Ben wins beer writers' title for second time

l British Guild of Beer Writers' beer writer of the year Ben McFarland (centre), pictured with celebrity chef Brian Turner (left), who presented the awards, and last year's winner Alastair Gilmour

December 13, 2006: Ben McFarland has been named beer writer of the year at the prestigious British Guild of Beer Writers' annual awards dinner.

The overall winner is chosen from one of six category winners, highlighting the very best of beer writing and journalism. Ben — who writes for various trade and national titles, including The Guardian and Independent on Sunday — also won the title in 2004.

Last year’s winner, and chairman of the judges, Alastair Gilmour, said: “Ben is an exceptional talent and his knowledge and passion for beer really comes across in his journalism. It was a tough decision as this year’s entrants were of the highest standard. Ben’s middle name is ‘Initiative’.”

	THE BRITISH GUILD OF BEER WRITERS
	The British Guild of Beer Writers was established in 1988 to help spread the word about beer and brewing and improve standards of beer writing in general. Today the guild has more than 140 members — to find out more go to www.beerwriters.co.uk

Ben also scooped the award for National Journalism and was joined on the podium by seven other winners, who all received a cheque for £1,000.

Other awards included:

l Brewer of the year — Roger Ryman, of St Austell Brewery.

l The judges' award for excellence — freelance journalist John Westlake, from Mapperley Park, Nottingham.

l The Budvar travel bursary — freelancer and TV broadcaster Pete Brown, from Stoke Newington, London. He was judged to benefit most from a travel bursary, which includes a trip to the Budvar brewery in the Czech Republic.

l The Bishop’s Finger award for beer and food writing — Richard Fox, from Harrogate, broadcaster and author of The Food & Beer Cook Book. He also won a weekend break for two at a Shepherd Neame pub hotel.

l The Whitstable Bay Organic Brewed sustainability writing award — Dominic Roskrow, from Hingham, Norfolk, launch editor of Beers of the World magazine. Entrants were encouraged to submit articles that promote beer as a healthy, natural product, using sustainable raw ingredients and brewing processes.

l The Wells & Young’s trade and technical journalism award — Adam Withrington, from London SE1, drinks writer for The Publican. Runner up was freelance journalist Nigel Huddleston, from Brighton, who received £500.

l The Cains Finest Lager award for regional journalism— the Liverpool Daily Post’s Mike Chapple, who lives in the city. He also won a weekend for two in a top Liverpool hotel. The runner-up was the Yorkshire Post’s Simon Jenkins, who lives in Leeds; he received £500.

l The award for national journalism — Ben McFarland, from London W6. Runner-up was freelance journalist and author Adrian Tierney-Jones, from Winsford, Somerset.

This was the 19th year of the guild dinner. Presenting the awards was celebrity chef Brian Turner, who also created a mouth-watering menu, including chocolate fondant with Jaffa Cake ice cream, inspired by regional ales, in this case Young’s Double Chocolate Stout.

Guild chairman Tim Hampson said: “We not only had a record year for entrants, all of which were of the highest standard, but we also staged the biggest and best celebration of beer in the country.”

More than 170 journalists, brewers and pub operators attended the dinner, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, in South Kensington, London.