Entries are now open to the New World Beer & Cider Awards 2023.
The awards are open to all breweries and cidermakers from around New Zealand, as well as internationally.
The key requirements are the ability to provide supermarket compliant product and meet minimum stock amounts, however entrants don’t need to be an existing New World or Foodstuffs supplier to enter.
This year, specific classes have been formed for the more unusual and creative beers and ciders, giving styles like sour beers, barrel-aged beers, and ciders with spices, botanicals or honey their time to shine.
The judging will be held in March 2023 in Christchurch, with a 29-strong panel of beer and cider professionals who will taste, debate and score each entry based on technical excellence as well as balance and, most importantly, drinkability.
The Top 30 winning brews will receive promotional support and shelf space in more than 150 New World stores nationwide.
The next 70 Highly Commended will also be celebrated in an overall Top 100 list on the New World website.
Beer writer and chair of judges Michael Donaldson said the competition, now in its ninth year, has become a well-recognised fixture in the brewing calendar for good reason.
“This competition is unique for combining professional and independent judging with the chance to get in front of beer and cider fans all around the country.
“Each year, more than 100 breweries put forward their best entries for judging.
“A win can help build the reputation of well-known brands, while new brew businesses make the most of almost overnight access to hundreds of thousands of shoppers.”
He added the awards were also a great chance for new styles and offerings in beer and cider to capture new interest, and taste buds.
“The introduction of a new dedicated class for low alcohol beers, those under 1.15% ABV, helped deliver not just one, but two, non-alcoholic beers in the 2022 Top 30, which went on to become two of the top sellers in the awards line-up.”
All entry details can be found at newworld.co.nz/nwbca. Entries close on Friday 17 February and results will be released later in 2023.