New Zealand's best beers are being celebrated at the annual Brewer's Guild International Beer Awards this evening – so who came out on top?

The Brewers Guild of New Zealand fielded a record–breaking 858 entries into their 9th annual International Beer Awards this year, with the winners being announced at a gala dinner in Auckland's Sky City this evening.

While Martin Townshend's one–man brewery took out last year's top award, this year Lion Breweries beat out the competition to be named New Zealand's best.

Fifty-nine Gold Medals, 159 Silver Medals and 243 Bronze Medals were awarded by a panel of 25 qualified judges, who assessed each beer on how well it exemplified its particular style as well as its balance of taste, aroma and appearance. 

THE WINNERS

• Champion New Zealand Brewery: Lion Breweries
• Champion International Brewery: Castlemaine Perkins (Aus)
• Champion Manufacturer: Steam Brewing
• Morton Coutts Trophy: Gladfield Malt
• BGNZ Beer Writer of the Year: Jono Galuszka (for his column From Drinker To Brewer published by the Manawatu Standard)
   
• ​International Lager: Lion, Beck’s (Auckland)
• New Zealand Lager: Panhead Custom Ales (Wellington), Port Road Pilsner
• British Ale: Mike’s (Taranaki), Organic Ale
• ​​European Ale: Garage Project (Wellington), Tournesol
• US Ale: Bach Brewing (Auckland), Duskrider Red IPA
• Pale Ale: Fork Brewing (Wellington), Godzone Beat
• Strong Pale Ale: Epic (Auckland), Armageddon IPA
• Stout and Porter: Raindogs Brewing Co. (Christchurch), Singularity Imperial Stout
• Wheat and Other Grain: DB Breweries (Auckland), Black Dog – Blizzard
• Flavoured and Aged: Good George Brewing (Hamilton), Blueberry Gose
• Specialty, Experimental, Aged, Barrel, Wood-Aged: Garage Project (Wellington), Wabi Sabi
• Cider or Perry: Forbidden Brewing Co. (Auckland), Simply Apple Cider
• Fruit or Flavoured Cider or Perry: Lion (Auckland), Isaac’s Apple Cider
• Packaging: McCashin’s Brewery (Nelson), Stoke Amber 330ml 6pk