The inaugural Women in Beer Awards ceremony has taken place, at Eko Brewery and Taproom in London, celebrating the women shaping the beer industry.
More than 280 entries were judged by an independent panel, comprising:
- Lorraine Copes, founder and chief executive of Be Inclusive Hospitality
- Jonny Garrett, co-founder of The Craft Beer Channel, and chair of the British Guild of Beer Writers
- Daisy Turnell, co-owner of Tipple Marketing
- Andy Parker, founder of Elusive Brewing)
- Helena Adedipe, owner and co-founder of Eko Brewery, and
- Anthony Adedipe, owner and co-founder of Eko Brewery
The judges also had the important task of choosing the Women in Beer Industry Icon, honouring a woman whose career and influence has impacted the beer industry for the better. The award was handed to trailblazer and beer personality Melissa Cole.
“It’s been amazing to see the support of the industry for these awards,” said Women in Beer founder Amelie Tassin. “It was very exciting to organise the awards, and to see the room filled with so many talented women last night was a real recompense for me.
“We can all agree that Women in Beer Awards are needed, and I am looking forward to working on the second edition next year.”
The award winners
Brewer of the year (sponsored by SIBA)
Kate Hyde, Hand Brew Co
Rising star award (sponsored by Simpsons Malt)
Lucy Stevens, Closet Brewing
Communicator of the year (sponsored by Crisp Malt and The Malt Miller)
Joanne Love
Entrepreneur of the year (sponsored by Charles Faram)
Lily Waite-Marsden, Queer Brewing
Highly commended: Elizabeth Townsend, Kerroo Brewing
Beer expert of the year, sponsored by Yakima Chief Hops
Christina Wade
Mentor of the year, sponsored by The Keg Warehouse
Dawn Maskell, International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, Heriot-Watt University
Industry champion of the year, sponsored by SSV Ltd
Lucy Do, The Dodo Micropub
Beer creative of the year, sponsored by WHC Lab
Charlotte Waite-Marsden, Queer Brewing
Hospitality leader of the year, sponsored by Hit Training
Joanna Whalley, Wigan Central
Women in Beer Industry Icon, sponsored by CAMRA
Melissa Cole
