With so many new breweries and beers coming on to the market it’s often hard to know what to buy before you buy.
Picking a can off the shelf can be a random act. Is it a style you’ve tried before? Do you trust the brewery? Do you read the blurb on the back – and does it actually tell you anything?
Or do you just take potluck because you like the look of the can art?
One source of information is the review app Untappd where users post reviews. I used to use it but found it unreliable as lots of people don’t seem to have any idea about beer. They’ll drink a stout and then write: “I don’t usually buy stouts because I don’t like them. One star.”
A far more reliable guide to what’s good is to look at results from beer judging competitions. There are two main ones in New Zealand – the New World Beer & Cider Awards and the New Zealand Beer Awards which is run by the Brewers Guild of NZ. I’m involved in the New World Awards so I’m biased, but I think they are a great guide to beers (and ciders) that you can trust.
The judges are looking for what we call “technically excellent” beers – i.e. there are no faults, that they are brewed well with good use of ingredients. But they also judge against “style”. If it says on the label that it’s an IPA – it really has to be an IPA (and believe me there are a lot of beers out there masquerading as IPAs).
But the critical factors in judging are more simple questions: Does it taste good? Would I have another? Would I recommend it to a friend?
The most recent New World Awards announced in May have an elite Top-30 as well as another 70 highly commended beers to create a Top 100. Checking out these lists can offer great inspiration when it comes to making your next buying choice.
I’ve found over years that these awards regularly feature certain breweries – and I think of these as the super-reliable stars on the scene. They’ll never let you down. They make technically great beer that taste delicious. The list is a who’s who of New Zealand’s best breweries: Garage Project, Parrotdog, McLeod’s, Sawmill, 8 Wired, Epic, Liberty, Bach, Deep Creek, Panhead, Three Boys, Sprig & Fern, Good George, Behemoth, Boneface.
Liberty Brewing from Helensville were a real star this year with a remarkable three beers in the Top-30: Oh Brother Pale Ale, Knife Party IPA and Citra Double IPA. As New Zealand’s reigning champion brewery from the last NZ Beer Awards you could argue they are this country’s current brewing kings.
But every year there are surprises, newcomers you’ve heard little about, or obscure styles that come to the fore.
This year some of the rising stars included Baylands Brewery in Wellington, Burke’s Brewing in Tekapo, and Aucklanders Isthmus and Urbanaut.
Urbanaut are particularly interesting. They’ve only been going four years but in that time they’ve proved to be masters of innovation. They specialise in making “brut” beers – these are brewed using the same techniques to make low-carb beer (in fact, they are low carb – they just don’t market them that way). But unlike low carb beers from big breweries these are packed with flavour.
They had two brut-style beers in the Top-30 – their Miami Brut Lager and Copacabana Brut IPA. Both are light and easy-drinking but with a great hoppy profile. And the lager is doubly innovative as it comes in a 250ml can – the perfect size for taking on a boat, mountain-biking trip or camping.
If you’re in an adventurous mindset I’d also recommend trying 8 Wired’s Wild Feijoa Ale. This is one of the most unique and interesting beers made in New Zealand. It’s a sour beer – so be warned – and it’s more like a feijoa wine than a beer.
Article written by Michael Donaldson