North American Guild of Beer Writers News

North American Guild of Beer Writers Announces Diversity in Beer Writing Grant Recipients

Bryan Roth — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:42:53 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers, along with support from CraftBeer.com, a website for beer lovers published by the Brewers Association, has selected four submissions to receive the 2020 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.

After receiving a collection of strong entries, the Guild and CraftBeer.com will work with four journalists to tell several important stories:

Alessandra Bergamin will chronicle a cross-border collaboration between California's Dos California's Brewsters, SouthNorte Beer Co., and Tijuana, Mexico's Lúdica Artesenal Cerveceria. The story will follow female brewers making a beer that will help fund scholarships for female peers in Mexico.

Stephanie Grant plans to report about the safety of women who work in the beer industry from a variety of roles and perspectives. Industry professionals will share stories and insight on the challenges they face at events, traveling, and more, as a way to give context to their experiences.

Louis Livingston-Garcia will tell the story of the leaders behind Minnesota's Brewing Change Collaborative, a group made up of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community working to share beer with minority communities and support those who are trying to break into beer.

Jen Blair will connect plant-based food and beer to write about how these dietary options can work together to create a more inclusive environment at events and among those who love beer, especially among African-Americans, who have the highest percentage of vegans among all demographics in the U.S.

As winners of the grant, all four will receive a cash stipend for completed work. The final stories will be published on CraftBeer.com.

The goal of NAGBW’s Diversity in Beer Writing Grant is to highlight the value of stories that can showcase diversity and inclusion – in all its forms and challenges – within beer. In addition to these projects, NAGBW and CraftBeer.com will select additional recipients later this year.

Additional underwriting for the 2020 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant comes from Allagash Brewing Company.

Entries Now Open for the 2020 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant

Bryan Roth — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 13:27:30 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers, along with support from CraftBeer.com, is now accepting applications for the third year of its Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.

The goal of this grant is to highlight the value of stories that can showcase diversity and inclusion - in all its forms and challenges - within beer. To best align with this goal, and to support a growing collection of writers that have not traditionally been represented covering the beer industry, those who identify as female, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The winner of the grant will receive a cash stipend for completed work, which will be published on CraftBeer.com, a website for beer lovers published by the Brewers Association.

From now through Jan. 24, applications can be submitted online using this form. Interested writers must provide a cover letter, two samples of work, and a pitch for their story idea that explores areas of diversity and inclusion in beer. A writer's level of experience and previous outlets of publication will not be the determining factor in a successful application. Previous coverage does not have to include the beer industry - an emphasis is placed on uniqueness of pitch and storytelling, not an intimate knowledge of beer.

Chosen writers will receive a stipend of at least 50 cents per word for their work, up to $1,000 (depending on the kind of story, length, and other factors), to be paid upon completion and publication of the story on CraftBeer.com.

A key goal of the Diversity in Beer Writing Grant is to provide an opportunity for writers of all skills and experience levels to cover a topic of personal interest and gain exposure to the industry.

Pitches should contain as much detail as possible for your idea and structure of a story, and display a clear direction of what the story will be. Review of pitches will take into consideration the overall idea, proposed execution, potential list of interviews and scope of story. Ability to provide photos with text should be noted, but will not influence the overall strength of an application.

Any materials submitted after noon EST Jan. 24 deadline will not be considered. NAGBW leadership will review applications and announce a recipient or recipients in February. Recipients receive editorial guidance and mentorship from NAGBW members, as well as insight from CraftBeer.com editors.

See the work of previous recipients:

Beth Demmon (2019): Craft, Community, and Children: The State of Parenting in the American Beer Industry
Adriana Fraser (2019) Celebrating Women in Beer at 2019 Beer With(out) Beards Festival
Rebecca Johnson (2018): Pride, Not Prejudice: Brewing Safe Spaces for the LGBTQ+ Community

For questions or more information about the grant, contact Bryan Roth, NAGBW director, at bryandroth@gmail.com.

Complete an application with this form.

Additional underwriting for the 2020 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant comes from Allagash Brewing Company.

