Ruvani de Silva picked up the top honour at the British Guild of Beer Writers’ annual awards last night. The event was staged at Big Penny Social, in London.
Ruvani (pictured above) won the gold award in the best communication about sustainability in beer and pubs classs, best communication about beer and travel, and best communication about diversity in beer before going on to be named Beer Writer of the Year.
She was also the author of the piece submitted by CAMRA Learn and Discover which won the best corporate beer communication award.
“No writer has improved more year on year than Ruvani,” said David Jesudason, last year’s winner and chair of the panel of judges for 2024. “She shows how learning, listening, and educating yourself are the three most important steps to being an accomplished journalist.
“Without Ruvani’s work, vital voices in the beer world would never have been heard.”
The other judges were: Dr Chris O’Malley, senior lecturer, School of Engineering, Newcastle University; Garrett Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery; Melissa Thompson, award-winning food writer; Rosalind Erskine, food and drink editor at The Scotsman; Georgina Young, brewing director at St Austell Brewery; Nicky Kong, owner of The Cat in The Glass; Helen Anne Smith, co-editor of Burum Collective; Ross Clarke, travel, food, and wine writer; and Natalya Watson, WSET beer educator.
There were a number of winners connected to CAMRA’s Learn & Discover project, or who have had work published by CAMRA Books. CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins was at the awards dinner and said: “It was a pleasure to celebrate the best of British beer, cider, and pub writing last night in such esteemed company.
“We are delighted that three CAMRA works, and the Learn & Discover platform, took home top prizes in their categories, against stiff competition, and we’re looking forward to another year working with a stellar line-up of authors and content creators to bring quality information and educational information to beer and cider consumers.
“On behalf of CAMRA, I want to congratulate all the winners and shortlisted nominees — they really do represent the best of what we do.”
Full list of winners
Brewer of the Year, sponsored by SIBA
Dominic Driscoll, Thornbridge Brewery
Best corporate beer communication, sponsored by Brewhouse Brewing Co
CAMRA Learn & Discover (Ruvani de Silva)
Best beer business communicator
Gold: Will Hawkes
Silver: Rob MacKay
Best communication about no- and low-alcohol beer, sponsored by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I
Gold: Mark Dredge
Silver: Emma Inch
Highly commended: David Nilsen
Best communication about sustainability in beer and pubs, sponsored by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company
Gold: Ruvani de Silva
Silver: Mark Dredge
Best audio or video beer communication, sponsored by St Austell Brewery
Gold: Emma Inch
Silver: Ben Gibbs
Highly commended: Sam Grist
Best short-form beer writing
Gold: David Bailey
Silver: Katie Mather
Highly commended: Mark Dredge
Best technical communication about beer, sponsored by WSET
Gold: Charlotte Cook
Silver: Mark Dredge
Highly commended: Anthony Gladman
The Susanna Forbes award for best communication about cider, sponsored by Aspall
Gold: Adam Wells
Silver: Jane Peyton
Best citizen beer communicator, sponsored by Harvey’s Tom Paine
Gold: Jessamy Queree
Silver: Imran Rahman-Jones
Best newcomer to beer communication, sponsored by Fuller, Smith & Turner
Gold: Anaïs Lecoq
Silver: Cliff Lucas
Best self-published beer writing
Gold: Pete Brown
Silver: Lloyd Lugsden
Best communication about diversity in beer
Gold: Ruvani de Silva
Silver: Emma Inch
Highly Ccommended: Lucy Corne
Best communication about beer and travel, sponsored by VISITFLANDERS
Gold: Ruvani de Silva
Silver: Matthew Curtis
Highly commended: Michael Clarke
Best communication about pubs, sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Gold: Emma Inch
Silver: Rachel Hendry
Highly commended: Pete Brown
Best commissioned beer writing, sponsored by Greene King
Gold: Will Hawkes
Silver: Pete Brown
Highly commended: Mark Dredge
Best book about beer or pubs, sponsored by Heineken
Gold: Dr Christina Wade
Silver: Matthew Curtis
