Flookburgh-based Fell Brewery are celebrating after staff member Imogen Beedham received a prestigious award in an industry-wide competition.
Imogen faced challengers from Bristol and Edinburgh but was named young brewer of the year in the 2024 Brewers Choice Awards organised by The Brewers Journal.
The South Cumbria brewery were also nominated in the sustainability category which was won by Bristol brewers Wiper and True.
This year’s submissions were judged by author Melissa Cole, renowned brewer and managing director Jenn Merrick, Lotte Peplow, the craft beer ambassador in Europe for the Brewers Association, and Paul Davies, founder of the award-winning AleHunters Brewery Tours.
Also on the panel were freelance beverage and hospitality consultant Sean Robertson, the regarded pub landlord and champion of the on-trade Roger Molyneux, Brew Resourceful founder Chris Lewington, and Natalya Watson WSET’s Business Development Manager – Beer and Beer Educator. Tim Sheahan, editor of The Brewers Journal was also part of the judging.
Nearly 300 figures from the beer, brewing and hospitality sectors descended upon The Business Design Centre in Islington, London on Monday night to help celebrate and recognise the very best in beer and brewing.
The awards dinner, which featured music from The Colts, recognised the New Brewery of the Year, New Beer of the Year, Sustainability Champion, Best Branding, Beer of the Year, Brewer of the Year, Brewery of the Year, Young Brewer of the Year, Global Ambassador Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“It has been another testing period for businesses involved in the brewing sector,” Tim Sheahan, editor of The Brewers Journal, said. “Our raison d’être is to champion the industry and play our small part in sharing and celebrating the incredible knowledge, skills and expertise that this sector has in abundance.”
