St Austell Brewery’s brewing director, Georgina Young, has been named Brewer of the Year by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG).
Left to right: Piers Thompson, St Austell Brewery’s external relations director; Tonia Antoniazzi, chair of the APPBG; Georgina Young; and Paul Harbottle, St Austell Brewery’s commercial director
The recipient of the award is decided by a panel comprising representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), Frederic Robinson, Titanic Brewery, and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The award recognises not only brewing expertise, but also the individual’s wider contribution to beer, brewing, people, and the community.
“Georgina was a standout candidate and a truly deserving winner of this year’s award,” said Rita King, honorary secretary of the APPBG. “Her dedication to brewing, her innovative spirit, and her passion for educating and welcoming others into the industry are highly respected across the beer community.
“When we speak to people about influential brewers, Georgina’s name is often mentioned as an inspiring figure whom many admire.”
Georgina joined St Austell Brewery in May 2019, leaving her role as head brewer at Fuller’s to return to the West Country, where she grew up. Georgina was promoted to brewing director in 2020, and oversees production at both of St Austell Brewery’s brewing sites — St Austell and Hare Brewery in Bath. She continues to receive international recognition for the quality of St Austell Brewery’s beers.
‘Committed to celebrating Great British beer’
Last year, she successfully launched St Austell Brewery’s first no and low beer, Proper Job 0.5%, which has already scooped awards just nine months on from its debut, as well as releasing a canned version of her refreshing pale ale made with 100% British ingredients, Anthem.
Georgina said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been given this award, which I was truly not expecting. It is a real privilege to be a brewer at St Austell Brewery and to be able to collaborate with such talented individuals across the industry.
“Together, we are committed to celebrating great British beer, inspiring the next generation of brewers, and advancing sustainable practices in an ever-evolving world.”
The award comes hot on the heels of being voted Brewers’ Brewer of the Year at the SIBA Business Awards this year. In 2023, Georgina also received two further accolades: Brewer of the Year at the Guild of Beer Writers Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Brewer’s Congress.
