SIBA unveils new categories for 2024 Business Awards
The association launched the awards earlier this week, including three brand new categories for Best Collaboration, Best New Brewery, and a new SIBA member-voted Brewers’ Brewer of the Year award.
SIBA Business Awards Chair of Judge Neil Walker said: “The Brewers’ Brewer of the Year Award is a chance to celebrate an individual who has had a profound impact on the beer industry over the last year, with a positive contribution which reaches beyond their own business to the benefit of the beer industry as a whole.
Uniquely collaborative
“The independent beer industry is uniquely collaborative, and it is this spirit of collaboration which we are seeking to congratulate with the addition of this new category to the SIBA Business Awards 2024.
“In addition, the best collaborations will deliver something greater than the sum of their parts, and I look forward to seeing what entries this exciting new category attracts.”
Another new category for 2024 is the UK’s Best New Independent Craft Brewery, which aims to highlight the year’s most exciting and successful new brewery; whose impact on the industry, critical acclaim, or popularity with beer drinkers belies their short time in operation.
The competition will be judged by a panel of industry experts and presented at the UK’s biggest beer and brewing event – BeerX UK in Liverpool, March 2024.
Congratulate excellence
SIBA described the awards as “seeking to congratulate excellence in the brewing industry across a variety of categories, from pump clip, can and bottle design, to efforts taken by brewers to make their business more sustainable, innovative or successful”.
In addition, the association said the accolades would name the UK’s best pubs, bars and retailers of craft beer from independent breweries.
London-based brewery Wildcard was crowned the 2023 Brewery Business of the Year after impressing judges with their “niche and unique design, top quality beers and keen business instincts”.
Regarding the awards, Wildcard head brewer Jaega Wise said: “Things have been tough over the last couple of years and so an award like this really does mean everything.”
For more information about the awards visit www.siba.co.uk/businessawards.