Recommendation: Light and bright lager tailor-made for tandoori fish or butter chicken.
For more on this beer visit: www.steinlager.com/
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Three Sisters Brewery Rumours in the Dark
Type of beer: Lager
Brewery: Three Sisters
Flavours: Dark rye bread, chocolate, toffee
Judges’ comments: New Plymouth brewery Three Sisters have been on a roll in the past three years. They were named New Zealand’s champion microbrewery in 2021, champion small brewery in 2022 and now they’ve made a debut in the Top 30. English-born Joe Emans and his German wife Sarah Emans have the perfect backgrounds for brewing and haven’t looked back since they started in their Ōakura basement in 2017, with two rounds of crowd-funding setting them up in the old New Plymouth Savings Bank building. Rumours In The Dark is a classic German beer, a Münchener Dunkel or Munich Dark, with flavours of dark rye bread, chocolate and toffee. It’s lush, malty and a must-try.
Pairing Recommendation: Toffee malts and rye bread suggest a steak sandwich with caramelised onions, or a wash-rind cheese.
For more on this beer visit: threesistersbrewery
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Best New Zealand stouts and porters 2023
Stouts and porters represent the darkest of ales, with rich caramel, coffee and chocolate notes. These darker styles, including even amber ales, focus on pronounced toasted barley flavours, forgoing fruit and citrus in flavour of fresh baking and sugar. For something indulgent, get yourself one of Aotearoa’s best dark beers of 2023.
8 Wired Baltic Smoke
Type of beer: Porter
Brewery: 8 Wired
Flavours: Smoky, coffee, maple syrup
Judges’ comments: 8 Wired Brewing, based in Warkworth with a barrel-room in nearby Matakana, are a perennial in the Top 30. They specialise in big, bold beers and this is one of the biggest and boldest. Made in the Baltic porter style, with the addition of beechwood smoke, this is a showcase for the art of balancing flavours. The aroma of smoke is initially subdued, with sweet black coffee taking centre stage. Sweet maple-syrup malt flavour is the first cab off the rank flavour-wise with the tangy smoke sliding in sideways, before building towards a gentle, just-bitter, warm finish aided by some alcohol heat. It’s a beer that takes you on a journey of your palate’s sensory capabilities.
Pairing Recommendation: A complex beer with robust smoke wants a juicy steak with mushroom sauce and truffle potatoes.
For more on this beer visit: 8wired.co.nz
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Burkes Brewing Co Unforgiven Porter
Type of beer: Porter
Brewery: Burkes
Flavours: Dark malt, chocolate, coffee
Judges’ comments: After two years in the Top 30 with their hugely popular #FakeNews Hazy IPA, Tekapo-based Burkes Brewing are back for a third, this time with a polar opposite beer: Unforgiven Porter. Helicopter engineer turned brewer Sebastian Burke is on a can’t-miss run with this beer and it’s no surprise to see it turn up in the Top 30 after it was named New Zealand’s Champion Beer at the 2021 New Zealand Beer Awards. Unforgiven is more than the sum of its parts, and it’s an awesome showcase for the beauty of dark malts, said the judges. Creamy chocolate on the nose is followed through in the palate, with just a hint of savoury. Think chocolate-coated coffee beans.
Pairing Recommendation: Roast coffee and chocolate flavours suit fried food such as grilled halloumi or lamb chops.
For more on this beer visit: untappd.com/BurkesBrewingCo
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Sprig + Fern Norty Porter
Type of beer: Porter
Brewery: Sprig + Fern
Flavours: cacao, chocolate
Judges’ comments: Sprig + Fern founder Tracy Banner celebrates 40 years in beer this year. The “mother of New Zealand brewing” worked for Mac’s and Speight’s before she started Sprig + Fern, and she knows more about beer than nearly anyone else in the industry. This light and supple porter is brewed using cacao nibs to create a beer that’s light and chocolatey. So, forget any notions you might have of dark beers being too heavy or charry-bitter; this is elegant, feather-light and smooth — and a wonderful chocolate delivery mechanism.
