Record number of entries at BrewNZ Beer Awards

MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release
Tuesday 4 August 2009

Record number of entries at 2009 BrewNZ Beer Awards

More than 340 beers from New Zealand and overseas breweries are entered in this year’s BrewNZ Beer Awards, New Zealand’s premier beer competition, up from 205 entries last year. The Awards, which have also attracted about 150 international entries from Australia, United States, Pacific Islands and Russia, have brewers striving to brew the perfect beer.

Led by US-based judge Dave Logsdon, a panel of judges will convene in Wellington to assess entries over three days from Sunday 22 August, with the BrewNZ Beer Awards Dinner to be held on Thursday 27 August.

Special guest Trainee Judge and MC at the BrewNZ Beer Awards dinner will be Australian Paul Mecurio. Better known by New Zealanders as a judge on Dancing with the Stars, Paul is an avid beer enthusiast, has commercially brewed his own beer and presents his own TV show Mecurio’s Menu.

The week of judging culminates with the pubic Beervana sampling event at the Wellington Town Hall on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August. Featuring more than 40 breweries and over 200 beers, Beervana is a celebration of the craft of brewing here in New Zealand. The public will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with brewers, learn the brewer’s secrets, get advice about home brewing, taste a range of different beer styles and enjoy seminars such as food and beer matching with Martin Bosley, and chocolate and beer pairing with father and son duo Roger and Ed Simpson of Schoc Chocolates. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.ticketek.co.nz

In its eighth year, BrewNZ is the official New Zealand beer event, endorsed by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand. Guild Chairman, David Cryer, says that with a record number of entries in this year’s awards and over 40 breweries participating at Beervana, it’s the biggest premium beer event in the Southern Hemisphere. ‘We’ve also had seven New Zealand breweries entering the Awards for the first time, highlighting the growth and consumer interest in an increasingly wide range of beers.”

Ends.

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