Best brewer in NZ

Years of experimentation and innovation have paid off for Warkworth brewer Søren Eriksen (pictured), wife Monique and the 8 Wired team, who were crowned NZ’s Champion Brewery at the recent New Zealand Beer Awards held in Christchurch. It was a big night for the craft brewery, which also picked up the title of Champion Beer for its barrel aged Wild Feijoa 2022, as well as a gold medal for its Oude Imperial, silver for Baltic Smoke and iStout, and bronze for its Brave Old World – Scotch Ale. The awards attracted 825 entries across 15 classes, from 80 entrants. Eriksen said he and Monique were immensely proud of the 8 Wired team. Full story, including other local winners, page 20.