(Image courtesy the British Guild of Beer Writers)

Professional brewing is both an art and a business.

And every year, the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), the UK’s Brewers Association, honors those who not only brew great beer, but also excel on the business side of things.

The SIBA Business Awards are judged by a panel of independent beer industry experts, managed by not-for-profit trade association.

And we’ve got all this year’s big winners for you.

SIBA Business Awards 2021

COVID Brewery Initiative Award – Open to any brewery who has launched an initiative, service, or strategy which has proved a success during the pandemic…

Winner: Cloudwater Brew Co
Runner up: Signature Brew

COVID Supplier Initiative Award – SIBA Supplier Associate members who have shown a commitment to supporting the independent craft breweries during the pandemic.

Winner: Charles Faram
Runner up: Crisp Malt, Saxon Packaging

Marketing Implementation – Best marketing and communication strategy, including general or specific campaigns, promotions, PR, social media activity, product launches, etc…

Winner: Signature Brew
Runner up: North Brewing Co

Green Business – For taking the ethics of environmental awareness and responsible business operation way beyond the norm, with either a single innovative initiative or a holistic strategy for sustainability.

Winner: Hobsons Brewing Co

Best Individual Design – For a single design of bottle, can or pump clip that clearly stands out, gains point-of-sale market advantage and ultimately drives the purchase of a brewery product.

Winner:  North Brewing Co — Springwell Pils

Best Concept Design – For the design concept behind a range of beers from a brewery, or a brewery’s entire branding and design strategy.

Winner: Anspach & Hobday — Oktoberfest Range

Business Innovation – For breweries that have shown true innovation in their business. This could be anything from a bold export operation getting beer in to the hands of new consumers or an internal innovation which has improved efficiency or profitability.

Winner: Northern Monk

Commercial Achievement – For breweries that have experienced commercial success in one or all areas of their business. Whether it is a brewery starting from scratch or an established brewer expanding their reach, the commercial achievement award aims to highlight the most business savvy from our industry.

Winner: Big Drop Brewing Co

UK’s Best UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer (Multiple) – For independent retailers selling beer from multiple locations. Entrants can be specialist craft beer shops, or businesses which have recently shown a commitment to promoting independent craft beer, but must be an independent business with fewer than 10 outlets

Winner: Real Ale

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer (Single) – For independent retailers selling beer from a single location. Entrants can be specialist craft beer shops, or businesses which have recently shown a commitment to promoting independent craft beer, but must be an independent business trading from a single location.

Winner: A Hoppy Place, Windsor

Best independent craft beer restaurant – For restaurants, bistros and gastropubs whose primary business is food but who have shown an extraordinary commitment to serving the best quality and range of independent craft beers.

Winner: Hood, Streatham

UK’s Best Independent Craft Brewery Taproom – For Taprooms which are located within, or in very close proximity to, working independent craft breweries.

Winner: 40FT, Dalston

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub (City) – For pubs or bars which have shown an extraordinary commitment to serving the best quality and range of independent craft beers (including cask, keg, bottle or can). This award is specifically for pubs or bars located in urban, city, town center, or suburban locations across the UK.

Winner:  Dead Crafty Beer Co, Liverpool

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub (Rural) – For pubs or bars which have shown an extraordinary commitment to serving the best quality and range of independent craft beers (including cask, keg, bottle or can). This award is specifically for pubs or bars located in rural, village, or isolated locations across the UK.

Winner: The Royal Barn, Kirkby Lonsdale

Supplier Associate of the Year – This award highlights the UK’s best SIBA Supplier Associate and is SIBA Brewing Member nominated.

Winner: Charles Faram

SIBA Brewery Business of the Year – No Criteria for this documented. It is the judges’ decision of what is the best from all of the entries they have received at the time of the judging.

Winner: Signature Brew

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“This has been an incredibly difficult 12 months for our industry,” Chair of judges, Neil Walker, “but these awards show the resilience of the British brewing industry and the amazing work that is being done by businesses across the UK.”

“Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners, but in particular our brewery business of the year Signature Brew — who gave jobs to out-of-work musicians when venues were forced to close, and tackled loneliness and isolation with their lo-fi beer campaign.”