The competition is open to writers, broadcasters, photographers, poets, illustrators, designers, webmasters and bloggers whose work has broadened the public’s knowledge of beer and pubs. Nominations and entries are being sought for six categories:
- Molson Coors’ Award for Best Writing in National Publications – prize 1,000 & 500
For the very best writing or broadcasting aimed at a general audience, published in the national (and international) press, consumer magazines, books, national television and radio.
Adnams Award for Best Writing in Regional Publications – prize 1,000 & 500
For the very best writing or broadcasting aimed at a specific local or regional audience, published in local and regional newspapers, magazines, radio, television and CAMRA newsletters.
Wells & Young’s Awards for Best Writing for the Beer and Pub Trade – prize 1,000 & 500
For the very best writing or broadcasting aimed at the brewing and pub industry, published in trade and company newspapers, newsletters, magazines, reports and websites.
Brains SA Gold Award for Best Online Communication – 1,000 & 500
For the very best use of blogs, websites and social media, whether that be writing or use of other tools such as video or social networking.
Budweiser Budvar John White Travel Bursary – prize 1,000 plus trip to Czech Republic
For the very best travel-themed beer writing (or beer-themed travel writing) or broadcasting. Entries can be from national, local or regional media, books, trade publications or online.
Bishop’s Finger Award for Beer and Food Writing – prize 1,000
For the very best writing or broadcasting on the subject of matching beer with food (an area formerly dominated by wine). Entries can be from national, local or regional media, books, trade publications or online.
Winners to be announced at prestige beer banquet
The winners will be announced at the British Guild of Beer Writers annual awards dinner. The event is being held on 25 November at the Radisson Bloomsbury with the meal prepared by Michelin starred chef, Sriram Aylur, from the Quilon Restaurant in London – www.quilon.co.uk.
Sriram will showcase the food of India’s south-west coast and his passion for beer. The cuisine is light and fragrant offering flavours that will complement and contrast a selection of beer pairings.
Sriram, who first made his name in India as executive chef of the Karavali restaurant in Bangalore, was ranked one of India’s top five chefs; he has since brought his enthusiasm for home-style, south Indian cuisine to London.
Sriram’s menu features a modern and stylish take on traditional flavours with a fabulous beer list to match. Sriram also stands tall on the global stage, each year preparing banquets for delegates at the Davos World Economic Forum.
The judges
Current Beer Writer of the Year Pete Brown has agreed to be chairman of the judges. Pete Brown is author of Man Walks into a Pub, Three Sheets to the Wind and Hops and Glory, and the annual Cask Report.
He will be supported by:
Niki Segnit – Author of this year’s breakthrough cook book The Flavour Thesaurus, a compendium of flavours with recommendations on how to pair them. Heston Blumenthal calls it ‘An original and inspiring resource’ and it’s basically selling copies as fast as Bloomsbury can reprint them.
Harry White – A brewer of thirty years standing, formerly Global Director for Technical Compliance with Molson Coors, recently retired, past president of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, author of several papers covering technical aspects of brewing.
Sarah Bridge – Leisure correspondent at the Mail on Sunday, has written extensively about business issues in leisure retail including the beer and pub industry.
How to enter
To enter the British Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards send four copies (photocopies or printouts from PDFs accepted) of each entry, published or broadcast in the last 12 months up to 30 September 2010 – stating where it has been published. Authors of books need to send four copies of the book.
Website and bloggers entries – please send web address and URLs of the pages you want the judges to read.
Entrants can enter as many categories as they want, but they are limited to a maximum of six entries within each category. Remember, quality is more important than quantity so send one good entry in a category rather than six mediocre ones.
The entry should be accompanied by a letter stating which category or categories are being entered.
Entries should be sent by 8 October to – Beer Writers Competition, c/o Seal Communications Limited, Islington Gates, 8 Fleet Street, Birmingham, B3 1JH.
Entrants are asked to nominate which category they would like their work to be entered into but the judges reserve the right to consider work for other categories.
Editors, publishers and other third parties can nominate entrants to the competition.
Entrants do not have to be members of the British Guild of Beer Writers – they just have to communicate about beer or beer culture, new products or the ingredients and brewing of beer.
There is no limitation on the number of categories that an individual may enter.
Entries can only be returned if accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or packaging.
*Michael Jackson (27 March 1942 – 30 August 2007) who was also known as the beer hunter, dedicated more than 30 years to discovering, recording and then sharing the world’s finest beers in his many books, articles and TV programmes. He was the first Chairman of the British Guild of Beer Writers.