NAGBW announces 2019 awards in beer journalism

Bryan Roth — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 20:57:11 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers held its annual awards ceremony Oct. 4. Congratulations to all our winners:

Best Book

The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings by Claire Bullen
Drink Beer, Think Beer: Getting to the Bottom of Every Pint by John Holl
Brew Beer Like a Yeti: Traditional Techniques and Recipes for Unconventional Ales, Gruits, and Other Ferments Using Minimal Hops by Jereme Zimmerman

Honorable Mention: The Widmer Way: How Two Brothers Led Portland's Craft Beer Revolution by Jeff Alworth

Best Blog

Best Beer Podcast/Broadcast

Craft Beer Channel by Jonathan Garrett
Fermentation Beer and Brewing Radio by Emma Inch
Good Beer Hunting Podcast by Good Beer Hunting

Honorable Mention: Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine Podcast by John Holl

Best Short Form Writing

Zwickelbier: It's time for this beer trend to take off by Zak Stambor, Chicago Tribune
B-Roll: No. 444 by Kyle Kastranec, Good Beer Hunting
B-Roll: No. 439 by Lily Waite, Good Beer Hunting

Best Beer Review

Beer Actually: Abnormal Beer Co. Portfolio by Ian Cheesman, West Coaster SD
Beer Bust: The pop-up from acclaimed Danish brewery Mikkeller is the talk of Portland beer. But the brew doesn’t live up to the hype. By Andi Prewitt, Willamette Week
The OGs of Craft Beer: Great Lakes Brewing Edmund Fitzgerald Porter by David Nilsen, Porch Drinking

Honorable Mention: Deep Six: DEYA Brewing Company’s Steady Rolling Man Pale Ale by Lily Waite, Good Beer Hunting

Best Technical Writing

An Uncharted Wilderness — Understanding Hop Compound Biotransformation by Claire Bullen, Good Beer Hunting
If You Know, You Know — The Secret Handshake of Side-Pull Taps by Evan Rail, Good Beer Hunting
Getting Up Close with Glycol by Brian Yaeger, Craft Beer & Brewing

Honorable Mention: Beer At Zero: Breweries Explore the Non-Alcohol Space by John Holl, Craft Beer & Brewing

Best Beer and Food Writing

Cooking With Beer: Local chefs talk braising, baking, glazing, and barbecuing with America’s favorite after-work beverage by Anne-Fitten Glenn, Edible Asheville
How to Host a Winter Beer, Cheese & Charcuterie Pairing by Jeremy Storton, CraftBeer.com
Dressing Up Beer by Crystal and Tara Luxmore, Food & Drink

Honorable Mention: GBH Provisions — Grilled Langoustines with Seaweed Butter and Smashed Potatoes with Anderson Valley Gose by Claire Bullen, Good Beer Hunting

Best Beer Criticism or Commentary

The Fraudulent Influencer by Douglas J. Veliky, Beer Crunchers
Anheuser-Busch says it's ready for transparency. It's not. by Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune
Six Changes the Great American Beer Festival Should Consider for 2019 by Jonathan Shikes, Westword

Best Business Writing

Brutal Honesty: A Brewery Owners Shares His Survival Guide After Losing $800k to DME by Crystal Luxmore, The Growler (Canada)
Suds To Buds: Why Cannabis Is Pulling Talent From Craft Beer by Crystal Luxmore, Lift & Co.
Anheuser-Busch on its way to becoming king of craft beer too by Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune

Honorable mention: Craft Breweries Defy Convention By Beginning To Drop Prices by Tara Nurin, Forbes

Best History Writing

Missing Ingredients — The (Incomplete) Story of Thomas Jefferson’s Unsung Brewer by J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham, Good Beer Hunting
The Great New York 'Bier' Trials; Or how Lager Changed America by Lee Graves, LeeGraves.com
Tiny Bubbles — How Nitrogenation Changed Beer Forever by Evan Rail, Good Beer Hunting

