It's that time of year again.
Best UK Cask Beer:
Best UK Keg Beer:
Hmmm...yes, definitely suckled at the devil's drainpipe this year. The best though? Oh yes, Queer Brewing barley wine.
Best UK Bottled Beer:
Armagnac barrel aged Thomas Hardy Ale. Lovely, lovely, lovely. .
Best UK Canned Beer:
My favourite sister got me some cans from a nano brewery for xmas which I must confess did fill me with fear. Cans from a nano brewery I thought, what's the dissolved oxygen on that? But my fears were unfounded and the beers are lovely so Middle Child Party on the naughty step.
Best Overseas Draught:
That would be one of the 8% Budějovický beers guzzled from the conditioning tank. :-)
Best Overseas Bottled Beer:
What have I had this year? Not sure so I'll play it safe and go with Orval.
Best Overseas Canned Beer:
They've started selling Sierra Nevada beers in the shop at work and the Celebration IPA was very good.
Best collaboration brew:
Have I had any? Not that I can remember.
Best Overall Beer:
Prize Old Ale
Best Branding:
Not really my thing this so I'll just go with whatever Too Much Black Coffee have done for Thurstons again. .
Best UK Brewery:
Taking the unprecedented step of swerving from my beer choices and I'm going for Coniston as I had a great time visiting there. Great beers too.
Best Overseas Brewery:
Sierra Nevada
Best New Brewery Opening 2023
Can't think of one.
Pub/Bar of the Year:
The Crown again. I bet there aren't many pubs that will have a Sing-along-a-Wicker-Man night!
Best New Pub/Bar Opening 2023
Can't think of one of these either.
Beer Festival of the Year:
GBBF. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth from me when I heard there won't be one next year. I didn't do the rending of clothes though as it was a bit parky for that.
Supermarket of the Year:
I don't buy much bottled or canned beer currently as I can blag them from work. I did do some stocking up when I was near a Booths though which makes them the winners.
Independent Retailer of the Year:
Cobbett's Real Ale is handy when I'm in need of something special so they're this years winner.
Online Retailer of the Year:
Not my sort of thing either but I did get sent a case of beer by Gadd's so them.
Best Beer Book or Magazine:
There can be only one winner this year: Desi Pubs by David Jesudason. Amazing stuff he's been writing and I got so into the book I managed to miss a train stop!
Best Beer Blog or Website:
Simon Johnson Award for Best Beer Twitterer:
Sadly the decline of twitter is continuing but I think Jessica Mason has been best for news this year so @drinksmaven