Christchurch, New Zealand – March 4, 2025
The Brewers Guild of New Zealand is thrilled to announce that the Brewers Guild and Australian International Beer Awards Trainee Judge Scholarship for 2025 has been awarded to Sebastian Burke from Burkes Brewing Co in Tekapo. This marks the second year of the scholarship, which runs alongside the Guild’s successful Steward to Judge programme. Both initiatives are aimed at supporting and growing New Zealand’s beer judging talent.
Sebastian has been a participant in the Guild’s Steward to Judge programme over the past few years, serving both as a steward and trainee judge, as he navigates his journey to becoming a judge. His dedication to the process and passion for beer judging have been evident, making him a deserving recipient of this scholarship. Sebastian has been involved in the industry for 10 years.
Melanie Kees, Executive Director of the Brewers Guild, expressed her excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity for a second year, and we are really pleased for Sebastian who has shown dedication over the past few years on his beer judging journey. The Guild is committed to supporting the development of new judges, and we really appreciate our relationship with the Melbourne Royal team, who are a key part of this collaboration.”
Sebastian will travel to Melbourne in early May to join 74 other judges at the Australian International Beer Awards, the largest annual beer competition in the world. There, he will be judging both draught and packaged beer, further honing his skills and contributing to the industry.
The Guild would also like to acknowledge the judging panel who selected the winner, as well as the trainee judges who applied for this year’s scholarship.
For more information, please contact: Melanie Kees Executive Director, Brewers Guild of New Zealand Email: melanie@brewersguild.org.nz
