Top cheers for NZ beers

By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE

American beer judge David Logsdon has raised his glass to the high standard of our brews.

A panel of nine experts devoted three days at this year's BrewNZ festival in Wellington to blind-tasting more than 200 local and international beers. In their quest for the perfect aroma, texture, taste and fidelity to style in each of 15 categories, they sipped everything from classic draught and lager to wheat beers and dark, amber and pale ales.

Mr Logsdon, the chief judge, said the New Zealand industry had come of age with world-class brewing and increasingly sophisticated beers.

The class medal winners were:

New Zealand draught: Double Brown (DB Mainland). NZ lager: Export Gold (Waitemata Brewery). NZ premium lager: Mac's Reserve (Mac's Brewery). International golden lager styles: James Squire Pilsener (Malt Shovel Brewery). Dark beer styles: Speight's Distinction Ale (Canterbury Brewery). Stouts/porters: Emerson's Oatmeal Stout (Emerson's Brewery). Pale ales: Limburg Hopsmacker (Limburg Brewery). Amber ales: Sassy Red (Shed 22 Brewery). Strong beers: Emerson's Old 95. Wheat beers: White Rock Wheat Beer (Martinborough Brewing Co). Fruit/spiced/herb/wood beers: Emerson's Taieri George. Non or low-alcohol beer: Steinlager Premium Light (Lion Brewery). Festival or experimental beer: Paddy's Up'n' Go (Limburg). Packaging: Limburg Weissbier. Festive Brew: Colin Harrison Memorial Trophy, Emerson's APA.