THE FINE PRINT
SPIRIT
The GABS Hottest 100 is all about the consumer, the craft drinker that makes the beer world go round all year. This is their chance to celebrate their personal selection of the five best beers they enjoyed over the last 12 months. The consumer is the reason our brewers get out of bed in the morning and we encourage all breweries to give you the pleasure of casting votes for the beers they loved in a fun people choice poll.
VOTING
Only one vote (for five different beers) is permitted per person, and a valid email address must be submitted for each vote to be counted. GABS reserves the right to remove votes, or voting behaviour, that appear to break this rule, be manufactured, or we deem to be false or not in the spirit of the poll. Voting closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 18 January 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
Beers must have been brewed in New Zealand and sold in kegs, cans or bottles in the 2025 calendar year and meet the eligibility criteria.
CAN’T FIND ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE BEERS?
If a beer isn’t appearing in our list, it means the brewery hasn’t registered it yet.
To help get it added, please complete the Consumer Nomination info on the voting portal. We’ll pass your nomination straight on to the brewery so they know there’s demand for it and that they should register it, if it meets the qualifying criteria.
CRAFT STATUS
New Zealand beer brands deemed as ‘non-craft’ and International craft brands brewed in New Zealand are ineligible.
OWNERSHIP
New Zealand craft brands brewed by multinational companies or supermarket chains are eligible.
INCENTIVES
No brands or breweries other than GABS are permitted to offer prizes, incentives or inducements of any value in exchange for votes for beers, or promote the poll in a way that could be perceived as such. Brands and breweries are not permitted to ask for proof of votes. If you are offered an incentive or asked for proof of voting, you can report it to [email protected]
BREACH
Any breaches of the above terms, intentional or otherwise, will lead to the brand/brewery and/or voter being disqualified. GABS and its appointed auditiors decisions on all matters related to the integrity of the poll is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
SUBSCRIPTION
By registering to vote, you are subscribing to the GABS mailing list in order to receive your vote confirmation and will receive marketing communications from us from time to time in accordance with the GABS Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.