South West head brewer given prestigious award
- Guild Secretary
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
St Austell Brewery’s Brewing Director has been named Brewer of the Year by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG).
Georgina Young, who has led the production teams at St Austell for the past five years, was recognised at the APPBG’s annual dinner in early July.
The Brewer of the Year award is nominated by an expert panel comprising representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), Frederic Robinson, Titanic Brewery, and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The award recognises not only brewing expertise but also the individual’s wider contribution to beer, brewing, people, and the community.
Rita King, Honorary Secretary of the APPBG, said: “Georgina was a standout candidate and a truly deserving winner of this year’s award. Her dedication to brewing, her innovative spirit, and her passion for educating and welcoming others into the industry are highly respected across the beer community. When we speak to people about influential brewers, Georgina’s name is often mentioned as an inspiring figure whom many admire.”
Georgina joined St Austell Brewery – a leading independent, family-owned brewing, hospitality and drinks wholesale business in the south west - in May 2019, leaving her role as Head Brewer at Fuller’s to return to the West Country, where she grew up. Georgina was promoted to Brewing Director in 2020 and oversees production at both St Austell Brewery’s brewing sites – St Austell and Hare Brewery in Bath. She continues to receive international recognition for the quality of St Austell Brewery’s beers – including Proper Job, Tribute, and korev.
Last year, she successfully launched St Austell Brewery’s first no and low beer, Proper Job 0.5%, which has already scooped awards just nine months on from its debut, as well as releasing a canned version of her refreshing pale ale made with 100% British ingredients, Anthem.
Georgina said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been given this award, which I was truly not expecting. It is a real privilege to be a brewer at St Austell Brewery and to be able to collaborate with such talented individuals across the industry.
“Together, we are committed to celebrating great British beer, inspiring the next generation of brewers, and advancing sustainable practices in an ever-evolving world."
The award comes hot on the heels of being voted Brewers’ Brewer of the Year at the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) Business Awards in 2025. In 2023, Georgina also received two further accolades: Brewer of the Year at the Guild of Beer Writers Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Brewer’s Congress.
Georgina is a trustee of the Chartered Institute of Brewing & Distilling and a member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers. At St Austell Brewery, she serves on the Sustainability Steering Committee, where she champions energy-saving and environmentally responsible initiatives. She plays a key role in helping St Austell Brewery progress towards its ambitious – yet essential – target of achieving net zero ahead of the government’s 2050 deadline.
The Annual Beer Awards Dinner, supported by the APPBG for over 30 years, celebrates achievements across the beer industry and Parliament. This year’s event welcomed 170 attendees, including 70 MPs and peers.
The APPBG’s mission is to promote the enjoyment of beer and the unique role of the pub in UK society. It seeks to raise awareness of the social, cultural, and historic significance of brewing and pubs in the UK and their contribution to tourism and employment and to support the success of the UK’s brewing industry at home and abroad.
ENDS
About St Austell Brewery
Independent, family-owned St Austell Brewery was established in Cornwall in 1851.
Fast forward 174 years, and the company’s range of award-winning beers - including Tribute pale ale, Proper Job IPA and korev lager - are available in pubs and supermarkets nationwide.
Hot on the heels of the rebrand of its much-loved Proper Job IPA in March 2024 and the launch of its first ever no/low beer in Proper Job 0.5% in October 2024, St Austell Brewery took another huge step in reimagining its identity and values for generations to come.
In June 2025, the business revealed its evolved brand story - a new brand identity, values, and an evolved sustainability plan - taking pride in its rich history whilst embracing a commitment to its ambitions for the future.
The business owns over 160 pubs and inns across the West Country - including managed houses and tenancies.
It also operates two breweries, in St Austell and Warmley, near Bath (Hare Brewery), having acquired fellow West Country brewer, Bath Ales in 2016, as well as holding a minority share in Harbour Brewing Company.
With a network of six distribution centres across the West Country - from St Columb to Wimborne - the company is the leading drinks wholesale company in the South West.
For more information, see https://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/ or contact:
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