Beer
Whether you’re perfecting a classic pale ale or pushing boundaries with bold hops and barrel-ageing, this is your chance to share your best brews with beer lovers across Aotearoa.
From crisp lagers to juicy IPAs, malty stouts to experimental sours, the Beer category of the NZ Homebrew Championships welcomes all styles. If it’s brewed with care and creativity, it belongs here.
This category celebrates the craftsmanship, curiosity, and commitment behind every great homebrew. Whatever your level, you’ll be in good company.
Beer classes
1A – American Light Lager
A super‑pale, nearly flavorless, highly carbonated lager meant to be served ice‑cold and quaffed for pure refreshment.
1B – American Lager
A very pale, highly-carbonated, light-bodied, well-attenuated lager with a very neutral flavor profile and low bitterness. Served very cold, it can be a very refreshing and thirst quenching drink
1C – Cream Ale
A clean, well-attenuated, flavorful American “lawnmower” beer. Easily drinkable and refreshing, with more character than typical American lagers.
1D – American Wheat Beer
Pale and bready‑grainy with a clean fermentation profile and variable citrus‑floral hop notes; lively and easy‑drinking.
2A – International Pale Lager
A well‑balanced, highly‑attenuated pale lager without strong flavors, designed for crisp refreshment.
2B – International Amber Lager
Smooth, amber‑hued lager showing gentle caramel‑toast maltiness over restrained bitterness.
2C – International Dark Lager
Darker, slightly sweeter and maltier than its pale cousin, yet equally light in bitterness and body.
3A – Czech Pale Lager
Light‑bodied yet richly bready and firmly bitter, a sessionable hoppy Czech pale lager.
3B – Czech Premium Pale Lager
Complex bready malt and spicy floral hops in exquisite balance with a soft, rounded bitterness.
3C – Czech Amber Lager
Toasty‑bready, reddish‑amber lager with clean malt depth and a balanced finish.
3D – Czech Dark Lager
Richly malty dark lager marrying caramel, toast and gentle roast with smooth bitterness.
4A – Munich Helles
Golden German lager showcasing soft, slightly sweet pils malt over subtle hops and a dry finish.
4B – Festbier
Pale, elegant Oktoberfest lager that balances smooth malt flavor with festival drinkability.
4C – Helles Bock
Strong, pale German lager offering rich malt flavor, firm hop bitterness, and a clean, dry finish.
5A – German Leichtbier
Low‑alcohol, pale German lager that retains noticeable malt‑hop character with high drinkability.
5B – Kölsch
Delicately balanced, brilliantly clear hybrid ale with subtle malt, fruit, and hop notes and a crisp finish.
5C – German Helles Exportbier
Golden, slightly stronger lager combining mild malt sweetness with moderate bitterness.
5D – German Pils
Crisp, hop‑forward golden lager featuring assertive noble bitterness over a lean malt base.
6A – Märzen
Amber‑orange lager showcasing elegant toasty‑bready malt with a smooth, dry finish.
6B – Rauchbier
Amber to dark lager marrying rich malt depth with noticeable yet balanced beechwood smoke.
6C – Dunkles Bock
Dark, malty‑sweet strong lager presenting smooth bread‑crust richness without burnt notes.
7A – Vienna Lager
Moderate‑strength amber lager offering soft, elegant malt complexity and a dry, balanced finish.
7B – Altbier
Copper‑brown, cool‑fermented ale with smooth malt, firm bitterness, and clean lager‑like finish.
8A – Munich Dunkel
Deeply malty, smooth dark lager emphasizing rich Munich malt without burnt roast. fileciteturn0file0
8B – Schwarzbier
Black German lager with moderate smooth roast, balanced bitterness, and no harshness.
9A – Doppelbock
Strong, very malty lager displaying layers of rich bread‑crust sweetness yet finishing smooth.
9B – Eisbock
Intensely rich and malty lager created by freeze‑concentrating a Doppelbock; warming and full‑bodied.
9C – Baltic Porter
Strong, smoothly malty dark lager featuring complex dark fruit, toffee and chocolate without burnt harshness.
10A – Weissbier
Pale, effervescent wheat ale bursting with banana‑clove yeast character and a refreshing dry finish.
10B – Dunkles Weissbier
Darker wheat ale blending banana‑clove yeast notes with bready‑toasty malt richness.
10C – Weizenbock
Strong, rich wheat ale combining Weissbier spice‑fruit profile with bock‑like malt depth.
11A – Ordinary Bitter
Low‑gravity copper ale balancing nutty‑caramel malt, earthy hops, and gentle fruit for supreme drinkability.
11B – Best Bitter
Balanced, flavorful English pale ale showcasing toasty malt, fruity esters, and firm hop bitterness.
11C – Strong Bitter
Fuller, stronger English bitter with elevated malt and hop intensity yet remaining balanced.
12A – British Golden Ale
Pale, refreshing, hop‑forward English ale with a dry finish and moderate to assertive bitterness.
