New Zealand craft brewer Moa has taken home the overall Champion Beer Award, the highest award for individual beer, with their Southern Alps White IPA at the 2018 Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards.
Moa’s Head Brewer David Nicholls first brewed the White IPA in 2013 as a one-off for Nelson-based MarchFest and because of its popularity, the beer quickly became a full-time member of the Moa range.
“We are both humbled and excited to make what was judged the best beer at the awards. It’s in the exact same format and the same brew that consumers can buy off the shelf right now,” Nicholls said.
Brewed with Vienna and Pale Wheat malts and dry hopped with a blend of Nelson Sauvin, Citra, USA Comet and German Hallertau Blanc hops, the Southern Alps White IPA has a strong citrus and lemongrass aroma. The White IPA also won a gold trophy in the US Ale category along the overall Champion award.
“Winning an award like this is testament to our great team and expertise lead by David,” said Moa executive chairman Geoff Ross. “It’s also a reflection of the momentum that Moa has in the market at the moment.”
“As consumers are becoming more educated about the beer they drink they are looking for more variety and while the hop flavour is on trend right now, we predict that beers with traditionally low abv like Summer Ales, Milds and Berliner Weisse will become more popular,” said Nicholls. “The challenge is to expand on ranges of beer that are regularity consumed and educate consumers on what good fresh beer tastes like.”
In addition to winning the overall award, Moa Brewing Company scooped the following awards:
- Champion US Ale-Moa Southern Alps White IPA
- European Ale-Silver Moa Sour Blanc
- European Ale-Bronze Moa Cherry Sour
- European Ale-Bronze Moa St Josephs Belgium Tripel
- Pale Ale-Bronze Moa Station IPA
- Flavoured-Bronze-Moa Milk Chocolate Stout
- Flavoured-Bronze-Moa Espresso Milk Chocolate Stout
- Cider and Perry-bronze-Moa Cider-Apple