Best Beer and Travel Writing

A Slingshot Against the Colossus — Exploring Croatia’s Rising Beer Scene by Claire Bullen, Good Beer Hunting
In Xiamen, Fat Fat Beer Horse Loves Beer, So They Make Their Own by Brian Spencer, Beer Travelist
Finding Community on Foot: My 100-mile Denver Brew Hike by Liz Thomas, CraftBeer.com

Best National or International Reporting

Instrumental by Breandán Kearney, Belgian Beer & Food
A Story of Resilience — Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California by Alyssa Pereira, Good Beer Hunting
If You’re Not First, You’re Last — Why Michelob Ultra is the Most Important American Beer Since Bud Light by Bryan Roth, Good Beer Hunting

Honorable Mention: Is Beer Loyalty Dead? by Kate Bernot, The Takeout

Honorable Mention: In Vinocervisia Veritas: The Rise of Wine Beers by Brian Yaeger, CraftBeer.com

Best Local Reporting

In Trump era, breweries and bars wear politics on their sleeves by Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune
Craft Beer's New Reality by Ed Sealover, Denver Business Journal
Fresh Fest black beer fest makes connections and history by Bob Batz Jr., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Honorable Mention: City Beer Moves Up: How one small underground shop changed the SF beer scene by Steve Shapiro and Gail Ann Williams, Beer by BART

Honorable Mention: It's Oktoberfest! What happened to German beer culture in Chicago? By Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune

Want to display the new NAGBW logo to highlight your membership or win? Download it here.

2019 NAGBW Awards Competition Open for Entries July 29 to Aug. 23

Bryan Roth — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 21:44:03 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) announces its 6th annual competition for writers, bloggers, authors and broadcasters — now underway. The 2019 NAGBW Awards accepts entries through Friday, Aug. 23.

The NAGBW Awards honor the best beer and brewing industry coverage in 13 categories, ranging from newspaper and magazine stories to podcasts. Winners are eligible for cash prizes and a certificate.

With its annual writing competition, the Guild aims to broaden the conversation about beer and brewing, raise the standards of writing, and celebrate all the good work that's taken place in the past year.

Deadline to apply: Friday, Aug. 23, 2019

Entries published between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 are eligible.

Fees are prorated for members at $15 per entry. Non-members pay $30 per entry. You must be a current paid member of the NAGBW to get the discount. To join the NAGBW, please allow 24 hours for your application to be processed at nagbw.org.

Questions: email bryandroth@gmail.com or contact NAGBW via Twitter @nagbw

Winners will be announced Oct. 4 at NAGBW’s annual meeting during the Great American Beer Festival. A full list of rules can be found here.

ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN GUILD OF BEER WRITERS – The Guild has members from USA, Canada, and other countries around the world. Guild membership is open to all writers and content producers who cover beer and brewing. Find membership information here.

North American Guild of Beer Writers announces Diversity in Beer Writing Grant recipients

Bryan Roth — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:45:19 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers, along with support from CraftBeer.com, a website for beer lovers published by the Brewers Association, has selected two submissions to receive the 2019 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.

After receiving a collection of strong entries, the Guild and CraftBeer.com decided to expand this year’s recipients in order to tell two important and timely stories:

Cynthia R. Greenlee, Ph.D, is a historian and journalist based in Durham, North Carolina. For her article tentatively titled, "Moonshine, Homebrew, and Dandelion Wine: Black Bootleggers and the Hidden History of 'Beer City,'" she's researching African-American contributions to drinking culture around Asheville, North Carolina in the mid-20th century.

Beth Demmon, a San Diego-based journalist, will report on the cross-section of enthusiasm for beer and parenthood. She'll explore the story of how a generation of craft beer lovers who have come to frequent taprooms integrate their interests with growing families and how choosing between personal and professional passions can mean that kids are inevitably going to be in beer-focused spaces.

As winner of the grant, Greenlee and Demmon will receive a cash stipend for completed work. The final stories will be published on CraftBeer.com in the fall.

