The Business Awards, now in their sixth year, invited entries from SIBA’s 500+ brewer members into a number of categories such as Best Customer Support, Best E-Business, Best Label Design and Best Marketing – which was won by Castle Rock which took the overall accolade.
Several Awards were also given for design of both draught and packaged product.
A further eight brewers were recognised at the event for their business development skills while awards were also made, for the first time, to one SIBA pub associate – now known as SIBA Locals – and one supplier.
SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said, “Castle Rock impressed the judges firstly with their marketing, in particular the phenomenal media interest they generated for their ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Royal Wedding ale earlier this year, but it is their sheer professionalism, and their business drive, that won the day for them.
"Far from sitting on their laurels after winning Champion Beer of Britain in 2010, Castle Rock have continued to evolve their range of core and seasonal beers, opened a bigger brewery and developed their pub estate. They are worthy winners of this year’s Overall Business Award.”
The Awards:
Best Customer Support
Winner: Freedom Brewery, Abbotts Bromley, Staffordshire
Best E-Business
Winner: Bays Brewery, Paignton, Devon
Best Community Support
Winner: Palmers Brewery, Bridport, Dorset
Highly Commended: Otter Brewery, Devon
Best Marketing
Winner: Castle Rock Brewery, Nottingham
Highly Commended: Purity Brewing Company, Gt Alne, Warwickshire, Wye Valley Brewery, Herefordshire
Best Sustainability
Winner: Otter Brewery, Honiton, Devon
Highly Commended: Stroud Brewery, Gloucestershire
Best Business Development
Winner: Moorhouse’s Brewery, Burnley, Lancashire
Highly Commended: Stroud Brewery
Best Individual Bottle Label
Winner: Derby Brewing Company
Best Range of Bottle Labels
Off Licence News
Winner: Freedom Brewery
Best Individual Pumpclip
Winner: Palmers Brewery
Best Range of Pumpclips
Winner: Irving Brewery, Portsmouth
Highly Commended: Castle Rock Brewery
Best Total Design Concept
Winner: Wold Top Brewery, Driffield, Yorkshire
Best SIBA Local
Winner: The Bell, Leominster, Herefordshire
Best Supplier Associate
Winner: Charles Faram & Co
Highly Commended: Napthens Ales by Mail
Overall Winner
Winner: Castle Rock Brewery, Nottingham
Highly Commended: Palmers Brewery