Greene King launches search to find Britain’s best beer writers
Beer is Britain’s national drink, indeed it is the best long drink in the world, but most stories published or broadcast about alcoholic drink are about wine – describing how it is made, where the grapes are grown and the ideal foods to eat with it.
One of Britain’s leading brewers Greene King want to change that with its continued support to find the journalists who write and broadcast about beer and encourage them to enter their best work into this year’s British Guild of Beer Writers Beer Writer of the Year awards.
Each and every day Britain’s drink more than 27 million pints of it – men drink it, women drink it – we drink it with food and some of the country’s top TV chefs are developing menus and recipes using it.
But the media concentrates on stories about wine – well Greene King and the British Guild of Beer Writers’ mission is to get the British media to write about beer - our national drink.
Greene King managing director Rooney Anand said: “We want to find the talented people, who are writing about Britain’s national drink, showing that it is not just a drink for the old, but for younger people and for women. Beer is a sophisticated drink that can be savoured on its own or as an ideal accompaniment to food.
“Beer is the best long drink in the world, made with natural ingredients, and with a diversity and complexity unsurpassed by any other alcoholic drink.
“Beer is a vibrant drink with a far greater range of tastes and styles than wine – and most of it is made in this country, primarily using raw materials which are grown in the UK. Beer is a drink with a wonderful, fantastic story to be told, and we want to find the people telling the story.”
To enter the competition send four copies of each entry, published or broadcast in the 12 months up to 30 September 2004, by 8 October to Beer Writers Competition, c/o Morrice Partnership Ltd, IT Centre, York Science Park, Heslington, York YO10 5DG.
Full details follow

Notes for editors
Writers, broadcasters, photographers, poets and illustrators have the chance to win £1,000 in three different categories and one of the winners will be named as the British Guild of Beer Writers' Beer Writer of the Year.
Nominations and entries are being sort for three categories.
· British Guild of Beer Writers' Gold tankard for national journalism - includes the national press, consumer magazines, national television and radio and internet. First prize of £1,000 and a runner-up will receive a silver award and £500 in prize money – sponsored by Greene King.
· British Guild of Beer Writers' Gold tankard for regional journalism - includes local and regional newspapers, radio and television and CAMRA newsletters. First prize of £1,000 and a runner-up will receive a silver award and £500 in prize money – sponsored by Greene King.
· The British Guild of Beer Writers' Gold tankard - for trade and technical journalism. First prize of £1,000 and a runner-up will receive a silver award and £500 in prize money – sponsored by Greene King.
One of these three Gold winners will be named as the British Guild of Beer Writers' Beer Writer of the Year.
· In addition there is the Budvar Travel Bursary – for the best article published in English on an overseas beer matters – with a prize of £1,000 plus a trip to the brewery in the Czech Republic - sponsored by Budweiser Budvar.
Entrants do not have to be members the of British Guild of Beer Writers – they just have to communicate about beer or beer culture, new products or the ingredients and brewing of beer.
There is no limitation on the number of categories that an individual may enter, but they may only submit four examples of their work in an individual category.
To enter the competition send four copies of each entry, published or broadcast in the 12 months up to 30 September 2004, by 8 October to to Beer Writers Competition, c/o Morrice Partnership Ltd, IT Centre, York Science Park, Heslington, York YO10 5DG.
Website entries, send web address only.
Entries can only be returned if accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or packaging.
The winners will be announced at the British Guild of Beer Writers famous Beer Banquet annual dinner at Ironmongers’ Hall, in London in December.
The judges will accept nominations for someone else’s work. The judges, decision is final.
All legitimate entrants will receive a gift pack of a Greene King beer, send after the results are announced in December, and in addition non guild members will be given six months free membership to the British Guild of Beer Writers beginning in December 2005.
For more information on the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards contact Tim Hampson – Tel: 07768 614283
Email tim@infopub.co.uk.