E-Malt.com News article: New Zealand: Monteith’s Winter Ale wins bronze

DB Breweries announced on December 1 that Monteith’s Winter Ale has surpassed some of the world’s top beers to win the bronze medal at the recent Brewing Industry International Awards in Munich.

The spicy seasonal brew was awarded third place in the International Speciality Beers Competition, a category for beers with special ingredients and up to 11.5% alcohol. The annual competition is widely recognised as the most competitive and prestigious in the brewing world. The Monteith’s team including Brewer Doug Banks, who first brewed Winter Ale as a seasonal release in April of this year, are ecstatic with the result.

“There were 752 individual beer entries competing for 81 medals so as you can imagine to be awarded a bronze medal is a wonderful compliment to our desire to brew rather innovative beers. “What made the win so much more special is that Monteith's Winter Ale is only 6% (alcohol by volume) beer and is very lightly spiced (to meet New Zealand tastes) when compared with its competitors. As you can imagine, we were unsure how this would be received by international judges with international palates,” says Doug.

The Brewing Industry International Awards have been held since 1886 and only three medals are awarded in each class; gold, silver and bronze, keeping each win that much more special. Judging is undertaken by some the most prestigious international practicing brewers. With its unique cinnamon flavour Monteith’s Winter Ale was entered into the International Speciality Beers Competition for beers up to 11.5% alcohol by volume. The medal backs up what the New Zealand public already know - that Monteith’s Winter Ale is a great beer. Launched in May 2005, Monteith’s Winter Ale was designed to be enjoyed over the winter months and with traditional winter foods. By mid-August supplies of Monteith’s Winter Ale sold out, six weeks earlier than anticipated. Jacqui Jones, brand manager for Monteith’s Brewing Company says, “Monteith’s is absolutely rapt with the public response to Winter Ale. We really challenged people’s perceptions of what can be done with a beer by including different flavours such as cinnamon and serving the ale at 8 - 10 degrees. This award confirms that New Zealanders really know how to pick a great beer.”

Monteith’s is well known for creating top quality craft beer year-round and regularly adding limited release seasonal and specialty brews. Monteith’s Summer Ale is a seasonal release available in stores now and Monteith’s Winter Ale will be available again in May 2006. The last New Zealand beer to win a medal at the Brewing Industry International Awards was Monteith’s Celtic Red in 2002 which won a Gold medal in the bottled ale category.


02 December, 2005