Scholarship recipient announced

Brewers Guild of New Zealand announce AIBA’s Trainee Judge Scholarship recipient.

The Brewers Guild of New Zealand is thrilled to announce that the Brewers Guild and Australian International Beer Awards Trainee Judge Scholarship for 2024 has been awarded to Bernard Wyatt of Panhead Brewery in Wellington.

This is the first year that the scholarship has been offered and is intended to run alongside our successful Steward to Judge programme, both of which have the common goal of supporting and growing New Zealand’s beer judging talent.

Bernard, who has been in the industry for over 9 years in various roles, is currently employed as Innovation Brewer at Panhead, and has judged in several competitions in New Zealand, including as a Trainee Judge at the New Zealand Beer Awards last year.

Melanie Kees, Executive Director of the Brewer Guild said, “We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to Bernard, and to other trainee judges in the future.  While New Zealand punches above its weight when it comes to beer and to beer judges, it is important for the industry and for our own competition that we support the development of new judges. It’s a unique opportunity for a Kiwi trainee judge and we are looking forward to seeing the benefits of such a collaboration”.

Bernard will travel to Melbourne in early May and will take his place alongside 74 other judges at what is the largest annual beer competition in the world, judging both draught and packaged beer.

The Guild would also like to acknowledge the team at Melbourne Royal, who manage the Australian International Beer Awards, who worked alongside the Guild to make this opportunity a reality.