Beer is a brutal business.

When not slinging spent grain at each other, brewers can often be found stealing competitors hops and calling each other braggards.

Well, this may not quite be true. Actually, it seems things are the exact opposite and people in the brewing industry are rather nice to each other.



But this Saturday the country's best will go head to head at the annual Brewer's Guild awards.



Winners will be announced at a rather fancy dinner, being held in Auckland after many years in Wellington. Television personality and noted beer fan Te Radar has capably handled hosting duties in previous years, but in 2015 Hilary Barry will be handed the mic. Her credentials also seem impeccable.



More than 800 beers were entered this year, the most ever, and judged by an expert panel last weekend.



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With such tough competition, simply being awarded a medal is a great achievement but speculation is mounting about who will be crowned grand champion.



I thought it would be interesting to go back and speak to previous winners about what it meant for them, being named best brewer in the land and whatnot.



Below are some of their brief thoughts, but rather diplomatically (and typically), none would be drawn on who they thought would win. What a boringly nice bunch, eh?



2008 - TUATARA

MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ Tuatara's Carl Vasta, back in the early heady days of the brewery.

The lizard queens (and kings) picked up the inaugural gong and have gone on to big things, becoming one of the main "craft" players in the country. Founder Carl Vasta fondly reminisced on picking up the first trophy in 2008, saying being the first brewery to win brought with it extra kudos. "We we're very, very pleased with it, I knew we were making good beer and it's often, not a lottery, but...to get five of your beers all at best of class quality at the same time is quite a feat." The win also helped on the financial front, allowing Tuatara to use it as ammo when applying to banks for loans.

2009 - EMERSON'S

One of the elder statesman of the New Zealand craft brewing industry, Richard Emerson and his crew famously led the company to a successful buyout by Lion in 2012. Since then their beer has gone from strength to strength, but several years before they got a huge boost by winning the big prize. Brewing manager Chris "father" O'Leary boasts Emerson's is often in the top two or three, but being crowned champion was a great feeling and one the team was hugely proud of. Tangible benefits of winning are harder to define, he says, as it all means nothing unless you have a good business plan. "At the end of the day you can have the best beer in the world but if you haven't got the right mix [of product] and the right business model you're down the tube."

MICHAEL BEAUMONT/FAIRFAX NZ Richard Emerson (right) has won countless awards, such as this business award. Emerson's was named champion brewery in 2009.

2010 - DB

Shock, horror - in 2010 one of the big boys were crowned champions. Not really surprising, as they consistently brew faultless beer that impresses judges. It was, therefore, a shame that DB couldn't find the time to talk to me about winning the award, how it had helped them and what it meant to the company. Despite giving them more than a week to get back to me, apparently everyone in the vast company was too busy. I guess it doesn't mean that much to them, after all.

2011 - 8 WIRED



Soren Eriksen was a popular and worthy winner, moving on from contract brewing at Renaissance to opening his own facility in Warkworth. Unfortunately, a horrible accident last week left two other well-known and respected brewers who were brewing at 8 Wired in hospital with burns. I decided this wasn't the time to try and contact 8 Wired about their previous win, but The Beerhive wishes the company and those injured the best.



2012 - HARRINGTON'S



These guys have been churning out beer in the Garden City for a loooong time. My parents even remember buying a strange drop called "Ngahere Gold" in the early 90s before heading to a wedding and wondering why they almost blacked out walking into the church upon arrival. It's fair to say their win in 2012 surprised some. Not because their beer was bad, but simply because they are not a flashy brewery. Director Carl Harrington says winning the award allowed the company to try and sell more product overseas, which had been helped by the opening of a second brewery in Christchurch. "We've got that grand champion logo on everything we do." Since the move, sales have increased 70 per cent in the South Island and a North Island push is imminent.



2013 - RENAISSANCE

KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ Andy Deuchars, co-owner of Marlborough-based brewery Renaissance, was on hand to accept the champion brewery award in 2013.

Kilt and all, Andy Deuchars and his team were so happy they were bleeding rainbows when stepping on stage to accept their award. And why wouldn't they be? They had a few weeks earlier been named best small brewery at the Australian Beer Awards and amazingly picked up the same award again in 2014. Development director Roger Kerrison says winning the three awards really set up Renaissance's brand story and led to the confidence to push ahead with the experiment of crowdfunding, which proved successful. "It showed we're not a bunch of cowboys...I suspect our business wouldn't be where it is without the recognition."

2014 - TOWNSHEND

Mr Townshend himself (first name Martin) is a busy man - he has no time to mince words. "You have to remember, awards are fickle as buggery, no-one has any more chance that anyone else." Having said that, being named champion brewery last year was a big help for the one-man operation, leading to a recently announced agreement with Tuatara to brew some of his core range. Martin has decided to remain small and grow steadily, rather than take up investment offers of a large loan in order to expand rapidly. That suits him fine and winning was worth it for the kudos alone, he says. "It was nice to get that respect I guess from a brewing skill perspective."

2015 - ???????

I'm sure everyone has read through this blog with interest while mumbling "yes, yes, but who does Shane from The Beerhive think will win this year?'.

Well, perhaps not. But I'm going to let you know anyway.

It's always tough to pick the overall winner. As you can see from above, there have been some surprises.

The smart money would be on Wellington brewery Parrotdog, considering their seemingly endless string of accolades this year. Another safe bet would be Panhead, who have quickly become the swill of choice for the "craft" masses.

But I'm going to narrow it down to two others.

Firstly, the beers from Wellington brewpub Fork & Brewer. Since master blaster Kelly Ryan took over the brewing reins he has been churning out beverages in all directions.

That takes care of the number of beers needed to win the overall award on the night. It also helps that his beers are generally flawless, tasty and interesting.

Hedging my bets, my second choice is Emerson's.

Despite the feared decline in quality following a takeover by Lion*. Richard Emerson has ensured the company has continued on its path.

Along with an impressive core range including the fabled pilsner, there has been plenty of tinkering going on in Dunedin and their Flanders Red was a standout at this year's Beervana.

They have a great chance in being the first brewery to win the coveted award for the second time. If they can get past Mr nice-guy Kelly Ryan, that is.

* In full disclosure, Lion has generously invited me to the Beer Awards this year. I have, however, loved Emerson's for much longer.

Who do you think will be crowned 2015 Champion Brewery?

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