The craft brewing industry in the Bay of Plenty is bubbling along nicely after winning some major prizes at the 2016 Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards.

Crouchers Brewing won two gold medals for its ‘Lowrider' IPA and Pale Ale, a silver for its ‘ANZUS' IPA and a bronze for its Pilsner.

The Rotorua Brewery's 2.5 per cent low alcohol ‘Lowrider' received the trophy for best specialty beer. The brewery is co-owned by Paul Croucher from Rotorua and Nigel Gregory from Tauranga.

'The Lowrider was so innovative when we created it, a lower alcohol beer with a massive flavour,” says Nigel.

And Paul Croucher thinks the judges were surprised at the flavour they packed in.

The award winning Crouchers beers can be supped at their pubs, BREW Tauranga on The Strand and BREW Rotorua on Eat Streat.

Crouchers has an interesting back story in that Paul Croucher and Nigel Gregory left well paid academic and corporate careers with the dream of making craft beers in the Bay Of Plenty. After a lot of hard work the dream became a reality.

Below is a full list of Bay of Plenty successes at the Guild awards:

Croucher Brewing - Trophy (Lowrider IPA), Gold (Pale Ale + Lowrider IPA), Silver (ANZUS IPA), Bronze (Pilsner).

Rocky Knob - Silver (Code Brown), Bronze (Oceanside Amber + Rock Lobster)

Hot Water Brewing Co - Silver (Barley Wine 2014), Bronze (Golden Steamer Ale)

Aotearoa Breweries - Silver (BOP Lager)

Mount Brewing Co - Bronze (India Pale Ale)

There were 946 beers from 98 breweries entered across 14 beer categories. A total of 88 New Zealand breweries were entered, joining 10 breweries from Australia, Germany and the United States.

Brewers Guild president Emma McCashin says brewing in New Zealand has grown into an innovative, sophisticated and valuable sector.

'Our breweries are producing amazing beer with a uniquely Kiwi flavour and vision.

"It's a sector chock-full of talented and passionate people, from small operations right the way through to the biggest."