Organisers of the National Homebrewing Competition, which took place in Hamilton two weeks ago, say having an international judging panel explains the jump in entries this year.
Now in its fourth year, the awards are organised by consumer group Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA) and acknowledge New Zealand's burgeoning homebrew
culture and the talent of Kiwi homebrewers, says founding secretary Greig McGill.
"Last year was 160 entries so it's been a big jump up to 294 this year.
"I mainly put that down to the fact that we pushed it because we had world class judges judging it so brewers wanted to get their beers in front of these judges," said McGill.
"We had beer writer Geoff Griggs, and brewing consultant Graeme Mahy; both of them have judged at the World Beer Cup in the United States so you know that you can get your beers judged as if they were at the World Beer Cup."
Five gold, 18 silver and more than 60 bronze medals were handed out at an awards ceremony over the weekend, with Richard Pettinger of Dunedin announced as champion brewer.
Pettinger, who also won the award for champion lager, said he was "somewhat stunned" at winning the championship again as he had also won it the other two times he entered the competition.
Dale Holland, of Nelson, won the champion beer award, while the champion ale title was taken out by Napier brewer Richard Sherratt.
"I've been brewing for five years now and the competition is a good opportunity to get feedback from the judges on my beers," said Sherratt.
"I use the notes they give to keep improving my beers."
As the champion beer prize winner, Holland will have a batch of his beer commercially brewed by the Hallertau team.
* For a full list of all the winners, click here.
