Wye Valley takes top spot at SIBA Awards
The Wye Valley Brewery has been named the overall winner at this year's SIBA Brewing Business Awards.
The independent brewer's association singled out the beer producer and fledgling pub operator for a range of inititaives that illustrated an "impressive commitment to marketing and selling great beer".
It was commended for its tie-up with local neighbour Morgan Cars, which saw it brew a special beer to mark the car maker's centenary. It also named its a new pub The Morgan to emphasise the association.
Wye Valley also launched a beer to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the start of the First World War, and raised money for associated charities.
The Morgan Cars tie up also saw the group collect top honours in the Best Launch category.
The awards, designed to highlight best practice among the UK's army of small brewers - which make up the lion's share of the 700 companies making beer in this country.
Best Sponsorship went to Freedom Brewery for its partnering of a three-day summer festival with Heart FM.
The Environmental Initiative prize was awarded to East Anglia's Mill Green Brewery, which has a mission to be the UK's greenest brewery. Related to its green aims, it also scooped the Best Innovation gong for what the judges described as its "sustainable thinking", which culminated in the purchase of a 14-acre plot to grow its own hops and barley.
Best Support for an On-Trade Customer - sponsored by the Morning Advertiser - went to Thornbridge Brewery for its work with Sheffield Football Club to regenorate the Coach & Horses pub, helping the club lift sales from £1500 per week to over £8,000.
Best Use of Electronic Media went to Warwickshire's Purity Brewing Company for its successful utilisation of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to engage with consumers.
Best Packaging went to The Moor Beer Company, Best PR/Promotion was awarded to The Derby Brewing Company, and Best Support for an Off-Trade Customer was collected by Titanic Brewery.
The 10 awards were supported by Camra, Croxsons, Eco-logical, Festival Glass, The Morning Advertiser, Multi Labels Limited, Muntons, Off Licence News and The Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers Association.