The goal of NAGBW’s Diversity in Beer Writing Grant is to highlight the value of stories that can showcase diversity and inclusion – in all its forms and challenges – within beer. Applications were accepted online during the month of March. Writers submitted story pitches covering a wide variety of topics, from heritage to privilege and the value of different points of view.

Greenlee and Demmon’s stories will be recognized by the North American Guild of Beer Writers and CraftBeer.com during the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, held Oct. 3 to 5 in Denver, Colorado.

Announcing the 2019 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant

Bryan Roth — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:44:20 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers, along with support from the Brewers Association, is now accepting applications for its second Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.

The goal of this grant is to highlight the value of stories that can showcase diversity and inclusion - in all its forms and challenges - within beer. To best align with this goal, and to support a growing collection of writers that have not traditionally been represented covering the beer industry, those who identify as women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The winner of the grant will receive a cash stipend for completed work, which will be published on CraftBeer.com, a website for beer lovers published by the Brewers Association.

From now through March 25, applications can be submitted online using this form. Interested writers must provide a cover letter, two samples of work, and a pitch for their story idea that explores areas of diversity and inclusion in beer. A writer's level of experience and previous outlets of publication will not be the determining factor in a successful application. Previous coverage does not have to include the beer industry.

A key goal of the Diversity in Beer Writing Grant is to provide an opportunity for writers of all skills and experience levels to cover a topic of personal interest and gain exposure to the industry. NAGBW is seeking longform stories of at least 2,000 words in length.

Pitches can be heavily detailed in idea and structure, or present thematic topics of interest, but must display clear direction of what the story will be. Review of pitches will take into consideration the overall idea, proposed execution, potential list of interviews and scope of story. Ability to provide photos with text should be noted, but will not influence the overall strength of an application.

Any materials submitted after 9 a.m. EST March 25 deadline will not be considered. NAGBW leadership will review applications and announce the recipient of the 2018 grant on April 10. The recipient will receive editorial guidance and mentorship from NAGBW members, as well as insight from CraftBeer.com editors.

The chosen writer will receive a stipend of $1,000 as payment for their work, to be paid upon completion and publication of the story on CraftBeer.com. The final story will be recognized by the North American Guild of Beer Writers and CraftBeer.com during the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, held Oct. 3 to 5 in Denver, Colorado.

See the work of 2018 recipient, Rebecca Johnson: Pride, Not Prejudice: Brewing Safe Spaces for the LGBTQ+ Community.

For questions or more information about the grant, contact Bryan Roth, NAGBW director, at bryandroth@gmail.com.

Complete an application with this form.

Announcing winners of the 2018 NAGBW awards

Bryan Roth — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 21:32:47 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers held its annual awards ceremony Sept. 21. Congratulations to all our winners:

Best Book

Best Blog

Honorable Mention: PeteBrown.net by Pete Brown

Best Short Form Writing

Kettle souring is quicker, cheaper way to make sour beers, but don't knock them for that by Zak Stambor, Chicago Tribune
B-Roll: no. 393 by Claire Bullen, Good Beer Hunting
Shanghai Postcard by Brian Spencer, Beer Travelist

Best Beer Review

12 Beers of Christmas by Tom Bedell, The A Position
Ode to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale by John Holl, Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine
Fundamentals #26 by Matthew Curtis, Hop Burns & Black

Honorable Mention: Beer Basics by Crystal and Tara Luxmore, Food & Drink

Best Technical Writing

A surprise in the Yeast by John Holl, Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine
Out of Control by Breandán Kearney, Belgian Beer & Food
Homebrewing With Natural Spring Water by Dan Rabin, All About Beer

Best Beer and Food Writing

GBH Provisions — Slow-Roasted Lamb Ribs with Ramp Yogurt Sauce and Burning Sky Saison Anniversaire by Claire Bullen and Matthew Curtis, Good Beer Hunting
Pairing Food & Beer Without Rhyme or Reason by Zak Stambor, October
Bittersweet Endings by Jeff Cioletti, FSR Magazine

Honorable Mention: Even Ugly Fruit is Beautiful to Atlas Brew Works by Sarah Jane Curran, craftbeer.com

