Scottish craft breweries and businesses among finalists for independent craft beer business awards

SIBA has released its list of finalists competing in a range of categories for leading craft beer businesses in this year’s Business Awards, with several Scottish businesses – Crisp Malt, Isle of Arran Brewery and Stewart Brewing - among them.

North Brewing Co in Leeds scooped the coveted Brewing Business of the Year award at the SIBA Business Awards 2020

The Society of Independent Brewers will be holding its virtual awards ceremony on March 18 with two new categories created to acknowledge the efforts of British brewing businesses, pubs, bars, bottle shops and beer retailers across the UK in rising to the challenges of the pandemic.

The two new special awards categories created for the SIBA Business Awards 2021 are the Covid Brewery Initiative Award and Covid Supplier Initiative Award – with Alloa-based malt supplier Crisp Malt having made the cut among finalists for the latter category. These awards hope to highlight how brewers and suppliers have supported their business, employees and customers while adapting to the many pressures of the last few months.

Crisp Malt have also been shortlisted for the Supplier Associate of the Year award alongside notable competitors such as Charles Faram, Kegstar and Munthons.

Meanwhile, much-loved craft brewery, Isle of Arran Brewery, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Green Business award highlighting craft beer businesses which have reflected an environmental awareness and sustainable responsibility in their operations.

Edinburgh-based craft beer producers, Stewart Brewing, are also among noted English finalists up for the award for the UK's Best Independent Craft Brewery Taproom.

Neil Walker, Chair of Judges for the SIBA Business Awards, said:

“The entries this year were varied and of a hugely high quality, which given the current pressure facing the beer and brewing industry is all the more impressive. As well as the two new categories for Covid initiatives the SIBA Business Awards 2021 congratulate excellence in the brewing industry across a variety of subjects, and this year was no different, with amazing innovation and business acumen on display. Huge congratulations to all of the Finalists and the very best of luck during the awards presentation next week."

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