Entries are now open for the New World Beer & Cider Awards for the fifth year in a row. The New World Beer & Cider Awards are the perfect opportunity for local breweries and cidermakers to have their shot at the spotlight atop New World shelves. This year, an expanded panel of expert judges will sniff, swirl, and sip their way through hundreds of entries to discover the Top 30 beers and ciders. These Top 30 beers and ciders will be advertised and displayed across New World stores nationwide, the next 70 highest rank beers and ciders will be Highly Commended. Together, they will be featured on the Top 100 list on the New World website.
Beer writer and author, Michael Donaldson is among the returning judges. He said that he is looking forward to seeing which beers and ciders come out on top. “New Zealand is full of great beer and cider-making talent, but that means there is a lot for consumers to choose from and it’s often hard to know where to start.” He describes that putting the 30 Best beers and ciders in the spotlight is a great way for people to try new products and experience a new favourite. Furthermore, winning an award can be extremely beneficial for the brewery or cider business. “These awards are an unmatched opportunity for local beer and cider businesses to build their brand and following, with the chance to showcase their product in 135 stores across the country and get in front of thousands of potential new customers.”
Last year, first-time entrants Fortune Favours struck gold with the American Amber Ale, ‘The Oregonian.’ Shannon Thorpe, CEO of Fortune Favours said, “Fortune Favours was only a few months old at the time, and we entered with some of our very first batches of packaged beer. The win was a massive achievement and helped make so many more people aware of our brewery and our beers.”
The competition is open to breweries and cider makers, large and small, from New Zealand and around the world. The important thing is that winners can supply enough stock for the beer and cider drinkers that await the results. Entries close on the 15th of February, 2019, the testing will take place in March, and the Top 100 results will be released later in 2019.
