Waikato brewery tops NZ Beer Awards 2026
A small Waikato brewery has been named the country’s best at the New Zealand Beer Awards 2026.
Karamu Barrelworks, a small boutique brewery in an old Waikato farmhouse, was named Overall Champion NZ Brewing Company at the Awards held in Dunedin over the weekend.
The Emerson Brewing Company took home Champion New Zealand Beer for Emerson’s Pride of the Plains.
This year’s event marks 20 years of the Awards with Trophy winners chosen from 660 beers made by 70 brewers, and assessed in Christchurch over three days in late June.
Overall Champion NZ Brewing Company, Karamu Barrelworks, is a boutique operation on a Waikato lifestyle block, where Daryl Bryant brews spontaneously fermented beers inspired by classic Belgian brewing methods. This year’s top accolade follows the brewery’s 2025 win for Champion New Zealand Micro Brewery.
Emerson’s collected four trophies – the most of any brewery. Its Pride of the Plains was named Champion New Zealand Beer and also won the NZ Lager & NZ Pilsner Trophy, while Emerson’s was named Champion NZ Large Brewery. Emerson’s also collected the Wheat & Other Grain Trophy for Emerson’s Ingrid Weizenbock - a beer named in tribute to founder Richard Emerson’s mother.
New Zealand Beer Awards Head Judge, Tina Panoutsos congratulated brewers for the quality of their beers. “It’s clear that brewing quality remains a strong focus across the industry, with around 80% of entries receiving a medal. Recognition with medals is a positive indication that beers were well made, showed good technical execution, and were closely aligned to style expectations.”
She made special mention of NZ IPA, NZ Pale Ale and NZ Draught and Specialty and Experimental classes as standout categories. “These classes received a high proportion of gold medals, which speaks to the strength and the creativity and technical capability developing in the NZ industry. NZ hop-driven styles continue to show real confidence and definition, while the Specialty and Experimental beers demonstrated how brewers are pushing flavour, ingredients and process in thoughtful and well-executed ways.”
NEW ZEALAND BEER AWARDS 2026 CHAMPION AWARD WINNERS
Karamu Barrelworks, Overall Champion NZ Brewing Company
The Emerson Brewing Company Ltd, Champion NZ Large Brewery
Mount Brewing Co, Champion NZ Medium Brewery
Shining Peak Brewing, Champion NZ Small Brewery
Neck Of The Woods Beer Co, Champion NZ Micro Brewery
Two Bays Brewing Co, Champion Australian Brewery
Steam Brewing Company, Champion NZ Manufacturer
The Emerson Brewing Company Ltd, Champion New Zealand Beer, Emersons Pride of the Plains
NEW ZEALAND BEER AWARDS 2026 TROPHY WINNERS
Brave Brewing Co, International Lager — Happy Go Lager
The Emerson Brewing Company Ltd, NZ Lager & NZ Pilsner — Emersons Pride of the Plains
Mount Brewing Co, NZ IPA, NZ Pale Ale & NZ Draught — The Trifecta
Parrotdog, Amber/Dark Lager & Ale — Limited Release 44 - Red IPA
North End Brewery, British & European Ale — Super Alpha - Pacific Pale Ale
Good George Brewing, International Pale Ale — Frankton Bright IPA
Shining Peak Brewing, India Pale Ale — Bravo!
Brave Brewing Co, Juicy/Hazy IPA — Float On
Good George Brewing, Juicy/Hazy Pale Ale — Fog City
Mount Brewing Co, Stout & Porter — Harley’s Irish Stout
The Emerson Brewing Company Ltd, Wheat & Other Grain — Emersons Ingrid Weizenbock
Sprig + Fern Brewing Co, Fruit & Flavoured — Norty Porter
Alchemy Street Brewing, Specialty & Experimental — HOT BOX
Bach Brewing Co, No, Low & Reduced Alcohol — ALL DAY ORIGINAL Non-alcoholic IPA
Behemoth Brewing Company Limited, Wood & Barrel Aged — Victory at Churly’s
NEW ZEALAND BEER AWARDS 2026 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
Garage Project, Hāpi Research Programme, Future Award
Sawmill Brewery, Community Award
b.effect Brewing Co, Packaging Award
Tracy Banner, People Award
The Emerson’s team celebrate ‘Champion NZ Beer’ at the 2026 NZ Beer Awards
This year also marked 20 years for the Brewers Guild of New Zealand, which was started in Dunedin in 2006 with initial papers filed by brewer Richard Emerson.
Brewers Guild of New Zealand Chair, Brian Watson is optimistic about the future of the industry. “New Zealand brewers consistently prove themselves to be highly resilient, passionate people driven by tenacity and integrity. While we’re facing a challenging economic climate - like many other sectors - that inherent resilience puts us in a remarkably strong position moving forward.”
“What’s more, the Guild is in an excellent position with money in the bank, allowing us to deliver a wide range of benefits to our members and champion our industry on the national stage,” said Watson. “It’s this solid foundation that will see our brewers thrive through the next two decades."
