Journalists, writers, bloggers, broadcasters and other communicators have one month to enter the Guild’s annual awards ahead of the closing date on 10th September.
At the same time, Fuller, Smith & Turner have stepped to sponsor the Award for Best Young Beer Writer, meaning the category now offers a Gold and Silver prize. The category is open to all writers or other communicators aged 35 or younger as of 31 August this year, and who have been writing about beer for no more than two years.
Fuller’s join our other sponsors: Adnams, Asahi UK, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, Greene King, HEINEKEN, Shepherd Neame, SIBA and VisitFlanders. The total prize fund now stands at an all-time high of £15,000.
All entries will be judged on how well they further the Guild’s mission “to extend public knowledge and appreciation of beer and pubs”. Entrants can submit to 13 categories, which include a new award this year for Best Book about Beer and Pubs.
Judging is carried out by a panel chaired by Emma Inch, Guild Chair; Keith Bott, MD of Titanic Brewery; Sarah Bridge, founder of the A Lady of Leisure travel website and former Mail on Sunday correspondent; Joanna Copestick, publisher at Kyle Books; Matt Eley, communications consultant and former editor of Inapub magazine; Paul Hegarty, Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group; Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association; Ned Palmer, cheesemonger and author; Valentine Warner, chef, writer and broadcaster and Georgina Young, brewing director at St Austell Brewery.
The Guild will publish a shortlist for all categories in November, and winners and runners up for each will be unveiled at the Awards Dinner. One category winner will go on to win the overall Beer Writer of the Year Award and the Guild also will also name its Brewer of the Year, sponsored by SIBA, based on votes cast by Guild members.
The Guild Awards Dinner will be held on 2 December at One Great George Street, Victoria. Tickets for members and guests will go on sale on the Guild website later this year.
Full details of all categories, and advice on how to submit entries, can be found on the Guild’s website. Entries must be received via our dedicated entry website by the closing date of 10 September and works submitted must have been published between 1 October 2020 and 31 August 2021.
This year’s categories
- Greene King Award for Best Beer Writer, National Media
- Adnams Award for Best Beer Writer, Regional Media
- Heineken UK Award for Best Beer Communicator, Online
- Asahi UK Award for Best Beer Broadcaster
- Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I Award for Best Writing about No and Low Alcohol Beers
- Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company Award for Best Writing about Sustainability in Beer and Pubs
- VisitFlanders Award for Best Beer and Travel Writer
- Shepherd Neame Award for Best Writing about Pubs
- Fuller, Smith & Turner Award for Best Young Beer Writer
- NEW FOR 2021: Guild Award for Best Book about Beer or Pubs
- Guild Award for Best Beer Writer, Trade Media
- Guild Award for Best Citizen Beer Communicator
- Guild Award for Best Beer Writer, Corporate Communications
- SIBA Brewer of the Year Award (by member vote)