Best Beer Commentary

Parents, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up in Breweries (Or Bars) by Tara Nurin, Forbes
Craft Beer Enters the Upside Down - A Design Analysis by Kyle Kastranec, Good Beer Hunting
Boom in sugary pastry stouts anything but a sweet success for craft brewers by Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune

Best Business Writing

Hop Vendors Swallow A Bitter Pill As They Confront An Oversaturated Market & Customers Who Can't Pay by Tara Nurin, Forbes
Reviews: Taking the Good with the Bad by John Holl, Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine
How Ballast Point, once one of the fastest growing craft breweries, lost its mojo - and how it might get it back by Greg Trotter, Chicago Tribune

Best Historical Writing

Craft Brewing and The Evolution of American Culture by Mike Kallenberger, The New Brewer
Beer & the City // Surviving Brusselization: the Fate of Brasseries Atlas by Eoghan Walsh, Brussels Beer City
A Stirring Tale Behind the Father of Homebrewing's Famous Spoon by Marty Jones, craftbeer.com

Honorable Mention: Beer in the Shadow of War by Christopher Barnes, All About Beer

Best National or International Reporting

A Nanoblendery Grows in Belgium: New Stirrings in the Old World of Lambic Beer by Gail Ann Williams & Steve Shapiro, Beer Advocate
In Bermondsey, a Steady Heartbeat — The Kernel in London England by Claire Bullen, Good Beer Hunting
Monumental — Remembering Michael Jackson’s Impact on Belgian Beer 10 Years After His Death by Breandán Kearney, Good Beer Hunting

Honorable Mention: Sexism in Beer: The Experiences of Women by Jeff Alworth, Beervana

Best Local Reporting

Sonoma Pride: 50 breweries join Russian River's fire relief cause by Alyssa Pereira, San Francisco Chronicle
Barrel-aged beer battle: Is Goose Island or Revolution Chicago's king? by Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune
Brewing a Bunch by Crystal Luxmore, The Growler

Best Beer Podcast/Broadcast

The Belgian Smaak Podcast by Breandán Kearney
Good Beer Hunting Podcast by Matthew Curtis
Good Beer Matters by Jeremy Storton

Honorable Mention: Tales from the Cask by Jennifer Balik, Chip Mims and Tony Walldroff

Best Beer and Travel Writing

Brewing in the Land of the Thunder Dragon: The Farmhouse Beer Culture of Buddhist Bhutan by Martin Thibault
The Fermenting Ecosystem: Scratch Brewing in Ava, Illinois by Grace Weitz
Destinations: Honolulu, Hawaii by Alexander Gates

Want to display the new NAGBW logo to highlight your membership or win? Download it here.

2018 NAGBW Awards Competition Open for Entries through Aug. 19

Bryan Roth — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 09:57:50 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) announces its 6th annual competition for writers, bloggers, authors and broadcasters — now underway. The 2018 NAGBW Awards accepts entries through Sunday, Aug. 19.

The NAGBW Awards honor the best beer and brewing industry coverage in 13 categories, ranging from newspaper and magazine stories to podcasts.

With its annual competition, the Guild aims to broaden the conversation about beer and brewing, raise the standards of writing, provide leadership and continuing education for practitioners of our profession, while also encouraging and supporting more participation throughout all media channels.

Deadline to apply: Sunday, Aug. 19

Entries published between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 are eligible.

Best Book
Best Beer Podcast/ Broadcast
Best Beer Blog
Best Beer and Travel Writing
Best Beer and Food Writing
Best Local Reporting
Best National or International Reporting
Best Historical Writing
Best Technical Beer Writing
Best Beer Commentary or Criticism
Best Short Form Beer Writing
Best Beer Review
Best Business Writing

Fees are prorated for members at $15 per entry. Non-members pay $30 per entry. You must be a current paid member of the NAGBW to get the discount. Payments can be made via PayPal through a provided link that appears on registration confirmation page. To join the NAGBW, please allow 24 hours for your application to be processed at nagbw.org.

