Award winning craft beers and ciders

The Sprig and Fern Brewery lovingly produce a wide range of real craft beers and ciders to satisfy the palates of craft beer fans and more casual drinkers alike. All our beer is brewed under the watchful eye of our multiple-award winning Master Brewer, Tracy Banner.

In 2012 we were runner up Champion Brewery at the Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards. The previous year we were New Zealand's most awarded brewery, taking home a haul of 10 medals. Try our range, and you can be the judge.

Tracy, Ken, and the team at the 2016 Brewers Guild of NZ Beer Awards

Tracy, Ken, and the brewing team with our 2016 awards (including our Best In Class Trophy!)

2016 Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards

This year’s awards were held in Auckland. Tracy, Ken and the brewing team headed up to the City of Sails for the big event.

A record 88 NZ breweries entered and a total of 950 beers were judged and once again, the Sprig & Fern Brewery had a rewarding night, receiving 8 medals and most importantly, a BEST IN CLASS TROPHY!

Thrilled to have received a Best in Class Trophy (having previously achieved runner-up for Champion Brewery on two occasions), Best Bitter took out the top honours for BEST BRITISH ALE with this category being a hotly contested trophy with a wide range of beer styles included such as Pale Ales, Porters, Scotch Ales and Stouts, amongst others.

Best In Class Trophy Winner:
Best Bitter (Best British Ale)

Gold medal:
Best Bitter

Silver medal:
Pilsner

Bronze medals:
Wai-Iti
Doppelbock (LR)
ESB (LR)
SX Pilsner (LR)
Berry Cider
White IPA (LR)

2015 Brewers Guild of New Zealand International Beer Awards

The Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards is an international competition now in its ninth year. With an ever-growing number of entries from New Zealand and around the world, this year 858 beers were pitted against each other and judged by a panel made up of 25 nationally and internationally qualified judges.

The Sprig & Fern Brewery came away with a record number of 12 medals, beating last year’s 11. Among these medals was a fourth gold for Harvest Pilsner and a gold for Wai-Iti Lager, a beer that is less than a year old.

Gold medals:
Harvest Pilsner (LR)
Wai-iti Lager

Silver medals:
Long Black IPA (LR)
Kohatu Pilsner (LR)
Best Bitter
Berry Cider
Crisp Apple Cider

Bronze medals:
Tasman Reserve Lager
Nelson Sauvin Pilsner (LR)
Ginger Lager
Fern Dark
Pilsner

2014 Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards

The Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards is an international competition, with an ever-growing number of entries from New Zealand and around the world. Beers were rated against a style guide for each category for aroma, colour, bitterness, flavour and presentation, and judged by a panel made up of 25 national and internationally qualified judges. A total of 61 gold, 121 silver and 169 bronze medals were awarded this year.

The Sprig & Fern Brewery Team were well amongst the medals again, with 11 beers and ciders awarded, and also enjoyed a very special moment when Tracy Banner was made an Honorary Member of the Brewer's Guild in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Brewing Industry. Read more here.

Gold medals:
Harvest Pilsner (LR)

Silver medals:
Berry Cider
Nelson Sauvin (LR)
Fern Lager
Pilsner
Remembering Ernest (Festive Brew)

Bronze medals:
Motueka Pilsner (LR)
Porter
Best Bitter
Crisp Apple Cider
Ginger Lager

2013 Brewers Guild of New Zealand (BrewNZ) Awards

This year's Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards attracted a record number of entries, with more than 540 received from around 60 commercial brewers in New Zealand, as well as entries from international breweries in North America, Europe and Australia.

The Sprig & Fern Brewery again had a great night, with 11 beers and ciders being awarded medals, meaning we were jointly the most awarded brewery in New Zealand!

Gold medals:
Harvest Pilsner (LR)

Silver medals:
Best Bitter
Motueka Pilsner (LR)
Fern Draught
Crisp Apple Cider

Bronze medals:
Doppelbock
Nelson Sauvin Pilsner (LR)
Porter
Hefeweizen
Pilsner
Ginger Lager

2012 Brewers Guild of New Zealand (BrewNZ) Awards

The Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards were held in August at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre. The Awards attracted 460 entries with only 147 being awarded medals. As usual, local and international beers were judged over a three day period by a panel of experts.

On top of our 5 medals, the Sprig & Fern Brewery was awarded New Zealand Champion Brewery Runners up, missing out on the top spot by a mere one point!

Gold medals:
Best Bitter
Harvest Pilsner (LR)

Silver medals:
Barrel-aged Ruby Ale (LR)

Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards 2012 - Bronze medal

Bronze medals:
Fern Draught
Oatmeal Stout (LR)

2012 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) 2012

This year's AIBA was the 20th in its history, and attracted 1344 entries from 41 countries. The successful beers can win bronze, silver and gold medals, and trophies are awarded to the most successful breweries. The Sprig & Fern Brewery entered six beers and received two silvers and two bronzes.

Austrailian International Beer Awards - Silver medal 2012

Silver medals:
Doppelbock
Porter

Australian International Beer Awards 2012 - Bronze medal

Bronze medals:
Best Bitter
Scotch Ale

2011 Brewers Guild of New Zealand (BrewNZ) Awards

The Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards are an international beer competition featuring world leaders in the beer judging arena. Local and international beers are judged over a three day period by a panel of experts led by the hugely respected Head Judge Brian Watson.

In 2011 a record 465 entries from New Zealand and overseas breweries were received. The Sprig & Fern Brewery was the most awarded brewery in the country, with an outstanding haul of ten medals!