Dave Kurth's known for a long time his beer is really good, and now he's got the medals to prove it to Whenuakite locals.

The Hot Water Brewing Co. picked up gold, silver and bronze medals at the recent Brewer Guild of New Zealand awards.

Hot Water Brewing Co head brewer Dave Kurth with wife Keren at the recent Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards. Photo: Big Mark Photography.

The small brewery was awarded gold in the British Ale Styles category for their 2014 Barley Wine, silver in the US Ale Styles category for their About Time IPA, and bronze in the Stout & Porter Styles category for their Walker's Porter.

Dave is the head brewer and says they're over the moon that of the five beers they entered, three were awarded medals.

'Everyone's pretty stoked, it's justifying to know that all our hard work is being recognised.

'We've only been running for a year so it's really good to know things are going right from the start.”

Dave says locals he's spoken too are pretty pleased too and the medals backed up what he's been telling them – 'that this beer is really good”.

This year's Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards saw a big rise in entries with 670 from 84 breweries, 74 of which were Kiwi companies.

The judging was held in Christchurch and each beer was tasted by 26 judges, plus five trainee judges, over three days.

Winners were announced two weeks later at Beervana in Wellington.

While most breweries submit their entries in kegs Hot Water Brewing Co. sent theirs in cans, keeping with their ethos that 'good beer does come in cans”.

'The two main things that degrade beer are light and oxygen, but cans keep both out completely.

'They're better to transport, take up less space, and better to take places where I like to drink beer, such as the beach or out on the boat where and glass isn't practical.”

He's yet to receive the judges feedback on his beers but you can guarantee Dave will be going over all the comments with a magnifying glass.

The feedback will provide reasons why Dave's other two beers – the Golden Steamer Ale and Kauri Falls Pale Ale – did not medal.

He'll also learn what it will take to his silver and bronze medals into gold, says Dave.

'The reason why I enter my beers into competition is to get feedback from people who really know what they're talking about.

'At the end of the day I want to improve my beers, I'm always looking to make them better.”

If you want to taste Hot Water Brewing Co's beers head down to the Thames Beervasion Craft Beer and Cider Expo, on at the Thames Civic Centre this weekend.

Dave and his team will be showcasing their ranges of beer and it's certainly something not to be missed.