A Nelson brewery has been named New Zealand's best.

Townshend Brewery has been crowned champion at last night Brewersâ Guild of New Zealand Beer Awards in Wellington.

A record 670 beers from 84 breweries competed across 15 different categories.

Townshend's founder and brewer, Martin Townshend, says it seems like only yesterday he created his first brew in a shed.

Founded in 2005, Townshend Brewery remains a one-person operation, producing about 50-thousand litres of beer per year.