*Please note that payments are accepted through PayPal and an account may be needed to finalize payment*

Questions: email bryandroth@gmail.com or contact NAGBW via Twitter @nagbw

Winners will be announced Sept. 21 at NAGBW’s annual meeting during the Great American Beer Festival. A full list of rules can be found here.

ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN GUILD OF BEER WRITERS – The new Guild has members from USA, Canada, and other countries around the world. Guild membership is open to all writers and content producers who cover beer and brewing, although industry and associate memberships are both non-voting categories. For more information, visit nagbw.org.

North American Guild of Beer Writers Announces Diversity in Beer Writing Grant Recipient

Bryan Roth — Tue, 08 May 2018 00:16:53 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers, along with support from CraftBeer.com, a website published by the Brewers Association, has selected Rebecca Johnson as the recipient for its first Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.

The guild made the announcement Thursday, May 3, during its meeting at the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville. Johnson is a writer based in Urbana, Illinois. She has a background in the beverage industry and has contributed articles on the food and drink scene to her local online newspaper. As winner of the grant, Johnson will receive a cash stipend for completed work. The final story will be published on CraftBeer.com in the fall.

The goal of NAGBW’s Diversity in Beer Writing Grant is to highlight the value of stories that can showcase diversity and inclusion — in all its forms and challenges — within beer. Applications were accepted online during the month of March. More than 45 writers submitted story pitches covering a wide variety of topics, from heritage to craft beer marketing.

“These are topics that aren’t just increasingly considered in our society, but more and more by brewers, brewery owners and all sorts of staff members who recognize the benefit of a diverse industry,” says Bryan Roth, NAGBW director. “As journalists, it’s our responsibility to provide honest context to the trends that are shaping beer, and this grant is an ideal way to provide new opportunities to new voices to do just that.”

“CraftBeer.com’s mission is to tell the diverse story of America’s small and independent brewers,” explains Jess Baker, CraftBeer.com editor-in-chief. “We’re honored to work with the guild on the Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.”

Johnson’s final work will be recognized by the North American Guild of Beer Writers and CraftBeer.com during the 2018 Great American Beer Festival, held Sept. 20 to 22 in Denver, Colorado.

Announcing the 2018 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant

Bryan Roth — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:00:00 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers, along with support from CraftBeer.com, a website for beer lovers published by the Brewers Association, is now accepting applications for its first Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.

The goal of this grant is to highlight the value of stories that can showcase diversity and inclusion - in all its forms and challenges - within beer. To best align with this goal, and to support a growing collection of writers that have not traditionally been represented covering the beer industry, those who identify as women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The winner of the grant will receive a cash stipend for completed work, which will be published on CraftBeer.com.

From now through March 30, applications can be submitted online using this form. Interested writers must provide a cover letter, two samples of work, and a pitch for their story idea that explores areas of diversity and inclusion in beer. A writer's level of experience and previous outlets of publication will not be the determining factor in a successful application. Previous coverage does not have to include the beer industry.

A key goal of the Diversity in Beer Writing Grant is to provide an opportunity for writers of all skills and experience levels to cover a topic of interest and gain exposure to the industry. NAGBW is seeking longform stories of at least 2,000 words in length.

Pitches can be heavily detailed in idea and structure, or present thematic topics of interest, but must display clear direction of what the story will be. Review of pitches will take into consideration the overall idea, proposed execution, potential list of interviews and scope of story. Ability to provide photos with text should be noted, but will not influence the overall strength of an application.

Any materials submitted after the March 30 deadline will not be considered. NAGBW leadership will review applications and announce the recipient of the 2018 grant on May 3. The recipient will receive editorial guidance and mentorship from NAGBW members, as well as insight from CraftBeer.com editors.

The chosen writer will receive a stipend of $1,000 as payment for their work, to be paid upon completion and publication of the story on CraftBeer.com. The final story will be recognized by the North American Guild of Beer Writers and CraftBeer.com during the 2018 Great American Beer Festival, held Sept. 20 to 22 in Denver, Colorado.

