• You’re able to supply the minimum volume within the required timeframe
• If you’re awarded a Top 25 position, the product being supplied to Foodstuffs DC must be from the same production facility (brewery) as the samples submitted for judging, and be the same recipe, using the same ingredients and of the same discernible quality as that entered for judging.
• The product is packaged and labelled for retail sale with both a product barcode and an outer case barcode that have a Barcode Verification Report completed by GS1
• The product is manufactured under current food safety certification
• Entries imported from overseas must have a New Zealand distributor and have the minimum volume requirement in New Zealand by 11th August 2025.
• For non-standard beer and cider products (for example alcoholic ginger beer), due to the long approval times entries must be approved as grocery/supermarket compliant by Foodstuffs North Island and South Island legal teams prior to judging.

Please note, Foodstuffs is supporting industry moves to outers of 12 for single bottles and cans. 

If you have any queries on these points, please contact Nadia Narot on [email protected]

Entries will be confirmed by email on Monday 28 April 2025. This communication will include instructions for sending samples and labels to be printed to apply.  

Samples must be received by Friday 9 May. Late samples can be accepted until Friday 16 May by arrangement.

8 x sample bottles or cans are required for products containing 500ml or less.

6 x sample bottles or cans are required for products containing more than 500ml.

4 x sample riggers, growlers or crowlers of at least 500ml each are required ONLY class 12 unpackaged entries.

Each entry must be submitted for judging in its retail packaging, except for entries into Class 12 only, where riggers, growlers or crowlers of at least 500mL each are permitted. No other classes permit tank or barrel samples to be entered.

Yes, new beers and ciders may be entered for judging without a “finished” label. However, the samples must have a temporary label –  see point 33 of the T&C for an example. A copy of the proposed label may be attached to the samples.

If the beer or cider is selected for the Top 25 it must be fully labelled and available for photography by 2nd June 2025. This includes entries in Class 12 that are unpackaged at time of judging.

All results will be confirmed by email to the address provided on the entry form on Thursday 22 May.  All results are confidential and embargoed until the New World Beer & Cider Awards public announcement. The dates of lifting the embargo will be confirmed by email from the Competition Director.  

The Competition Director will email the supplier of each Top 25 product on 22nd May with the good news. You will be asked to confirm your product(s) complies with the entry criteria listed above.

You’ll have until midday 24th May  to confirm these points. If everything stacks up, you’re in the Top 25 nationwide promotion! Foodstuffs will guide you through the process step by step.

If your beer or cider is selected for the Top 25 but doesn’t meet the entry criteria, the product won’t be eligible for the New World Beer & Cider Awards promotion. As a result, it will be awarded Highly Commended, and the next highest ranked product will take its place in the Top 25.

Yes. Medal stickers showing the Top 25 and Highly Commended awards will be supplied. They can be put on beers and ciders of the same recipe, using the same ingredients, brewed at the same location and of the same discernible quality as that entered for judging. 

You’ll receive your award certificates and a roll of 1,000 medal stickers for each winning product in early April. The cost of these stickers is included in the entry fee. Medal stickers can only be applied after the lifting of the public embargo. 

If you wish to incorporate the medal sticker into your label design or advertising, please contact  [email protected]

This category encourages brewers to think outside the box by incorporating unconventional ingredients into their brewing process. The goal is to break free from traditional methods, infusing beers with surprising and creative elements that offer unique flavor profiles and extraordinary drinking experiences.

By using unexpected ingredients—whether it’s fruits, herbs, spices, or even something more unconventional like pickle juice or marshmallow—brewers can create beers that stand apart from the norm. The possibilities are endless, resulting in beers that are not only flavorful but also intriguing and fun to drink.

Examples of “Weird & Wonderful” beers might include:

• Chocolate Thickshake Stout
• Manuka Smoked Lager
• Lychee Lemon Ice-cream Sour

This category isn’t just about experimentation; it’s about pushing boundaries to deliver exceptional, memorable brews that surprise and delight drinkers.

For this class, we’re pleased to offer the flexibility of accepting unpackaged samples for judging. This allows brewers to present their most innovative creations without the need for packaging constraints, with entries permitted in bulk form (such as rigger, growler, or crowler of 500mL or more). If an entry is selected in the Top 25, it must then meet all standard packaging and criteria as outlined in the official Terms & Conditions. Only beers that demonstrate true creativity and flavor innovation will be considered for the final stage of judging.