Heaven’s Brewery Wins National Recognition for Award-Winning Dark Lager

Local brewer Ben Heaven, founder of Heaven’s Brewery, has put Northland on the national craft-beer map after winning a coveted spot in the Top 25 at the 2025 New World Beer & Cider Awards.

His creation, the Judas Sheep Dark Lager, impressed judges with its rich, Czech-style character ~ balancing notes of chocolate, toast, and subtle smoke with a satisfying roasty bitterness that lingers.

Selected from over 650 entries nationwide, the win marks a huge milestone for the small, independent brewery nestled in rural Marua, just north of Hikurangi.

“It’s pretty unreal,” said Ben Heaven. “We brew everything here by hand, with local ingredients and a lot of heart. To have Judas Sheep recognised among the best in New Zealand is an incredible feeling.”

The beer’s cheeky name is inspired by the “Judas sheep” used in high-country farming ~ a trained sheep that leads others into pens or shearing sheds. Ben says the name reflects the beer’s mix of charm and attitude, much like the Northland spirit itself.

Since the win, Heaven’s Brewery has seen a surge of interest from craft-beer lovers across the country, eager to taste one of New Zealand’s best dark lagers.

Heaven’s Brewery continues to brew a range of unique, small-batch beers from its Marua base ~ combining Northland’s pure water, local ingredients, and plenty of creative flair.