Tuatara Brewing Company has become New Zealand's first two-time champion brewery after picking up the top gong at the Brewers Guild of New Zealand 2016 Beer Awards.
The country's best brewery in 2008, Paraparaumu's Tuatara dominated the 10th year of the country's most prestigious brewing awards, collecting three of 14 category trophies and a total of five gold, five silver and four bronze medals for its beers.
Tuatara founder Carl Vasta, who started the brewery in the backyard of his Waikanae home in 2000, said winning the champion brewery award for a second time was a huge honour.
"I started out brewing just to make good beer that my mates and I enjoyed, so to see how things have grown to this point is pretty remarkable.
"The reason we've been able to achieve the success we have is because we've got a tremendous team of people who are really passionate about beer and brewing, and we haven't lost sight of the simple reason Tuatara started in the first place - to brew good beers that we enjoying drinking as fans of beer."
