Ben McFarland Becomes Youngest Ever Beer Writer of the Year
Freelance beer writer Ben McFarland was named as the British Guild of Beer Writers' Beer Writer of the Year 2004 last night, and became the youngest ever recipient of this award.
In doing so Ben (28) came out top of a field that contained twice the number of entries as the 2003 competition. Previously 2003 had seen the largest number of entries in this annual competition which is open to anyone involved in communicating about beer in whatever medium.
Ben, who regularly writes for Flavour, The Publican and French Magazine amongst others, was clearly totally surprised to be named as Trade and Technical Writer of the Year, never mind, Beer Writer of the Year. He was initially lost for words, and professed to be 'dead chuffed' at being recognised. He went on to say that he had only been a writer for four years, and had found it hard to get both bars, restaurants and the style magazines that cater for them to take beer as seriously as they did food, wine, service or dιcor. 'Too often,' he said, 'beer was just a commercial bolt on. '
However, he felt the tide was changing and that beer's time had come. 'If we carry on doing what we have been doing we'll be alright.' He said, referring to the new ways in which beer was being discussed.
The awards were sponsored for their second year by Greene King, whose Head Brewer, John Bexon presented the tankards. This was also the second year that the awards have been in their new format with entries being submitted for one of three categories; National, Regional and Trade and Technical. Ben's victory in the Trade and Technical category, long seen as a harder area in which to shine under the old system, is a vindication of the new style awards.
Ben's award was hugely popular with 130 or so assembled beer writers, brewers and guests at a crowded Ironmongers' Hall, not least as a reflection of the personal affection Ben enjoys, but also because of his youth and the fact that the nature of publications like Flavour are seen as indicative of the future direction of beer promotion. This was a terrific result with added Zeitgeist.
Ben's entry for the competition were for his work on Flavour magazine.
The 2004 Awards in Full Are:-
Budvar Travel Bursary - Jeff Evans
National Journalism
Gold - Brian Glover
Silver - Barrie Pepper
Regional Journalism
Gold - Simon Jenkins
Silver - Arthur Taylor
Trade and Technical
Gold- Ben McFarland
Silver - Bernadette Costello
Beer Writer of The Year - Ben McFarland.
|
|
|
|
