Brewer caps a vintage year

It has been a good year for Blenheim beer brewer Soren Eriksen.

He married his sweetheart, Monique, who is expecting their first child next month, he took home a five-figure sum after winning his second consecutive national poker title, and now he has proof that he has brewed one of the best beers in New Zealand.

Mr Eriksen's 8 Wired label won three medals and his smoked porter The Big Smoke was named overall trophy winner in the Flavoured and Aged Styles category at the BrewNZ Awards in Wellington on Thursday.

As well as a gold medal for The Big Smoke, Mr Eriksen also received silver for The Big Hangi, a brew similar to The Big Smoke, but with some of the malt replaced with smoked kumara. India pale ale Hopwired won bronze.

Mr Eriksen said he was "very, very pleased" with his results, especially since he has been brewing professionally for only two years.

"I've got no complaints. It's been quite an amazing year."

Born in Denmark, he came to New Zealand seven years ago and settled in Blenheim on and off while working as a biochemist in Auckland.

He was involved in homebrewing for three years, before turning his hobby into a full-time job when he moved to Blenheim to get commercial experience at Renaissance Brewing Company, he said.

8 Wired was established in October last year.

He doesn't miss his old career.

"It's every homebrewer's dream to start up your own brewery, and that was my dream as well.

"It's a lot more fun being out there actually doing the things than sitting in a lab researching it."

His good fortune looks likely to continue, with Mr Eriksen in talks to export 8 Wired beer to the United States and Australia before the end of the year.

His employer, Renaissance Brewing Company, also enjoyed success at Thursday's awards, taking three silver medals for its Stonecutter's Scotch Ale, Marlborough Pale Ale and Craftsman Chocolate Stout.

The company also won bronze medals for its Paradox Blonde and Perfection Pale Ale.

Owner Brian Thiel said he was pleased with the success of both Renaissance and 8 Wired.

- The Marlborough Express

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