Finalists announced in beer writing competition
Guild of Beer Writers publishes shortlist for Annual Awards 2016
The British Guild of Beer Writers has shortlisted 27 journalists, writers, bloggers and broadcasters in its Annual Awards. The winners and runners up in nine categories will be unveiled at the Guild’s annual Awards presentation and dinner on 1st December.
The shortlist was selected by five judges: Dave Myers – one half of the ‘Hairy Bikers’ TV chefs duo; Rebecca Smithers, consumer affairs correspondent at The Guardian; Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers; Roger Ryman, head brewer at St Austell Brewery and last year’s Beer Writer of the Year, Breandán Kearney, who chaired the panel.
Judges read, viewed and listened to more than 150 entries which included books, newspaper and magazine articles, both printed and online, as well as radio, video and television programmes and podcasts.
Myers said, “It was a revelation to discover just how much seriously good writing about beer and pubs is out there. Everyone on the shortlist has earned their place by demonstrating a sure grasp of their subject matter coupled with a talent for storytelling that engages you as a reader and makes you want to try the beer they’ve drunk, visit the pub they’ve been to or meet the brewer they’ve interviewed.
“A passion for beer and pubs shone through all our finalists’ works, but at the same time, they managed to make their work accessible to a broader audience beyond the ‘beer geek’. Many of them are producing material that deserves a slot in mainstream print or broadcast channels and I hope that the added profile of being an Awards finalist helps to secure this.”
Kearney commented, “Whittling down the large initial field to a shortlist was a challenging task, but one that proved to be enjoyable thanks to the high standard of the entries overall. I’m grateful to our judges, who showed tremendous enthusiasm and commitment to the process, some even going so far as to ‘road test’ several recipes from the beer and food category.
“It was especially pleasing to see high quality work submitted from both established names and from less well known entrants, and to see how creatively people are communicating about beer and pubs across a range of platforms, whether that’s in print, broadcast or online.
“Reaching the last stage of this competition, which receives more entries every year, is a tremendous achievement and our finalists should feel very proud.”
The Awards dinner, held at the Park Lane Hotel on Piccadilly, is open to non-Guild members. For more information, visit: http://beerguild.co.uk/tickets-available-for-beer-writers-dinner-and-awards/
GUILD OF BEER WRITERS ANNUAL AWARDS 2016: THE SHORTLIST
There’s A Beer For That Award for Best Beer Broadcaster
Lucy Stevenson & Louise Mulroy: We Made A Beer podcasts
BBC Radio Four The Food Programme
Matt Curtis: Good Beer Hunting podcasts
Badger Ales Award for Best Young Beer Writer
Jacopo Mazzeo: posts on Beer without Frontiers blog
Jordon Lee Smith: posts on Frontier Hoptometrist blog, and other websites
Joshua Farrington: posts on Beer And Present Danger blog
St Austell Brewery Award for Best Beer and Travel Writer
John Holl: work in All About Beer magazine
Pete Brown: The Pub book
Mark Dredge: The Best Beer in the World book
Guild Award for Best Beer Writer – Corporate Communications
Beer Hawk: Hoptical magazine
Beer Merchants: magazine
Carlsberg UK: Tapsters Cask Ale Guide/Crafted Handbook from Carlsberg
Shepherd Neame Classic Collection Award for Best Beer and Food Writer
Mark Dredge: Cooking with Beer book
Susan & Judith Boyle: articles in Leinster Leader
Adrian Tierney-Jones: articles in Daily Telegraph
Caledonian Brewery Award for Best Beer Communicator – Online
Boak and Bailey: boakandbailey
Pete Brown: petebrownblogspot
Matt Curtis: total ales/good beer hunting
Will Hawkes: Craft Beer London
Jonny Garrett: Craft Beer Channel
Fuller’s 1845 Award for Best Beer Writer – Trade Media
Roger Protz: articles in Morning Advertiser
Jonny Garrett: articles in Brewers Journal
Pete Brown: articles in Morning Advertiser
Adrian Tierney-Jones: various press articles
Nigel Huddleston: Off Licence News
Adnams Award for Best Beer Writer – Regional Media
Alastair Gilmour: Cheers magazine
Simon Jenkins: The Great Leeds Pub Crawl book
Mark Briggs: articles in Lancashire Telegraph
Susan & Judith Boyle: articles in Leinster Leader
Gavin Aitchison: articles in The Press, York
Molson Coors Award for Best Beer Writer – National Media
Adrian Tierney-Jones: London’s Local Pubs book
Sophie Atherton: various press articles
Jane Peyton: various press/radio work
Mark Dredge: Best Beer in the World and Cooking with Beer books
Pete Brown: The Pub: book
