Jonny Garrett, author and co-presenter on The Craft Beer Channel, has been named beer writer of the year at the British Guild of Beer Writers’ annual awards.
Award winners at the British Guild of Beer Writers’ annual dinner. Photographs: British Guild of Beer Writers
On his way to the top honour, Jonny won gold awards in the categories for pub communications, books, and video communications, the latter with Brad Evans, his co-presenter on the Craft Beer Channel.
Jonny’s book, A Year in Beer, was published earlier this year by CAMRA. He also contributes regularly to beer magazines and websites such as Good Beer Hunting. He has been named beer writer of the year once before, in 2019.
Pete Brown, chair of judges for this year’s awards, said: “Choosing an overall beer writer this year was exceptionally hard, but Jonny was the judges’ choice because of the range of his work, from print articles to website posts, films, and a new book.
“Whatever he does, he has complete mastery of his topic, thanks to painstaking research, and is able to communicate it to beer nerds or a generalist audience. If we ever get a beer programme on mainstream TV, Jonny should definitely make it!”
Pete added: “We were impressed by the standard of submissions across the board this year. The knowledge, energy, and passion shone through entries, whether newspaper columns, blog posts, books, or films. Several winners tonight are relatively new to beer and pub writing, proving that our robust judging rewards talent, not time served.
“Everyone who received an award or a commendation should be extremely proud. They really are the cream of British beer writing in 2022, and we wish them all success in their future career communicating about beer, pubs, and cider.”
The brewer of the year title, sponsored by SIBA, was presented to Andy Parker, founder and head brewer at Elusive Brewing, who won the highest number of votes in a poll of guild members.
Presenting the award, guild chair, Emma Inch, said: “Andy’s passion for brewing shows in every beer he produces, and what ends up in the glass is always a shining example of its style.
“He hasn’t forgotten his homebrew roots, running an annual competition that gives the winner a platform to brew their own beer, and benefit from his time and knowledge as a mentor.”
Full results
British Guild of Beer Writers’ beer writer of the year, Jonny Garrett
Michael Jackson gold award for beer writer of the year
Jonny Garrett
SIBA award for brewer of the year
Andy Parker, Elusive Brewing
Best corporate beer communications
Untold Agency, for the Republic of Beer campaign for Budweiser Budvar UK
Best citizen beer communicator
Gold: Oli Haydon
Silver: Matthew Rogers
Best beer business communicator
Stephen Beaumont
Best communication about pubs
Gold: Jonny Garrett
Silver: Alastair Gilmour
Highly commended: David Jesudason
Best communication about beer and travel
Gold: Lily Waite
Silver: Dan Saladino
Best communication about sustainability in beer and pubs
Gold: Anthony Gladman
Silver: Mark Dredge
Best communication about low- and no-alcohol beers
Gold: Laura Hadland
Silver: Jane Peyton
Best audio beer communicator
Gold: Eoghan Walsh
Silver: Jane Peyton
Best video beer communicator
Gold: Jonny Garrett and Brad Evans
Silver: Danny Savage
Best newcomer to beer communication
Gold: Reece Hugill
Silver: Ashley Joanna
Best book about beer or pubs
Gold: Jonny Garrett, A Year in Beer
Silver: Jaega Wise, Wild Brews
Highly commended: Em Sauter, Hooray for Craft Beer
Best beer communicator, regional media
Gold: Alastair Gilmour
Silver: Ashley Joanna
Highly commended: Breandán Kearney
Best communication about diversity in beer and pubs
Gold: David Jesudason
Silver: Ruvani de Silva
Best communication about cider
Gold: Gabe Cook
Silver: James Crowden
Best self-published writing about beer
Gold: Eoghan Walsh
Highly commended: Mark Dredge
Highly commended: Beth Demmon
Best commissioned beer writing
Gold: David Jesudason
Silver: Jemma Beedie
Highly commended: Will Hawkes
