Beer & Cider News

CIDER. MADE IN MORNINGSIDE. morningcider. woah.

order now from hancocks. Countdown to NZ Beer Awards 2022

PREPARATIONS ARE

underway for the Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards 2022, with entries due to open in late May.

Organisers say that with the continued uncertainty around the New Zealand borders and the everchanging COVID situation, the judges and stewards selected to participate in the NZBA for 2022 will be from the “exceptional pool of talent” in New Zealand. Last year’s Awards drew 839 entries across 122 style classes.

Online entries for the 2022 Awards open on 25 May and close on 17 June, with judging to take place from 6-8 July at Riccarton Park in Christchurch. A date for the awards presentation was yet to be announced as Drinksbiz went to print.

brewersguild.org.nz/nzba

SHOWCASE

Craft cidery Morningcider joins Hancocks

CENTRAL AUCKLAND craft cidery Morningcider is partnering with national distributor Hancocks as the boutique beverage producer shifts up a gear.

Morningcider began in the Auckland suburb of Morningside in 2015 and since launching it has opened Auckland’s first cider bar, established New Zealand’s first urban orchard by giving away 100 cider apple trees to Morningside locals, and started exporting its award-winning ciders. Its latest accolade was a Silver medal for the Morningcider Hot X Bun Cider at the NZ Cider Awards 2021.

Morningcider expands

Looking to boost its nationwide distribution, Morningcider was excited to join family-owned New Zealand business Hancocks in March this year, which will now handle its ciders through retail and on-premise.

Other developments include a switch to a 440ml format for the cidery’s seasonal line-up (with the popular Morningcider Cider and Strawberry Rosé still available in 330ml single and 6-packs) and establishing itself in several export markets. The UK, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong are underway, while Singapore, China, Japan, and Australia are on the horizon too.

All about local

Morningcider has a strong local focus – from the fruit grown in its Urban Orchard, to the distinctive branding that centres on the Morningside community and the thriving street art scene found there. It also collaborates with other local businesses – most recently a Cherry Bomb Cider with Kingsland’s Citizen Brewery using rescued cherries, and The Lucky Taco Cider with popular food truck The Lucky Taco.

Hancocks

Record entries for New World Beer & Cider Awards

JUDGES IN this year’s New World Beer & Cider Awards assessed nearly 700 entries in a record day of judging held across three regions, with the Hazy IPA and Pale Ale class drawing the most submissions.

In a first for the competition’s eightyear history and in response to the country’s evolving Omicron outbreak, judging took place across three regional events in Auckland, Wellington and Nelson in March – instead of a single, larger tasting.

Chair of Judges Michael Donaldson headed up three teams of more than 30 expert judges (brewers, cidermakers and brewing experts) via video link on judging day, with tastings running simultaneously at each location.

The judging panels had their work cut out for them with more entries than ever this year, said Donaldson.

“Just shy of 700 beers, ciders, seltzers, alcoholic ginger beers and kombuchas from 100 New Zealand breweries and distributors.”

This year’s biggest and fastest-growing class was the Hazy IPA and Pale Ale class – with more than 130 entries.

The top-ranking entries will make up the New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30 and will be sold in 140 New World supermarkets around New Zealand and receive comprehensive promotional support. A further 70 Highly Commended brews will round out the Top 100 list to be published online, and an overall Supreme Winner will also be named.

Results will be available later in the year.

EVErEVErCHANGING CHANGING PATTErNS PATTErNS IN YOUr IN YOUr MOUTH MOUTH

MALTY HOPPY LIGHT DArK sweet bitter