Queer Brewing have won the Star Award category in We Are Beer’s annual Top 50 UK Beer Awards, recognising their work in driving industry change.
The award was specifically for Queer Brewing’s flagship pale ale, Existence As A Radical Act. There was a shortlisting for the brewer’s Witbier, too.
“Existence As A Radical Act uncompromisingly advocates for a more inclusive beer industry,” wrote We Are Beer in the announcement on Instagram.
“We think, at this moment in culture and in the category evolving and growing, that this beer and what Queer Brewing stands for is worthy of this year’s Star Award.”
Queer Brewing founder, Lily Waite-Marsden, said: “We were thrilled and honoured to see the announcement that Existence had won this year’s Star Award. To have our biggest beer recognised for the work that we do to provide visibility and representation for LGBTQ+ people in the beer world and beyond — as well as in helping to lead the industry in making beer a more welcoming and inclusive sphere — is very special, and a big honour.
“To be recognised alongside some of the very best beers and breweries in the industry is hugely meaningful to us, especially in the year where we’ve finally brought brewing in-house with the building of our own brewery after four years of contract brewing.”
Lily added: “It’s especially meaningful now, when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack in the UK — in particular considering the UK government attacking and removing trans people’s basic rights.
“What this beer and its name symbolise is that, in a hostile world, simply existing as yourself can be a radical and revolutionary act, so it means a great deal to receive this recognition right now. We’re so grateful to the We Are Beer team alongside the broad range of judges for this award — next year we’ll be gunning for the top spot!”
Existence As A Radical Act is Queer Brewing’s most popular beer, accounting for more than a quarter of their annual output. The 5% ABV pale ale is hopped with Citra and Simcoe and fermented with a Norwegian Kveik yeast strain, resulting in a bright and vibrant beer with notes of mango, pineapple, lime, and tangerine. It is gluten free.
