Entries have opened for the 2025 British Guild of Beer Writers’ Awards, with beer, pub, and cider communicators invited to submit work in 14 categories.
2024 beer writer of the year Ruvani de Silva
For 2025, the guild has announced an update of its categories. There will also be a new best beer publisher category, to recognise the work of newspapers, magazines, and websites that commission work from communicators, as well as any businesses which have created content for the specific purpose of promoting a business or product.
The guild has also decided to take a stance on generative AI, stressing that its use won’t be allowed as the guild looks to champion human creativity and journalistic integrity.
“With opportunities in beer writing getting ever harder to find, our awards get more important every year,” said guild chair Jonathan Garrett. “We’ve committed to ring-fencing our industry-leading prize fund, and have also tweaked our categories to represent modern beer writing as best we can.
“I can’t wait to read the winners after last year’s showing — we’re lucky to have such talented communicators.”
The winners and runners-up — including for brewer of the year (sponsored by SIBA) and the new beer of the year category — will be announced at the guild’s annual dinner and awards event in London on 27th November. For the third year running, the guild has partnered with Big Penny Social to host the event.
All entries will be judged by the guild’s independent panel, chaired by the current beer writer of the year, Ruvani de Silva. “The BGBW awards offer beer writers a space to enhance our collective value as a community, coming together to support one another and recognise the value of our writing,” she said.
“To have our hard work and talent recognised by our peers is hugely rewarding personally and professionally, and lifts our industry up as a whole.”
This year’s judging panel will be revealed in the upcoming weeks. Full details of all categories and advice on how to submit entries can be found on the guild’s website. Entries must be received via the dedicated entry form by the closing date of 22nd August. Work submitted must have been published between 1st September, 2024, and 22nd August, 2025.
Award categories
Best beer publisher
Best commissioned beer writing, sponsored by Greene King
Best short-form beer writing, sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Best technical communication about beer
Best book about beer or pubs, sponsored by Heineken
Best audio or video beer communication, sponsored by Fuller, Smith & Turner
Best communication about no- and low-alcohol beer, sponsored by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I
Best communication about sustainability in beer and pubs, sponsored by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company
Best communication about beer and travel, sponsored by VISITFLANDERS
Best beer news and business communicator
Best self-published beer writing
Best new or citizen beer communicator
The Susanna Forbes award for best communication about cider
Guild award for best communication about diversity in beer
