Women in Beer® Awards Announce 2026 Winners During Unmissable Ceremony in Manchester
The Women in Beer® Awards kicked off the Women in Beer® Festival - a week of events celebrating diversity - by crowning this year’s most talented and influential Women in Beer.
Photo: group photo of the 2026 winners - credit photo Matt Curtis
With support from Women in Beer® sponsors, the winners were celebrated during a sold-out event hosted at Cloudwater Brewery Taproom in Manchester.
The 2026 entries were judged by the Women in Beer® independent panel, comprised of Melissa Cole (Beer Judge, Journalist, Broadcaster, and 2025 Women in Beer Industry Icon), Paul Jones (Owner and MD at Cloudwater Brew Co.), Sophie de Ronde (Head Brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery), Vinny Rosario (Co-founder and Head of Production at Moonwake Beer Co.), Helen Anne Smith (Founder and Co-editor at Burum Collective), and Lucy Do (Founder of The Dodo Micropub).
The esteemed judges also had the important task of choosing the Women in Beer® Industry Icon, honouring a woman whose career and influence have improved the beer industry. The judges presented the award to Lily Waite-Marsden, celebrating her work as a brewer, communicator, and activist, and her tireless efforts to make the industry more inclusive and diverse.
To recognise her exceptional career in service of the beer industry, the judging panel has this year decided to honour BFBI CEO Ruth Evans MBE with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Discussing the awards, Melissa Cole, Women in Beer® Awards judge and 2025 Industry Icon, said,
‘I don't think I’ve ever been involved in a judging where it was so hard to pick the winners; the achievements listed by these shining lights in the industry are nothing short of remarkable. I was particularly proud of the women who nominated themselves. To stand up in a society that is consistently asking you to be smaller, in every way, is a proud act of defiance and self-belief.’
About the 2026 Industry Icon, she added,
‘Nominating Lily for this year’s Icon Award was also an immense privilege; she is uncompromisingly brilliant and a trailblazer. Our industry is immeasurably better for her being in it.’
The winners in each category are:
Brewer of the Year - Sponsored by SIBA
Red Kellie - First & Last Brewery
Rising Star Award - Sponsored by Simpsons Malt
Aureja Jupp - Pixie Brewing
Communicator of the Year - Sponsored by Crisp Malt
Highly Commended
Elizabeth Townsend
Winner:
Laura Hadland
Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by Thomas Fawcett & Sons
Gill Sherwin - Best of British Beer
Beer Expert of the Year - Sponsored by Yakima Chief Hops
Alix Blease - Lallemand Brewing
Mentor of the Year - Sponsored by Murphy & Son
Natalya Watson
Industry Champion of the Year - Sponsored by eKeg
Catherine Webber
Beer Creative of the Year - Sponsored by WHC Lab
Highly Commended
Kate Stevens - Rooster’s Brewing Co
Winner:
Nanna Koekoek - Pretty Decent Beer Co
Hospitality Leader of the Year - Sponsored by British Beer & Pubs Association
Maryann O'Connor - The Green Goddess
Women’s Collective of the Year - Sponsored by CAMRA
Highly Commended
No Half Measures Nottingham
Winner:
Women on Tap CIC
Women in Beer 2026 - Industry Icon (judge’s choice) - sponsored by Charles Faram
Lily Waite-Marsden
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ruth Evans MBE
Notes to Editors:
About Women in Beer®:
Women in Beer® is a community. We are a group for women who like good beer and good company. We meet up in local pubs, attend events and festivals, visit breweries, and learn from other women in the brewing industry. We’re here to support women in their beer journey, whether it’s their passion, their career, or they are just looking for a new hobby.
Our activities are:
The Group
The Festival (WiB Fest)
The Mentorship Programme
The Awards
Website and social media
Instagram: @womeninbeeruk
Facebook: /womeninbeer
Bluesky: @womeninbeer.bsky.social
For further information please contact Amelie Tassin via press@tipplemarketing.com.
Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.
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