For questions or more information about the grant, contact Bryan Roth, NAGBW director, at bryandroth@gmail.com.

Complete an application with this form.

NAGBW announces 2017 awards in beer journalism

Bryan Roth — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 16:14:30 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers held its annual awards ceremony Oct. 6. Congratulations to all our winners:

Best Beer Book

Jeff Alworth - Secrets of Master Brewers
Ron Pattinson - Scotland! Vol. 2
Jeff Cioletti - Beer FAQ

Best Beer Podcast

Honorable Mention: Drinking on the Last Frontier

Best Beer Blog

Breandan Kearney - Belgian Smaak
Jeff Alworth - Beervana
Robin Shepard - Beer Here

Best Beer and Food Writing

Jesse Friedman - Brewers' Almanac — On Beer & Nosh in the Year 2017
Bo McMillan - Liquid Bread: Brewers Experiment with Kvass
Nicole Garneau - Science Says You’re Wrong About Pairing IPAs and Spicy Foods

Best Beer and Travel Writing

Brian Spencer - At Bionic Brew, That Which Does Not Kill You Makes You Stronger
Robert Kidd - Not (Just) for Tourists: Patagonia’s Beer Boom
Brian Yaeger - Beer at the End of the World

Honorable Mention: Blake Tyers - GBH in Residence — A Camping Coolship Adventure

Best Local Reporting

Josh Noel - Your next beer may taste like a cocktail, as craft revolution pushes on
Andi Prewitt - Brewers Make Foray into New Areas of Fungi Kingdom
Austin L. Ray - Critical Drinking — Georgia’s Race to the Bottom

Best National/ International Reporting

Matthew Sampson - Just to Live This Here Lifestyle (Scratch Brewing)
Gail Ann Williams and Steve Shapiro - Feral Ones:The Unlikely Origins Of Firestone Walker's Barrelworks
Joshua Bernstein - Second Acts: As the beer industry matures, brewers ponder their next steps

Honorable Mention: Crystal Luxmore - What is wild yeast and why is it all the rage in beer, wine and cider?

Best Short Form Writing (fewer than 600 words)

Tom Wilmes - When "Local" Isn't Enough
Rebecca Kirkman - Brewers Showcase Hoppiness Without Bitterness in Zero IBU IPAs
Dan Rabin - On Location: TRVE Brewing Co. in Denver

Best History Writing

Breandan Kearney - Once a Trappist — St. Bernardus Brewery in Watou, Belgium
Arnie Meltzer and Steve Frank - The Evolving Role of Women’s Contributions to Brewing Beer
Jeff Alworth - Bourbon County Brand Stout: The Original Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Beer

Honorable Mention: Ezra Johnson-Greenough - An Oral History of the Horse Brass

Best Technical Writing

Stan Hieronymus - From Bees to Beers: Exploring the Links Between Bees and Beers Brewed with Honey
Brian Yaeger - Savoring Acidity: The Quest to Explain Sourness in Beer
Randy Mosher - Hot Process: Exploring the Role of Heat in Brewing

Best Beer Criticism or Commentary

Andy Sparhawk - A Sour Beer Pickle: Can American Brewers Better Define this Beer Style?
Lew Bryson - Beer Criticism: Are You Doing it Wrong?
Chris Herron - Watch the Hands, Not the Cards — The Magic of Megabrew

Honorable Mention: Tomm Carroll - Anthony Bourdain: The Donald Trump of the Anti-Craft Beer Set

Want to display the new NAGBW logo to highlight your membership or win? Download it here.

2017 NAGBW Awards Competition Open for Entries Aug. 7 to 25

Bryan Roth — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 10:35:34 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) announces its 5th annual competition for writers, bloggers, authors and broadcasters -- now underway. The 2017 NAGBW Awards accepts entries Monday, Aug. 7 to Friday, Aug. 25.

The NAGBW Awards honor the best beer and brewing industry coverage in 11 categories, ranging from newspaper and magazine stories to podcasts.

