SIBA unveils UK Brewery Business of the Year 2017

London-based Fourpure has been named UK Brewery of the Year 2017 by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) at its annual awards.

The awards, which took place at SIBA’s BeerX event in Sheffield on 16 March, celebrate the best of brewery businesses across a variety of categories.

The brewer also won SIBA’s Business Innovation award category for its innovative sensory training scheme that puts all its staff through rigorous beer training to drive quality throughout the business.

SIBA managing director Mike Benner said: “In a year when the number and calibre of entries was higher than ever before, Fourpure's huge commitment to staff training, innovative business strategies and clear commercial vision, hugely impressed the business awards judges.

“In particular, it was the company's sensory beer training scheme that the judges felt went above and beyond in ensuring every single member of the team is inspired by independent craft beer and working for Fourpure.”

‘Shocked and Humbled’

Fourpure head of marketing Adrian Lugg said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to win, we are so shocked and humbled to receive this award and it feels like confirmation of a job well done after we have been working so hard to grow over the past few years.

“This is a brilliant win for the whole team and we are absolutely over the moon.”

Other winners on the night included Tiny Rebel brewery from Wales, which took home the prize in the Commercial Achievement category for its meteoric growth over recent years and their bold export operations.

360 Degree Brewing won SIBA’s coveted Concept Design Award for its range of sleek, minimalist cans, and Beavertown Brewery took home the trophy for the Individual Design category for the bottle design for its Tempus Project Applelation saison.

Full list of award winners

Marketing Implementation

Purity Brewing Co, Warwickshire

Green Business

Swan Brewery, Herefordshire

Business Innovation

Fourpure, London

Commercial Achievement

Tiny Rebel, Newport

Best Individual Design

“Tempus Project – Applelation” – Beavertown, London

Best Concept Design

“360 Degrees Brand” – 360 Degrees Brewing, Sussex

Brewery Business of the Year

Fourpure, London

Supplier Associate of the Year

Crookham Travel

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Multiple

We Brought Beer, three stores in London

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Single

The House of Trembling Madness, York (Winner)

Hop Burns & Black, Peckham (Highly Commended)

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – City

Tapped Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – Rural

The Salutation Inn, Ham, Gloucestershire

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Restaurant

Booma, Brixton, London

Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion – On-trade

Beer Day Britain (Winner)

Sheffield Beer Week (Highly Commended)

Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion – Off-trade

There’s a Beer for That