The British Guild of Beer Writers has announced the shortlist for its prestigious awards, celebrating beer, pub and cider journalists, bloggers, broadcasters and all-around communicators.
Work was entered into 16 separate categories for a chance to win an esteemed award and prize money, with judges reviewing 451 pieces of work. All entries were judged by the Guild’s independent panel, composed of David Jesudason, Beer Writer of the Year and Chair of Judges; Dr Chris O’Malley, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering – Newcastle University; Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery; Melissa Thompson, award-winning food writer; Rosalind Erskine, Food & Drink Editor at The Scotsman; Georgina Young, Brewing Director at St Austell Brewery; Nicky Kong, owner of The Cat in The Glass; Helen Anne Smith, co-editor of Burum Collective; Ross Clarke, acclaimed travel, food, and wine writer; and Natalya Watson, WSET Beer Educator.
Discussing this year’s awards, David Jesudason said,
‘Despite the negative economic factors that makes writing – and especially beer and cider writing – a difficult profession, this year’s shortlist is full of incredible writers pushing the narrative on how we see beer and cider’
The finalists in each category (with credits in italics) are:
Best Commissioned Beer Writing, sponsored by Greene King
Pete Brown
Ariana DiValentino
Mark Dredge
Will Hawkes
Katie Mather
Best Short-Form Beer Writing
David Bailey
Pete Brown
Mark Dredge
Katie Mather
Best Technical Communication about Beer, sponsored by WSET
Charlotte Cook (CAMRA)
Matthew Curtis
Mark Dredge
Anthony Gladman
Andy Parker
Best Book about Beer or Pubs, sponsored by HEINEKEN
Kris Butler
Martyn Cornell
Matthew Curtis
Simon Jenkins
Dr Christina Wade
Best Audio and Video Beer Communication, sponsored by St Austell Brewery
Simon Webster, Alison Taffs, Clare Phillips, David King (CAMRA)
James Dowdeswell
Ben Gibbs (Andy Mee, Mark Dredge)
Sam Grist (Presenter: Jimi Famurewa)
Emma Inch
Best Communication about No and Low Alcohol Beer, sponsored by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I
Matthew Curtis
Mark Dredge
Ben Gibbs
Emma Inch
David Nilsen
Best Communication about Sustainability in Beer and Pubs, sponsored by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company
Jemma Beedie
Matthew Curtis
Mark Dredge
Laura Hadland
Ruvani de Silva
Best Communication about Beer and Travel, sponsored by VISITFLANDERS
Michael Clarke (Photos by Sean McEmerson)
Lucy Corne
Matthew Curtis
Emmie Harrison-West
Ruvani de Silva
Best Communication about Pubs, sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Pete Brown
Michael Clarke
Rachel Hendry
Emma Inch
Neil Walker
Best Newcomer to Beer Communication, sponsored by Fuller, Smith & Turner
Martin Dixon
Anaïs Lecoq
Cliff Lucas
Best Beer Business Communicator
James Beeson
Will Hawkes
Rob MacKay
Jessica Mason
Daniel Woolfson
Best Self-Published Beer Writing
Rachel Auty
Pete Brown
Laura Hadland
Lloyd Lugsden
Jane Peyton
Best Citizen Beer Communicator, sponsored by Harvey’s Tom Paine
Beer Fridge Podcast
Tori Powell (Joanne Love)
Jessamy Queree
Imran Rahman-Jones
Tom Smith
Best Communication About Cider, sponsored by Aspall Cyder
Laura Hadland
Anaïs Lecoq
Jane Peyton
Adam Wells
Guild Award for Best Communication About Diversity in Beer
Lucy Corne
Emma Inch
Anaïs Lecoq
Tori Powell (Joanne Love)
Ruvani de Silva
Best Corporate Beer Communication
Rachel Auty
Pete Brown (University of Sheffield; Jules Gray)
CAMRA (Ruvani de Silva)
Charlotte Turner (Salt Media; St Austell Brewery)
Brewer of the Year, sponsored by SIBA and voted by Guild members)
Dominic Driscoll (Thornbridge Brewery)
James Godman (Wilderness Brewery)
Jacob Hobbs (Hackney Church Brew Co.)
Kate Hyde (Hand Brew Co.)
The winners and runners-up, alongside the Guild’s ‘Brewer of the Year’, will be announced during the esteemed annual dinner and awards, this year held at Big Penny Social in London on Wednesday 27th of November.
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Note to Editor
Contact Press: amelie@tipplemarketing.com
Press images available for download here
About the British Guild of Beer Writers
The British Guild of Beer Writers was formed in 1988 to help spread the word about beers, brewing and pubs. With close to 300 individual members and 60+ corporate members, its mission is “to improve the standards of beer writing and improve the public knowledge of beer and pubs.” Its members include the cream of the country’s beer communicators – be they journalists, authors, bloggers, producers, photographers, broadcasters, illustrators, or PR consultants. Corporate members of the Guild include brewers, brand owners, distributors, pub companies, and many suppliers associated with the brewing trade. www.beerguild.co.uk
The British Guild of Beer Writers is grateful to the following sponsors, whose support makes possible our annual awards and dinner: Aspall Cyder, Brewhouse & Kitchen, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC, Greene King, Harvey’s, HEINEKEN UK, Jump Ship Brewing, Shepherd Neame, St Austell Brewery, SIBA, VISITFLANDERS and WSET.
Contact Press: amelie@tipplemarketing.com