Sunshine Brewery pours black gold

SUNSHINE BREWERY WIN GOLD: The Gisborne craft beer company’s “Czar Bomb”, a richly flavoured Russian Imperial Stout, took out a gold medal at the Australian International Beer Awards in Melbourne this week. Chris Scott (head brewer, left) is the mastermind behind the award-winning drop, pictured here with Richard Mulligan (brewer) and Alana Brown (tap room manager). Picture by Liam Clayton

SUNSHINE Brewery has continued its winning ways with a gold medal for its “Czar Bomb” in the Best Stout category at the Australian International Beer Awards.

The international award adds to a gold medal for Czar Bomb, a Russian Imperial Stout, won last year at the NZ Brewers Guild Beer Awards.

Sunshine Brewery director Martin Jakicevich said it was their first international award.

“It is great recognition of our investment and decision to make great beer. The first of many to come,” he said of the award.

Sunshine Brewery has a history of producing award-winning dark beers, including Black Magic Stout, which has won multiple New Zealand awards.

Head brewer Chris Scott said he is “rapt” with the gold medal, awarded at the ceremony in Melbourne this week.

Russian Imperial Stout was originally brewed by the British for shipment in casks to the reigning monarchs of Russia and had to be strong and well hopped to survive the trip.

Mr Jakicevich said their Czar Bomb version gets its name from the Czar Bomba or AN602 hydrogen bomb, the biggest nuclear weapon ever detonated, and the most powerful artificial explosion in human history.

The beer is described thus: “As dark as a black hole and with a rich and complex aroma even more difficult to explain, Czar Bomb explodes on your palate with an intense richness full of complex roasted malt, fruit, alcohol and coffee nuances.”

Mr Jakicevich says the company is going from strength to strength, with its beers sold in New Zealand from Kaitaia to Queenstown.