Pairing Recommendation: So light and chocolatey it wants tart berries to play against so try it with raspberry cheesecake.
For more on this beer visit: sprigandfern.co.nz
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Bootleg Late Night Monk Fight Quad
Type of beer: Stout
Brewery: Bootleg
Flavours: Raisins, berries, spice, sweet malt
Judges’ comments: Bootleg Brewing made their name with a grunty IPA, Apehanger, which is also in this year’s Top 30, but at heart they love putting an unexpected twist on a classic style, especially the Belgian numbers. The superbly-named Late Night Monk Fight (a nod to Belgium’s Trappist monks) is a Belgian-style quadrupel, which means big, bold, sweet and spicy. It’s a beer for savouring and sharing — and cellaring if you’re patient enough. Hold this one up to the light to appreciate the bright ruby colour before diving into a long-lasting flavour that’s all raisins and berries with alcohol warmth and a light spice balancing the sweeter malts. Despite the 8.6% ABV the body is surprisingly lean and agile, pairing well with a hearty plate.
Pairing Recommendation: Malty, fruity, slightly spicy this will play the role of red wine next to slow-cooked beef cheeks.
For more on this beer visit: bootlegbrewery.co.nz
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Best New Zealand wheat and sours 2023
For something a little bit out there, why not try a New Zealand sour? Often brewed using fruit yeast, sour beers boast bold acidic flavours, often inspired by massive fruit aromas like peach, passionfruit or citrus.
Deep Creek Aloha Guava Passionfruit Sout
Type of beer: Sour
Brewery: Deep Creek Brewing
Flavours: Passion fruit, guava, sweet and acidic balance
Judges’ comments: Deep Creek, based on Auckland’s North Shore are one of the industry leaders when it comes to “fruited sours”. They set the bar high a few years ago with their Tiki series, for which Aloha is the flagship beer. A passionfruit and guava sour, Aloha has made previous appearances in this competition and it’s no surprise to see it back. It’s a beer that goes superbly with food, with its bright acidity doing the same job as wine when it comes to cutting through fat and salt. The real fruit flavours are restrained, offering a harmonic contribution to the overall package. A good sour is all about the balance between sweet and acid — according to the judges, Aloha nails it.
Pairing Recommendation: Tart and lightly fruity, this will pair exceptionally well with soft cheeses, or a BBQ pork bun.
For more on this beer visit: dcbrewing.co.nz
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Otago Brew School Klassenbester Dunkelweizen
Type of beer: Wheat
Brewery: Otago Brew School
Flavours: Chocolate, toffee biscuit, dark malt, banana, clove
Judges’ comments: One of the great turn-ups is this event! Otago Brew School started in 2018, training brewers at the Otago Polytech campus in Cromwell. They aim to brew “true-to-style” beers that they sell on campus and in bars around the local area. It’s a fantastic programme and the proof is in the pudding here, with the Klassenbester living up to its translation as “best in class”. A Dunkelweizen is a dark wheat beer which marries chocolate & toffee biscuit characters of darker malts to the traditional banana and clove aromas created by specialist yeast. If you think banana and chocolate sounds like a good flavour match, this is the beer for you. Tastes like banana cake with a toffee sauce, said the judges
Pairing Recommendation: Lovely chocolate and banana, this light German style is perfect with pork sausages or a bacon butty.
For more on this beer visit: op.ac.nz/services/brew-school-beer/
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Best New Zealand ciders and alcoholic gingerbeers 2023
Craft ciders and ginger beers are making waves in New Zealand, with local brewers drawing massive audiences who are after something sweet and warming yet refreshing. With a higher sugar content and no hops, expect juicy fruit flavours and tart sweetness.
