Beer and Cider Awards 2023: Waikato, Ruapehu breweries take home top placements

Two Waikato breweries and one from the Ruapehu District have won a place in the New World Beer & Cider Awards 2023, with one of them taking home the Supreme Award.

The award-winning breweries are Taupō’s Lakeman Brewing, Ruapehu Brewing Co and Bootleg Brewery from Mātangi, which won two spots in the top 30.

Lakeman won the top spot for their Primate Pilsner, which came out on top in the final taste-off against some of the bigger beers in the competition because of its outstanding execution, says judges chairman Michael Donaldson.

“There isn’t anything to hide behind in a crisp, light pilsner, and they’ve created a pitch-perfect New Zealand-style pilsner that beer fans are sure to love.”

“This win is a great story of Kiwi can-do attitude. Despite their remote location, rural farm setting and small team, Lakeman has gone from beginner to absolute winner in just 10 years,” Donaldson says.

Lakeman co-owner James Cooper says the win was “unreal”.

“To win this award, especially with it being our 10th year, is pretty amazing, and [we’re] stoked that it’s one of the ... original beers we first brewed,” Cooper says.

Lakeman head brewer Rory Donovan says the award win was “the culmination of consistent hard work” and the secret of their Primate Pilsner was a constantly improving recipe.

“[We were] constantly messing with the recipe, improving the recipe until we were very happy with it. But we’re never really happy with it until someone else pats us on the back.”

Ruapehu Brewing Co, established in 2017, was new to the winner’s podium this year with their aptly named Unlimited Vis Hazy IPA, which was one of the first beers off their new production line in Ohakune.

Bootleg Brewery received the top 30 placement for their flagship Apehanger IPA and for Late Night Monk Fight, a Belgian-style quadruple - a dark beer described as “big, bold, sweet and spicy”.