Dream job: Hawke's Bay expert gets to pick NZ's best at New World beer and cider awards in Hastings

From left, Zeffer Cider CFO, COO Greg Small, head cider maker Jody Scott, and founder/cider maker Sam Whitmore enjoy a cold bottle of cider. Photo / Warren Buckland

A local cider expert has sniffed, swirled and sipped his way through the high-end quality of cider and beer exhibited at the New World Beer and Cider Awards.

Jody Scott, a first-time judge at the awards and the head cider maker at Zeffer Cider in Hastings, said there were a record number of quality entries for the awards.

All entries vied for a spot in the awards' Top 30, which will see the winning beers and ciders take pride of place on New World shelves nationwide.

"This year was a record entry of 645 brews from 102 brewers across NZ including some international entries as well.

"The general consensus was that standard was up on previous years. We were pretty excited about the quality."

With a range of beer and cider styles the judging criteria came down to one main factor, he said.

"There are lots of aspects to judging a beer or cider that include judging the appearance, aroma and taste of the drink.

"But when it comes down to it the most important thing is to consider drinkability. It is well and good having a tasty beer but if you couldn't finish a pint of it then it isn't something people really want to buy."

The judging itself was broken down into multiple tables so each beer and cider could be judged fairly, he said.

"There are 24 judges at the awards along with eight trainee judges whose scores don't count.

"It ensures none of the judges are judging something they produced."

In spite of being a judge at the awards Scott couldn't pick a favourite.

"We don't get to know what we tasted as all the judging is 'blind' [as in you don't know which beer or cider is in the glass] so I'll have to wait until the results come out [later in the year] with everyone else."

Scott has more than 12 years of experience in the wine and cider-making industry and a first-class honours degree in winemaking.

With experience across Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, he now heads Zeffer's cidermaking team and has led them to several prestigious cider awards.

He has also been a beer, wine, cider and spirits judge at international and local competitions.