Croucher Brewing wins Champion International Lager

Croucher Brewing wins 'Champion International Lager' at 2010 BrewNZ Awards

Rotorua's award-winning craft brewery has taken out the Champion International Lager trophy with Croucher Pilsner at the BrewNZ Awards held in Wellington Thursday night.

One of the glamour categories of the awards, the International Lager category encompasses 21 classes and sub-classes, including (interestingly) the highly prized New Zealand Pilsner category that Croucher Pilsner entered. New Zealand Pilsner is a style based around showcasing New Zealand grown hops, and Croucher Pilsner is PACKED full of Nelson-grown Motueka and Riwaka hops.

Croucher Pilsner won Gold in the New Zealand Pilsner class, and then was awarded the Trophy for Champion International lager. It is worth noting that Croucher Pilsner was the only Gold Medal awarded across the whole category, which included entries from around New Zealand as well as some of the biggest and best breweries from around the world.

Brewer Paul Croucher was over the moon upon hearing the result, “This is a massive achievement for a small brewery like us. We were really confident that this was a good beer, but you just never know with awards. The feedback we have been getting from customers and beer fans is that it is a bit special, so it is nice to have now also been acknowledged by our industry peers.”

Co-owner Nigel Gregory commented “It would be fair to say we screamed with delight and danced around the room when we heard our Pilsner had been named Champion in its category. When we brew, our first priority is making beers that we love ourselves, as opposed to trying to fit neatly into a particular beer category, so it is nice that we have managed to do both. It really is a delicious hoppy beer that we are immensely proud of.”

Chief Judge at BrewNZ, David Logsdon from the USA, says that the 2010 BrewNZ Beer Awards hosted the largest field of entries ever, surpassing last year’s competitions by a great margin. “Brewers from around the world competed with the best of New Zealand beers in a world class challenge. The results show that New Zealand stands tall amongst the best beers in the world.”

Croucher Pilsner:
Tasting Notes:
A pioneer of style, this New Zealand Pilsner is a showcase for New Zealand Motueka and Riwaka hops. The up-front fruity (grapefruit and passion fruit) hit from the hops is balanced with biscuity malts to produce a perfect union. Particularly luscious! 5% alc/vol
Recognition:
• Champion International Lager, BrewNZ Awards 2010
• Rated 93/100, and awarded 5 Stars by Bob Campbell, MW

The Croucher Brewing Company
Croucher Brewing opened the doors of its Rotorua-based craft brewery in 2006, and since then has built a reputation and following amongst craft beer drinkers in New Zealand for producing big flavoured beers that showcase New Zealand hops.
Croucher Brewing achieved worldwide media coverage in October 2007 when after having the brewery burgled it offered a life time supply of its craft beer in exchange for the safe return of the company's laptop computer. Croucher Brewing was named Rotorua's Emerging Business Of The Year in 2007.

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