Morningcider Cherry Bomb Cider
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Morningcider
Flavours: Cherry, cinnamon, brown sugar
Judges’ comments: For a second year running, Morningside’s Morningcider (see what you did there), makes the Top 30. Not only have they delivered on a beautiful can and great taste, it’s one that doubles up on a good cause. Cherry Bomb is a collaboration with food-rescuer Citizen, a business focused on upcycling food that would otherwise go to waste. This cider is made with ‘rescued’ Central Otago cherries and has just the right balance of cinnamon and brown sugar to offset the tart cherry. Sweet, full-bodied and perfectly balanced — our judges loved the heft and complexity of this pretty cider.
Pairing Recommendation: Everyone knows cherry is ripe for chocolate, so pair this with a chocolate fondant for dessert.
For more on this beer visit: morningcider.co
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Mount Brewing Co Tart Rhubarb Cider
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Mount Brewing Co.
Flavours: Rhubarb, sweet-tart balance
Judges’ comments: Mount Maunganui’s own Mount Brewing have been making great beer in their fabulous brewery and taproom since 1996. It’s called The Rising Tide. The brewery started by Glenn and Virginia Meikle is a second-generation business these days, with daughter Briar now in charge. In recent years they’ve strung together regular appearances in our Top 30 thanks to compelling flavour twists, particularly with their cider range. This is a rhubarb bonanza, with an almost dessert-wine quality to the sweet-tart balance. The judges were in love with it: “Very attractive rhubarb aromas. Beautifully balanced with sweetness. Lovely depth and length. Very enjoyable. Impressive fruit expression.”
Pairing Recommendation: An ideal aperitif with a hard cheddar cheese or at the other end of the night with apple crumble.
For more on this beer visit: mountbrewingco.com
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Paynters Cider The Pilgrim Dry Cider
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Paynters
Flavours: French oak, baked apple, tannins
Judges’ comments: If you’ve not had a cider from Hawke’s Bay-based Paynters, you’ve almost certainly eaten fruit grown by the Paynter family under the Yummy brand. The Paynters had been growing fruit for decades when Paul Paynter decided to add classic English cider apples to his orchard such as Kingston Black and Stoke Red. The Pilgrim is made at Linden Estate Winery, in Esk Valley, where Cyclone Gabrielle tragically wreaked havoc in February. This super-dry cider has many great chardonnay characteristics, thanks to French oak and a winemaking fermentation process. The aroma is funky, yet the flavour is the friendliest; baked apple sweetness with some apple skin and tannic notes for balance. Finishes exceptionally dry.
Pairing Recommendation: Rich & wine-like with great complexity, try it with a creamy seafood pasta or prawn risotto.
For more on this beer visit: hoppiness.co.nz/paynters-pilgrim-cider
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Zeffer Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Type of beer: Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Brewery: Zeffer
Flavours: apple cider, ginger, kawakawa, chilli
Judges’ comments: Hawke’s Bay cider specialists Zeffer are regulars in this competition and with their alcoholic ginger beer, they are back in the Top 30 for the second time in three years. This is a versatile beverage that can be consumed as a refreshing sundowner, a pre-dinner aperitif or a perfect match for Southeast Asian cuisine. A sweet apple cider base is layered with fresh and dried ginger, kawakawa and chilli to produce a deeply satisfying flavour on 4.5% ABV. The judges loved the balance of spicy heat and sweetness.
Pairing Recommendation: Brewed with ginger and chilli this will make a great accompaniment to Asian noodles such as pad thai.
For more on this beer visit: shop.zeffer.co.nz/
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About the author
Michael Donaldson is one of New Zealand’s most renowned beer writers and was named Beer Writer of the Year by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand for a third time in 2018. He has been the Chair of Judges for the New World Beer & Cider Awards since 2016.
His writing appears in North & South, The New Zealand Herald, Stuff and Drinksbiz. He is also the editor of The Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine published by the Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA).
He is the author of New Zealand's definitive beer history Beer Nation - the Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer as well as The Big Book of Home Brew: a Kiwi Guide and The Hopfather, the biography of Emerson's founder Richard Emerson.