The shortlist for the 2026 Brewers Choice Awards, organised by team behind The Brewers Journal, has been announced.
Judges from across the beer, brewing and the hospitality spectrum converged on Ghost Whale in Putney, London, to debate and discuss the wealth of excellent entries submitted for the 2026 iteration of The Brewers Choice Awards. The winners of which, will be crowned in London this September with tickets available here.
The categories up for discussion were Young Brewer of The Year, Brewer of The Year, New Brewery of The Year, Brewery of The Year, New Beer of The Year, Beer of The Year, Branding of The Year, and the Roger Ryman Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year’s submissions were judged by a wealth of talent that included journalist, judge and broadcaster Melissa Cole, AleHunters Brewery Tours founder Paul Davies, Lotte Peplow, the craft beer ambassador for Europe at the Brewers Association; Brew Resourceful founder Chris Lewington, Stuart Anderson the founder of London’s Ghost Whale and former Mikkeller location manager Jake Milne.
Also on the panel was Brewery Market founder Linda Birch beverage and hospitality consultant Sean Robertson and the regarded pub landlord and champion of the on-trade Roger Molyneux and Paul Davies, founder of the award-winning AleHunters Brewery Tours. Tim Sheahan, editor of The Brewers Journal, chaired the judging session.
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New Beer of The Year
Abbeydale | Reverence
Signature Brew | Do It Right
Duration Brewing | Where The Buffalo Roam
Donzoko/Omnipollo | True North
Vocation Brewery | Rooted Riches
Young Brewer of The Year
Sophie Ashdown | Buxton Brewery
Natalya Brown | State of Kind
Dillon Cook | Two Flints
Beer of The Year
Duration Brewing | Good Times
Donzoko | Northern Helles
Burnt Mill | Fog
Two Flints | Santiago
Twice Brewed | Number of The Yeast
New Brewery of The Year
Bearwood
Colbier
Indie Rabble
Brewer of The Year
Derek Bates | Duration Brewing
Harry Gwilliam | Attic Brew Co
Jacob Hobbs | Hackney Church Brew Co
Olivia Owinska | Northern Monk
James Rylance | Ideal Day Family Brewery
Toby McKenzie | RedWillow Brewery
Brewery of The Year
Attic Brew Co
Duration Brewing
Pillars
Elusive Brewing
Fell Brewery
Branding of The Year
Attic Brew Co
Burnt Mill
Duration Brewing
Northern Monk
Commenting on the shortlist, Tim Sheahan, global editor of The Brewers Journal, said: “It was once again a joy and privilege to be help chair the judging for this year’s awards. This is our way of showcasing and celebrating the stunning beers beers, breweries and, of course, the brewers that make up this fantastic industry.
“The quality of the submissions was incredibly high and I would like to thank everyone that entered and a huge well done to everyone that has made the shortlist this year.
“We look forward to announcing the winners, alongside the recipients of the Roger Ryman Lifetime Achievement at our 2026 Brewers Choice Awards dinner in London this September. Hopefully you’ll join us there.
“Special thanks to our sponsors, judges and also to Stuart Anderson and the team at the Ghost Whale in London for being the perfect hosts!”
The winners of the 2026 Brewers Choice Awards will be announced at the Brewers Choice Awards taking place on the evening of the first day of the Brewers Congress (29th September) at The Big Penny Social, London.
For full information and tickets, please click here.
