McFarland scoops Beer Writer of the Year crown

db contributor Ben McFarland has been named Beer Writer of the Year at the British Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards Dinner.

McFarland, who has written a number of news stories and features on the global beer industry for the drinks business over the past couple of years, also won the Fuller’s ESB Award for Best Writing for the Beer & Pub Trade.

Last year’s winner and chairman of the judges Simon Jenkins, pictured left with Ben, said: “Ben is really setting the standard for writing about beer.

“His work is always interesting and informative – and his passion for the subject really shines through everything he writes.”

The Beer Writer of the Year award seeks to find the very best of beer writing and journalism in the UK and the overall winner is chosen from among the winners of seven other categories in the competition.

The Guild’s Brewer of the Year was named as Kernel Brewery’s Evin O’Riordain.