Tekapo has top NZ beer

Takapō/Tekapo has the best drop of beer in the country, and it’s official. Burkes Brewing Co won the Brewers Guild’s champion NZ beer award, with its Unforgiven Porter heading off 839 entries. Brewer and coowner Sebastian Burke operates the Blue Lake Eatery & Bar in Lake Tekapo with his wife, Jacinda, and he dreamt up the winning recipe on a staff event to Queenstown. ‘‘It’s just a classic dry porter without being too roasty.’’