Real ale brewers face down Heineken in BBPA awards
By: JimOldfield
October 15th, 2012
The shortlist for the British Beer & Pub Association’s first ever awards ceremony has been announced with independent real ale brewers heading the race for the gongs.
Among the beer and pub companies vying for the three new accolades – which recognise “exceptional company and individual contributions to the brewing and pub sector” – are brewers Daniel Thwaites, Liberation Group, Charles Wells, Joseph Holt and JW Lees.
The awards will take place on Wednesday night (October 17) at the association’s annual dinner at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square.
Lancashire-based Thwaites lead the charge for the gongs, having made the shortlist for all three prizes: Beer Champion 2012, Pub Champion 2012 and Heart of the Community Award 2012.
Jersey’s Liberation Group is up for both the Beer Champion and Pub Champion awards, while Bedfordshire’s Charles Wells is also in the running for Beer Champion.
Meanwhile, Manchester breweries Joseph Holt and JW Lees square-up to stake their claims to be at the Heart of the Community.
But the brewers face competition from giant Heineken UK, who are also shortlisted in all three categories, as well as Carlsberg UK and Enterprise Inns.
The event will also see a Chairman’s Award, which will be given to an individual and awarded by the BBPA Board, who will be looking for someone who has made a telling contribution to the industry – and deserves to be recognised.
BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds said: “We have had some brilliant entries, and the judges were hugely impressed with the work that has been put in. We are really looking forward to finding out the winners”.
The full short-list is as follows:
Beer Champion 2012
Carlsberg UK, Charles Wells, Daniel Thwaites, Heineken UK, Liberation Group
Pub Champion 2012
Daniel Thwaites, Heineken UK, Liberation Group
Heart of the Community award 2012
Daniel Thwaites, Enterprise Inns, Heineken UK, Joseph Holt, JW Lees
Hand-Pumped link:
BBPA Annual Dinner Awards
