Rotorua brewer wins accolade

AWARD: Croucher Brewing's Nigel Gregory (left) and Paul Croucher with their medals from the Brewers Guild of New Zealand 2016 Beer Awards in Auckland on Saturday night. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Rotorua's Croucher Brewing has snapped up a trophy at the Brewers Guild of New Zealand 2016 Beer Awards.

The company's 2.5 per cent low alcohol Lowrider received the trophy for best specialty beer.

The awards took place in Auckland on Saturday night.

Co-owner of Croucher Brewing and Brew Bar Paul Croucher said they were "obviously pretty happy" to have received the award.

"We were a bit bewildered to take the trophy. It's something we are really proud of and we put a lot of effort into achieving the low alcohol beer."

He said he thought the beer did so well because they had managed to put in so much flavour for a light beer.

"I think we surprised the judges with the flavour we got."

He said they liked to think they had been innovative in the beer industry and winning against a number of other specialty beers was "immensely gratifying".

This year's Brewers Guild awards saw 946 beers from 98 breweries entered across 14 beer categories.

A total of 88 New Zealand breweries were entered, joining 10 breweries from Australia, Germany and the United States.

Brewers Guild president Emma McCashin said the 2016 awards capped another stellar year for New Zealand brewing.

"Brewing in New Zealand has grown into an innovative, sophisticated and valuable sector. Our breweries are producing amazing beer with a uniquely Kiwi flavour and vision, and it's being sought out by more drinkers here and overseas.

"It's a sector that's chock-full of talented and passionate people, from small operations right the way through to the biggest."