12B – Australian Sparkling Ale
Effervescent straw‑to‑pale‑amber ale sporting subtle fruity yeast, light malt and high carbonation.
12C – English IPA
Hoppy, moderately strong English ale featuring earthy‑floral hops over supportive biscuit‑like malt.
13A – Dark Mild
Dark, session‑strength British ale with wide‑ranging caramel‑to‑light‑roast malt flavors and low bitterness.
13B – British Brown Ale
Malty, caramelly brown ale sans roast, offering nutty‑toffee depth and balanced sweetness.
13C – English Porter
Moderate‑strength dark brown ale melding chocolate‑caramel malt complexity with restrained roast bitterness.
14A – Scottish Light
Low‑alcohol, malt‑forward Scottish pint featuring caramel‑toffee malt and subtle roast dryness.
14B – Scottish Heavy
Moderately strong malt‑accented amber ale with caramel‑toasted bread flavors and gentle roast finish.
14C – Scottish Export
Fuller, richer malt showcase balancing caramel‑toffee sweetness with light roast and modest bitterness.
15A – Irish Red Ale
Easy‑drinking amber ale with soft toffee sweetness, light grainy‑biscuit notes, and a touch of roast dryness.
15B – Irish Stout
Black, roasty‑dry stout highlighting coffee‑like barley flavors over a light‑bodied, bitter base.
15C – Irish Extra Stout
Stronger, fuller Irish stout with heightened roast and bitterness yet smooth, creamy texture.
16A – Sweet Stout
Dark, creamy stout where moderate sweetness and lactose smooth rich roasted grains.
16B – Oatmeal Stout
Roasty‑chocolate stout balanced by silky oatmeal fullness and restrained bitterness.
16C – Tropical Stout
Sweet, full‑bodied stout with pronounced fruity esters and robust roast yet smooth finish.
16D – Foreign Extra Stout
Robust, high‑gravity stout combining intense roast, moderate bitterness, and noticeable warmth.
17A – British Strong Ale
Amber‑to‑dark ale of respectable strength showcasing rich malt, fruity esters, and optional hop or alcohol complexity.
17B – Old Ale
Malty, aged British ale with oxidative complexity, dark fruit, toffee and subdued hops.
17C – Wee Heavy
Rich, sweet caramel‑toffee Scotch ale with full body, warming alcohol and minimal hop presence.
17D – English Barley Wine
Intensely malty, fruity, warming ale meant for slow sipping and long contemplation.
18A – Blonde Ale
Pale, easy‑drinking American ale balancing light malt, fruity esters, and subtle hoppiness.
18B – American Pale Ale
Hop‑forward yet balanced pale ale delivering citrus‑pine hop flavor over clean toasty malt.
19A – American Amber Ale
Caramel‑rich amber ale with pronounced American hop flavor and firm bitterness. fileciteturn0file0
19B – California Common
Historically inspired amber lager‑beer fermented warm, blending toasty malt, woody hops and firm bitterness.
19C – American Brown Ale
Nutrient‑rich brown ale featuring chocolate‑nut malt flavors balanced by citrus‑resin hops.
20A – American Porter
Dark, chocolate‑coffee porter with moderate‑high bitterness and often significant hop character.
20B – American Stout
Strong, highly roasted, hoppy stout delivering bold coffee‑dark chocolate flavors and firm bitterness.
20C – Imperial Stout
Massive, intensely flavor‑packed stout combining deep roast, dark fruit, and significant alcohol warmth.
21A – American IPA
Bold, hop‑driven ale showcasing resinous‑citrus American hops over clean malt and dry finish.
21B – Specialty IPA
IPA base tweaked with specialty ingredients (rye, black malt, Belgian yeast, etc.) yielding distinct spin on hop‑centric style.
21C – Hazy IPA
Juicy, heavily dry‑hopped IPA with low bitterness, soft mouthfeel, and intense tropical fruit aroma.
22A – Double IPA
Very strong, intensely hoppy ale with enough clean malt to support high bitterness and alcohol.
22B – American Strong Ale
Hefty, malty‑rich American ale featuring assertive hops, evident alcohol and complex depth.
22C – American Barleywine
Huge, bittersweet amber‑to‑copper ale brimming with caramel malt, abundant hops, and warming alcohol.
22D – Wheatwine
Powerful, richly bready‑sweet ale incorporating significant wheat character alongside American hops.
23A – Berliner Weisse
Pale, highly effervescent, tart wheat ale of very low strength and refreshing acidity.
23B – Flanders Red Ale
Deep red‑brown, complexly sour ale rich in dark fruit, vinous notes, and oak aging character.
23C – Oud Bruin
Malty, caramel‑rich brown ale aged to develop gentle acidity, dark fruit and sherry‑like complexity.
23D – Lambic
Spontaneously fermented wheat beer displaying earthy funk and firm, citrusy acidity.
23E – Gueuze
Blend of young and old lambic creating sparkling, complexly funky‑tart, bone‑dry beer.
