For our tasting we bought 32 New Zealand and Australian beers readily available in supermarkets and bottle stores. We also included Guinness, to see how our down-under stouts stack up against the famous Irish favourite.
The beers were grouped according to beer style, and were tasted "blind". Our panel scored them out of 20 for appearance, aroma, flavour and body, and overall impression.
Consumer tastings differ from industry beer tastings. We buy our beer from shops just like consumers do - most other tastings use beer chosen by the brewery. And our judges are a mix of professionals and experienced amateurs.
Our judges
- Geoff Griggs: Beer writer and commentator.
- Colin Paige: Head Brewer for Mac's Brewery. International beer judge. Will be judging the American Beer Awards 2008.
- Kylie Hutchby: Brewer for DB Breweries. BrewNZ judge 2006.
- Martin Craig: Freelance writer. Member of Society of Beer Advocates. Home brewer. Studying for International Beer Judge Certification.
- Cherie Bulley: Sensory scientist. Beer enthusiast.
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