Last month, the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver announced its winner for the best New Zealand IPA of 2024, highlighting the growing popularity of this beer style. With over 100 U.S.-brewed New Zealand IPAs entered into the competition, the festival remains one of the most prestigious beer contests in the world.
Gold Medal Winner: More Than A Zealand by Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.
Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. from Golden, Colorado, emerged victorious with its New Zealand IPA, More Than A Zealand, earning the gold medal. This beer is noted for its dry finish and flavors of papaya, peach, and tangerine. The brewery also garnered a silver medal in the pale ale category for Featherweight. In an Instagram post celebrating their achievements, the brewery expressed excitement and gratitude, congratulating fellow competitors as well.
Silver Medal Winner: Wannabe Wallaby by Riip Beer Co.
The silver medal was awarded to Wannabe Wallaby, brewed by Riip Beer Co. in Huntington Beach, California. This beer creatively combines North American hop varieties, HBC586 and Mosaic, to capture the essence of New Zealand hop flavors. Previously, Wannabe Wallaby won gold at the 2024 World Beer Cup, solidifying Riip Beer Co.’s reputation for excellence in brewing.
Bronze Medal Winner: Wastelandia by Grains of Wrath
Wastelandia, a West Coast IPA from Grains of Wrath in Camas, Washington, took home the bronze medal. Despite its classification, it exhibits characteristics typical of a New Zealand IPA, with tasting notes of strawberry, grapefruit, cherry, and peach. Wastelandia has also experienced success in competitions, having previously won a silver medal at the 2024 World Beer Cup.
Understanding New Zealand IPAs
The New Zealand IPA style is characterized by fruity and floral notes, primarily derived from hop varieties like Nelson Sauvin. However, the GABF guidelines do not mandate specific hops, allowing for a blend of low to medium malt intensity, a dry finish, and a high hop aroma featuring citrus, floral, and fruity notes. This flexibility often leads to overlaps with other IPA categories, creating a nuanced landscape in craft brewing.
As the popularity of New Zealand IPAs continues to rise, the GABF serves as a significant platform for breweries to showcase their innovations and celebrate the artistry of beer making.
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