Media Release 22 Aug
ust 2012
Roaring Success For Lion With Eight Medals At Brewers Guild Awards
The Sutton Group Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards have been announced with Lion scooping one gold, four silver and
three bronze medals across its Steinlager, Speight’s and Mac’s brands. Mac’s Isaac’s Cider enjoyed particular success,
winning gold for its Apple Cider and bronze for its latest creation, Winter Cider.
Lion won the following medals:
Gold – Isaac’s Apple Cider (Cider and Perry Styles)
Silver – Mac’s Gold (New Zealand Specific Styles)
Silver – Mac’s Black Mac (Stout and Porter Styles)
Sliver – Mac’s Spring Tide (International Lager Styles)
Silver – Steinlager Pure (International Lager Styles)
Bronze – Isaac’s Winter Cider (Cider and Perry Styles)
Bronze – Speight’s Gold Medal Ale (New Zealand Specific Styles)
Bronze – Steinlager Premium Light (European Lager Styles)
Lion first entered the cider market in 2009 under the Mac’s brand. Just as the apple fell down and hit Isaac Newton
square on the head, Mac’s enjoyed an equally splendid flash of inspiration and launched its apple cider using New
Zealand grown apples which was an instant hit with consumers. Since then Mac’s has expanded its range to include four
different flavours, the latest being Winter Cider (served warm or chilled), which launched in May this year. “We are
delighted to keep winning awards as it recognises our unwavering commitment to brewing beers and ciders of the highest
quality. These awards acknowledge the outstanding skill and dedication of our team of world class brewers,” says Danny
Phillips, Brand Director at Lion.
“In particular, our entry into the cider market is still fairly recent so it’s great to receive industry accolades for
our efforts so early on. Given the huge amount of media attention in craft beer at the moment, it’s also fantastic to
see that Mac’s, New Zealand’s original craft beer brand, continues to stand toe to toe with the many newer craft beers
entered into the awards. We’re also pleased that the Steinlager and Speight’s brands continue to be recognised as
providing beers of outstanding quality, as they have over their long and proud histories.” In its eleventh year, the
Awards continued to be strongly contested with 460 entries in 2012. The Awards were handed out at a gala evening in
Wellington last Thursday hosted by the iconic entertainer Te Radar.
ENDS