23F – Fruit Lambic
Lambic refermented with fruit, yielding bright fruitiness atop classic funky‑acidic base.
23G – Gose
Refreshing, lightly sour wheat beer accented by coriander spice and a touch of salinity.
24A – Witbier
Pale, hazy Belgian wheat ale with citrusy‑spicy coriander‑orange complexity and a crisp, tart finish.
24B – Belgian Pale Ale
Amber‑copper ale balancing toasty‑biscuit malt, gentle fruity‑spicy yeast and floral hops.
24C – Bière de Garde
Malty, malt‑layered Franco‑Belgian ale (pale to brown) with smooth lager‑like character and earthy cellar notes.
25A – Belgian Blond Ale
Golden, slightly sweet, fruity‑spicy ale finishing dry with soft alcohol warmth and subtle hops.
25B – Saison
Dry, highly carbonated farmhouse ale combining citrusy fruit, peppery spice, and firm hop bitterness.
25C – Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Pale, very highly attenuated ale with effervescent fruity‑spicy complexity, sneaky alcohol and crisp finish.
26A – Belgian Single
Pale, refreshing Trappist table beer showcasing grainy‑toasty malt, fruity spice and firm bitterness.
26B – Belgian Dubbel
Deep amber‑brown abbey ale rich in complex malt, dark fruit esters, and gentle warming.
26C – Belgian Tripel
Strong, pale, deceptively light‑bodied ale with vibrant fruit‑spice yeast profile and soft alcohol.
26D – Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Very strong, dark abbey ale melding rich malt, raisin‑fig fruitiness, peppery spice and smooth warmth.
27 – Historical Beer
Covers faithfully recreated or interpretive beers of extinct or rare styles; profile depends on declared tradition.
28A – Brett Beer
Base style fermented with Brettanomyces yielding funky fruit‑leather, barnyard, and dry complexity.
28B – Mixed‑Fermentation Sour Beer
Beer soured and funked via mixed cultures displaying layered acidity, Brett complexity and balance.
28C – Wild Specialty Beer
Mixed‑culture beer featuring specialty ingredients or processes producing unique funky‑sour expressions.
28D – Straight Sour Beer
Sour beer deriving character primarily from acid‑producing microbes rather than Brett funk.
29A – Fruit Beer
Base beer harmoniously integrated with distinctive fruit aroma, flavour and sometimes colour.
29B – Fruit and Spice Beer
Fruit beer complemented by spice or herb character, each supporting the base beer in balance.
29C – Specialty Fruit Beer
Fruit beer where fruit character dominates or an unusual fruit/base pairing is highlighted.
29D – Grape Ale
Beer incorporating grapes or must, merging vinous fruit notes with beer fermentation profile.
30A – Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
Beer enhanced with culinary spices/herbs/vegetables where added ingredients remain in harmony.
30B – Autumn Seasonal Beer
Malt‑forward, spice‑accented seasonal ale or lager evocative of fall harvest and cool weather.
30C – Winter Seasonal Beer
Strong, often darker beer featuring wintry spices, richer malt and warming alcohol.
30D – Specialty Spice Beer
Spiced beer where creative ingredient choices or processes create an unconventional profile.
31A – Alternative Grain Beer
Beer brewed with significant portion of non‑traditional grains (rice, rye, spelt, etc.) highlighting their character.
31B – Alternative Sugar Beer
Beer fermented with additional sugars (honey, molasses, etc.) imparting complementary flavour and dryness.
32A – Classic Style Smoked Beer
Recognisable base style brewed with smoked malt for balanced, style‑appropriate smoke character.
32B – Specialty Smoked Beer
Beer where smoke character, combined with specialty ingredients/processes, creates a unique profile.
33A – Wood‑Aged Beer
Beer aged in wood or on wood that contributes balanced oak‑derived flavours without other specialty additions.
33B – Specialty Wood‑Aged Beer
Wood‑aged beer featuring additional ingredients or intense wood/spirits character beyond base style.
34A – Commercial Specialty Beer
Entry category for unique commercial beers not otherwise captured, described by brewer for judging.
34B – Mixed‑Style Beer
Beer intentionally combining attributes of multiple classic styles into a harmonious hybrid.
34C – Experimental Beer
Catch‑all for innovative beers exploring novel ingredients, processes or concepts beyond defined styles.
X1 – Dorada Pampeana
Argentine golden ale featuring light malt, low bitterness and refreshing drinkability reminiscent of local lagers.
X2 – IPA Argenta
Argentine IPA showcasing native hops with floral‑spicy‑herbal notes over clean malt canvas.
X3 – Italian Grape Ale
Hybrid beer‑wine product where added grapes contribute vinous aroma, flavour and dryness atop diverse base styles.
X4 – Catharina Sour
Brazilian kettle‑soured wheat ale refermented with tropical fruit, yielding vibrant juicy acidity and low bitterness.
X5 – New Zealand Pilsner
Pale, crisp lager explosively flavoured with New Zealand hops imparting tropical, white‑grape and citrus notes.
