Student brew makes national top30 list
THE beer brewing expertise at Otago Polytechnic Te Pu¯ kenga has spilled over once again, with Otago Brew School gaining a place in the 2023
Beer and Cider Awards Top 30.
Otago Brew School’s ‘‘Klassenbester’’ Dunkelweizen, which won a silver medal at the Brewers Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards 2022, has again tickled the tastebuds of judges.
The Beer & Cider Awards Top 30 announced earlier this week features some of the country’s biggest names.
More than 700 beers, ciders and other fermented delights from around the country and the world entered the competition, and it took an independent panel of 29 expert judges two days to whittle the field down to the very best brews.
Taupo’s Lakeman Breweries won the top spot for their Primate Pilsner.
The Otago Brew School, a handson Cromwellbased learning environment for students at the polytechnic, made the grade with their classic dark wheat beer Klassenbester Dunkelweizen.
‘‘Our Klassenbester Dunkelweizen has been brewed for the last four years, and has always proved popular with people at beer festivals,’’ lecturer Geoff Collie said.
‘‘The banana fruit esters typical of the style are mainly due to the yeast type used, as well as the wheat content of the beer,’’ Mr Collie said.
‘‘I think this latest acknowledgement highlights our programme, as well as our philosophy of teaching students how to brew beers that are true to style.
‘‘The recipes and ingredients are what would usually be expected for each style.
‘‘We then apply good brewing practice and processes to make the best beer we can.
‘‘Students are involved as understudies to our brewing staff in making these commercial beers,’’ he said.
‘‘Students assist in brewing as part of their practical learning, but are overseen by our tutors to ensure the brewing and fermenting is completed correctly.’’