08-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Local brewers tap into gold
Queenstown's Altitude Brewing's done it again.
Having earlier this year been named Champion International Small Brewery, last Saturday Altitude was crowned Champion New Zealand Medium Brewery at the 2025 Beer Awards, four years after winning the small brewery category.
Additionally, Altitude won two beer category trophies — the NZ Lager & NZ Pilsner for 'Powder Day', and the Juicy/Hazy IPA trophy for 'Remarks' — and brought home a total of five gold medals, seven silvers and seven bronzes.
Another home-grown brewery, Canyon, made a bold debut at the awards, winning the Juicy Hazy Pale Ale for 'Vacation', and bringing home seven medals — one gold, three silvers and three bronzes — from their eight entries.
Canyon Brewing also received an honourable mention in the Sustainability Award, recognising their commitment to low-waste brewing, local sourcing and regenerative practices, including growing its own malt in Central Otago.
Glenorchy Brew Co picked up three silvers and two bronzes, while The Cargo Collective brought home one bronze medal.
Run by the Brewers Guild of NZ, the awards this year attracted 625 beers made by 70 brewers.
Head judge Tina Panoutsos says the NZ craft beer industry continues to show strong creative energy and a deep commitment to quality.
Brewers Guild of NZ executive director Melanie Kees notes this year's awards highlight a growing trend — more towns and regions claiming their status as beer destinations, when historically only major cities were seen as 'beer hotspots'.
"Queenstown and the Southern Lakes are rising stars, as reflected in multiple awards."
