With the experimental world of beer on the move, the Brewers Guild of New Zealand and Beer Hug (NZ's leading online craft beer retailer) have partnered for a limited edition box. The 12-pack features all the readily available trophy-winning beers from the recent NZ Beer awards. There were 15 trophy winners from the awards, and the three not featured were unavailable due to brewery size or not being packaged.
With New Zealand's reputation as a solid beer-producing nation coupled with kiwi ingenuity, the pack might just be the finest customers have ever seen.
"The NZ Craft beer scene continues to punch well above its weight globally, winning awards not just onshore but also in Australia and on the world stage. This year the beers entered into the New Zealand Beer Awards were even better than previous years, seeing a 10 percent increase in medals awarded," said Melanie Kees, Brewers Guild Executive Director.
"New and emerging craft beer styles are appealing to new audiences - take the sour and wild fermented beers - possibly like no beer you have experienced before. Another factor that is a real consideration these days is the lower alcohol factor, with the Lo-No Beer market growing very quickly."
"We want to encourage responsible enjoyment - some of the beers in this box carry more notes than a saxophone, and the 'Box of Champions' is about quality beer to be enjoyed slowly, over a period of time, some of these beers have taken years to create!"
The box is priced at $159.99. Registrations open on August 22, with those successful in securing the box being announced on September 4. The packs will then be sent out on September 5.
"We know demand will be high, so we will be selling it (the only fair way we know how to sell something that will sell out) – through EQL – a (new) platform which manages the sale of hyped products, which means everyone gets a fair chance to get their hands on a box! The first-time beer is being sold this way in NZ (but we know demand will be higher than supply)," said Dan Phillips, Beer Hug Co-Founder.
"These beers are available in strictly limited numbers as some are produced in very small batches, many from very small breweries. In fact, there will only be 264 boxes available nationally (which is all we could get our hands on)."
"This will only come around once a year - the best beers in New Zealand as judged by 29 of New Zealand's and Australia's top beer judges. Wine aficionados have long understood that you get what you pay for, but now beer drinkers can access a truly premium offering, paying top dollar for a quality product that is enjoyed over a period of time."
The box contains:
- Three Boys Brewery, Lager
- Baylands Brewery, Slope Shredder,
- Sawmill Brewery, The Doctor
- Emerson's Brewing Co, Old 95
- Garage Project, Chance, Luck and Magic
- McLeods Brewery, Paradise
- Liberty Brewing Co, Citra
- Good George Brewing, Haze of Glory
- Badass Beverages, Hefe Metal
- Behemoth Brewing Co, Low Hanging Fruit
- LumberJack Brewing Co, From the Woods Saison
- Altitude Brewing, Starlight
