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10th March 2021

SIBA Business Awards 2021 Finalists revealed: The UK’s leading independent craft beer businesses

The Finalists in the prestigious SIBA Business Awards 2021 have today been revealed, naming the the UK’s best independent craft brewing businesses, beer retailers, pubs, bars, restaurants and bottle shops across the UK.

Two new categories were added this year for Covid Brewery Initiative and Covid Supplier Initiative, seeking to highlight brewing and supplier businesses going the extra mile to not only keep their own business afloat, but support employees, customers and fellow businesses through an incredibly challenging 12 months for the industry.

“The entries this year were varied and of a hugely high quality, which given the current pressure facing the beer and brewing industry is all the more impressive. As well as the two new catgeories for Covid initiatives the SIBA Business Awards 2021 congratulate excellence in the brewing industry across a variety of subjects, and this year was no different, with amazing innovation and business accumen on display. Huge congratulations to all of the Finalists and the very best of luck during the awards presentation next week.” Neil Walker, SIBA Business Awards Chair of Judges.

The winners are set to be announced via a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday 18th March, closing out this year’s BeerX Online 2021, itself an online version of SIBA’s flagship BeerX UK trade show and conference – the UK’s biggest beer and brewing trade event.

The awards ceremony will be hosted by beer writer and presenter Jonny Garrett—co-creator of the Craft Beer Channel and the British Guild of Beer Writers’ ‘Beer Writer of the Year 2020’—broadcast live to YouTube with awards finalists and sponsors joining live via video link.

The SIBA Business Awards are unique in being both free to enter and judged by a panel of independent beer industry experts, managed by not-for-profit trade association the Society of Independent Brewers. The craft beer retailing, restaurant and bar categories highlight the fantastic work being done to promote British independent craft beer, and are open for entry by businesses across the UK.

This year’s Business Awards judges were beer writer and author Pete Brown, magazine Editor and freelance journalist Robyn Black, CAMRA’s Senior Campaigns Manager and former Councillor Ellie Hudspith, supporter of independent brewing businesses Elliot Colburn MP, Independent Brewer magazine Editor Caroline Nodder, SIBA’s Head of Public Affairs Barry Watts, and SIBA’s Head of Comms & Marketing Neil Walker, who chaired the judging.

SIBA Business Awards 2021 Finalists
(Companies listed A-Z)

Covid Brewery Initiative Award 
Cloudwater Brew Co
Northern Monk
Signature Brew
Siren Craft Brew
The First & Last Brewery

Covid Supplier Initiative Award 
Charles Faram & Co
Crisp Malt
Saxon Packaging

Marketing Implementation 
40FT Brewery
North Brewing Co
Signature Brew
Siren Craft Brew

Green Business 
Hobsons Brewery
The Isle of Arran Brewery
Well Drawn Brewing

Best Individual Design 
Copper Beech Brewing Co – Half Moon
North Brewing Co – Springwell Pils
Northern Monk + Saxon Packaging – Heaven Chocolate Box
Siren Craft Brew – Lumina

Best Concept Design 
Anspach & Hobday – Oktoberfest
Copper Beech – Brewery Brand
Firebrand – Brewery Brand
Good Chemistry – Brewery Brand
Northern Monk – OFS Projects

Business Innovation 
Drop Bear Beer Co
Northern Monk
Well Drawn Brewing

Commercial Achievement 
Big Drop Brewing Co
Full Circle Brew Co
Purity Brewing Co
Utopian Brewing

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Multiple 
Bottle Apostle
Ghost Whale
Real Ale
Sourced Market

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Single 
A Hoppy Place
Beer No Evil
Beer Central
Hop Hideout

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Restaurant 
Beer + Burger, Kings X
Bundobust, Manchester
Elliot’s, Borough Market
Hood, Streatham

UK’s Best Independent Craft Brewery Taproom 
40FT Brewery
SALT
Steam Town Brew Co
Stewart Brewing

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – City 
Beer Merchants Tap, Hackney Wick
The Dead Crafty Beer Co, Liverpool
The Pigeon, Camberwell
Three B’s Micropub, Bridlington

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – Rural
The Bailey Head, Oswestry
The Royal Barn, Kirkby Lonsdale
The Salutation Inn, Ham

Supplier Associate of the Year 
Charles Faram
Crisp Malt
Kegstar
Muntons
Napthens
Saxon Packaging

COPY ENDS


Press release from SIBA

For further information please contact SIBA Head of Comms Neil Walker via neil.walker@siba.co.uk