St Austell brewing director, Georgina Young, has been handed not one but two prestigious awards for her continued dedication to the beer industry.
Georgina Young with SIBA chief executive, Andy Slee, at the British Guild of Beer Writers’ awards ceremony. Photograph: Chiara Obscura
Georgina, who joined St Austell Brewery in 2019, after leaving her role as head brewer at Fuller’s took the brewer of the year award at this year’s British Guild of Beer Writer awards. She also received a lifetime achievement award at the Brewers Congress, in October.
“I am absolutely made up by this award,” said Georgina of the brewer of the year accolade. “I couldn’t do any of this without my great team and everyone at the brewery. We work for an amazing business.”
The lifetime achievement award recognises a brewer who has shaped the industry, supported others around them, and strengthened the UK brewing scene. It was even more special for Georgina as it was named in honour of St Austell’s late head brewer, Roger Ryman, Georgina’s good friend and mentor.
Georgina said: “It’s a huge honour to have won the award, and it’s the perfect homage to Roger. The brewing industry is really special, so it’s wonderful to be recognised. I’ve had huge support during my career, from Fuller’s and John Keeling, as well as everyone at St Austell.”
A career in beer
Georgina’s passion for brewing started during her student years at King’s College, London. She studied biotechnology at undergraduate level, before completing a masters degree in brewing and distilling at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.
Georgina’s career began in her hometown of Bristol, at Smiles Brewery, where she learnt from the floor upwards, starting in the lab before progressing to shift brewing. She then moved to Brewing Research International (now Campden BRI) to run the pilot brewing facilities.
In 1999, Georgina joined Fuller’s as a production brewer under the wing of brewing director, John Keeling. During her time at Fuller’s she installed a new tank farm to increase fermentation capacity, beers such as Gales HSB and Prize Old Ale, and developed new beers such as Honeydew, as well as a selection of seasonals.
Following Georgina’s second maternity leave, she took a break from brewing and became a science teacher at a comprehensive school in Richmond, Surrey, where she stayed for four years.
It was not long before the draw of Fuller’s brought her back to the Griffin Brewery, and in October 2013, Georgina rejoined the company as brewing and packaging manager. When Fuller’s acquired Dark Star brewery, she moved the brewing of Hophead pale ale to Chiswick. She was promoted to head brewer in 2017 and was the first woman in Fuller’s history to take on the role.
In May 2019, Georgina joined St Austell Family Group as head brewer for Hare Brewery, optimising the new brewing and bottling facilities which had been installed the year before. Fermentation capacity increased to 50,000 barrels by the end of 2019, with the installation of further kit. Georgina introduced a second shift and went on to install a new kegger and robotic palletiser.
Following the untimely passing of her long-time friend Roger Ryman, who had led brewing operations at St Austell since 1999, Georgina was promoted to brewing director in July 2020. She now oversees brewing at both Hare Brewery and St Austell Brewery. Since taking on this enlarged role, she has successfully commissioned a new canning line and launched a new permanent cask beer, Anthem British pale ale.
Georgina has been chairman of the southern section of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, is currently a director at Cask Marque, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers.
