The Emerson Brewing Company, of Dunedin, won the trophy for the champion wheat beer at the prestigious Australian International Beer Awards on Thursday, but those keen to sample a drop will have to wait.
The winning beer, Weizenbock, is a seasonal beer usually produced around August.
Company spokeswoman Jane Hyde said brewer Richard Emerson and general manager Bob King, who were in Melbourne for the awards ceremony, were "absolutely thrilled" at their success.
Texts had been "flying across the Tasman" as the ceremony unfolded on Thursday night.
The champion beer was relatively new to the brewery's range, Ms Hyde said.
The 8% alcohol beer is described as a strong and malty offering which is rich, full-bodied and warming and should be served at 8degC.
The awards, the largest in the southern hemisphere, attracted 1170 entries from 34 countries.
International breweries won 11 of the 15 trophies, with the champion exhibitor trophy being awarded to a Norwegian boutique brewery.
Emerson's was the only New Zealand beer to win a champion award, although Scotts Pale Ale, brewed in Auckland, received a champion packaging award for its six-pack holder.
Emerson also received a gold medal (weizenbock), two silver medals (Bookbinder and Weissbier) and a bronze medal (organic pilsner).
