Having a say in what is New Zealand’s best brew is pretty exciting for one of Dunedin’s senior brewers, Mason Pratt.
Pratt, who works at Emerson’s in Dunedin, has been judging at the New World Beer and Cider Awards for a couple of years but this year joined the "Taste off" panel to retaste the top-ranking beers and decide the final winners, in particular the Top 30, and in a new challenge this year, the Supreme Winner.
More than 700 beers, ciders, ginger beers, seltzers and kombuchas were entered this year by about 100 New Zealand breweries and distributors.
This year, there were 20 beers from Dunedin alone entered and South Island-wide there were 120 entries from 30 breweries.
They were judged by a panel of 34 at three hubs across New Zealand — Auckland, Wellington and Nelson — due to Covid-19.
Pratt, who started in warehousing and packaging 10 years ago at Emerson’s, says the beers he tasted — blind, of course — were all pretty good and he was impressed by the standard this year.
"There were some really good offerings. It was pretty pleasing." The hazy, IPA class dominated this year with 130 entries, the biggest section in the competition.
"It’s a massive and growing trend I think because of the approachability of it. The mix of fruity hops means there is not the bitterness some might not like. It’s the gateway into craft beers." Overall, it is the range of beers across such a wide variety of styles that stands out, he says.
"There is quality across the board, the sours and lagers, there is good diversity and quality."
He finds the experience a great way to really discover the best of the best in New Zealand brewing as well as discovering different approaches and structures other brewers may use.
The results of the competition will be announced in May.
