Fourpure cans

London-based Fourpure has been named the UK brewery of the year 2017 by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) at its annual Business Awards.

The awards, which took place at SIBA’s BeerX event in Sheffield last night, seek to congratulate the top brewery businesses in the UK across a variety of categories, as well as naming retailers, pubs, bars and restaurants who have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of independent craft beer in the UK.

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 which the judges felt went above and beyond in ensuring every single member of the Fourpure team is inspired by independent craft beer and working for Fourpure.”

Adrian Lugg, head of marketing at Fourpure, 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 last 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 gold in the commercial achievement category for its meteoric growth in recent years and its bold export operations.

Co-founder, Gazz Williams, said: “We’ve come such a long way since brewing in a garage five years ago to now winning winning awards like this. It was my grandfather who got me into brewing in the first place and inspired me, and I’ve been passionate about beer ever since. We’re proud to be putting Newport on the map and no doubt we’ll be celebrating this win with a few decent beers this weekend.”

360 Degree Brewing won SIBA’s concept design award for its range of sleek, minimalist cans, and Beavertown Brewery took home the individual design category for the bottle of its Tempus Project Applelation saison.

Swan Brewery won the green business award, which judges commented was for its efforts to “not only make their brewhouse and business activities as economically friendly as possible, but to engage their local community in this activity through their Green Saturday open days … a perfect example of what can be achieved by a small brewery.

“Judges felt that the practical, thoughtful methods employed by the Swan brewery showed that being green is something within the reach of every brewery and not just those with large amounts of money to invest.”

Purity Brewing Co won the marketing implementation category for its innovative social media and marketing activities which maximised the sponsorship of Wasps Rugby Club. Crookham Travel also won SIBA’s supplier associate of the year.

Industry awards

SIBA introduced the industry section of its awards to congratulate the bars, restaurants and businesses going above and beyond in their promotion of independent craft beer in the UK.

Booma, in Brixton, won SIBA’s best independent craft beer restaurant, with judges being unanimous in their praise of Booma’s commitment to making the pairing of craft beer with indian food central to their menu in a simple yet engaging way.

“With easy-to-follow suggestions of which beers worked well with different dishes, backed up by an exciting range of independent craft-brewed beers, Booma was a clear winner in an extremely strong category.”   

Other winners included Tapped Leeds in the city pub/bar category, the Salutation Inn in the rural pub/bar category, We Brought Beer in the multiple retailer category, and the House of Trembling Madness in the single independent craft beer retailer category.

Beer Day Britain won the on-trade promotion category, with Sheffield Beer Week highly commended, while There’s a Beer For That won in the off-trade independent craft beer promotion category.


See also » Major wins for Fourpure at SIBA Awards