With its annual writing competition, the Guild aims to broaden the conversation about beer and brewing, raise the standards of writing, provide leadership and continuing education for practitioners of our profession, while also encouraging and supporting more participation throughout all media channels.

Deadline to apply: Friday, Aug. 25, 2017

Entries published between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017 are eligible.

Enter the 2017 NAGBW Awards

Questions: email bryandroth@gmail.com or contact NAGBW via Twitter @nagbw

Winners will be announced Oct. 6 at NAGBW’s annual meeting during the Great American Beer Festival. A full list of rules can be found here.

ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN GUILD OF BEER WRITERS – The new Guild has members from USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Costa Rica. Guild membership is open to all writers and content producers who cover beer and brewing, although industry and associate memberships are both non-voting categories. For more information, visit http://www.nagbw.org.

Change at NAGBW

Bryan Roth — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 16:55:09 GMT

NAGBW members,

We're writing to inform you of an exciting change at the North American Guild of Beer Writers. In January, Our director, Erika Bolden, decided to step away from her position in order to accept a new opportunity working at a brewery. In her place, the Board of Directors appointed Bryan Roth to take over operations at the Guild. We will confirm his position with a vote at our annual meeting this fall in Denver during GABF. We feel Bryan is the ideal candidate given his capacity for both day-to-day detail management and strong vision for the future of the organization. Bryan has been a thoughtful and prolific contributor in the freelance community, and on his own blog, ThisIsWhyImDrunk.blog.

We are proud to have kept the annual writers contest going over the last few years, and we're now eager to see the organization evolve under Bryan's leadership. We are so glad to have him on board.

We have a short survey for you to answer that will help determine focus for the Guild moving forward. Please take a quick moment to respond: https://goo.gl/forms/P7AkB2sipyInBqtr1

Happy writing and have a great summer,

Erika Bolden
Jay Brooks
Stan Hieronymus

NAGBW Symposium for Beer Writers, May 7, 2016

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 04:02:11 GMT

We are proud to announce that the inaugural Beer Writer's Symposium, presented by the North American Guild of Beer Writers, will take place on Saturday, May 7, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The all-day event is free to guild members. It will take place at The Belgian Café, located at 601 North 21st Street, at the corner of 21st and Green in Philadelphia, courtesy of Tom Peters, who also owns Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia.

The Belgian Café is about a 30-minute walk from the Philadelphia Convention Center, approximately 1.3 miles away. Please plan on arriving around 8:30 AM so we may begin on time. A light breakfast spread will be provided. Beer and lunch will be available for purchase at the Café. We encourage everyone attending to plan on buying lunch there and generously tipping servers as a thank you to Tom Peters for allowing us the use of his restaurant for our Symposium.

Please RSVP to Jay.Brooks@gmail.com (and please put "Symposium RSVP" in the subject line) at your earliest convenience, so we have a rough idea of how many will be attending. No member will be turned away, but it will help our planning to have a good idea of how many will be there.

We've assembled a stellar lineup of speakers to talk about writing, publishing and beer topics we believe will be of great interest to all of our guild members.

This event is free to active members, there is a $25 fee for non-members (who we encourage to join the Guild!).

NAGBW Symposium | Sat., May 7, 9AM-4 PM | The Belgian Café, 601 N. 21st St., Philadelphia

Symposium Schedule

9:00 AM: Carl Kins (EBCU) and Luc De Raedemaeker (Brussels Beer Challenge director)

10:00 AM: Panel on book publishing with Kristi Switzer, Clare Pelino and Charlie Bamforth.

11:00 AM: Charlie Bamforth, UC Davis Professor

LUNCH 12:00-1:00 PM

1:00 PM: Bill Covaleski (Victory Brewing) and Carol Stoudt (Stoudt’s Brewing)

2:00 PM: Ed Lordan, Professor of Communication Studies, West Chester University

3:00 PM: Keynote address: Greg Koch (Stone Brewing)

Annual Member Meeting at CBC Philadelphia

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 03:58:09 GMT

Here are details for the 2016 NAGBW meeting at the Craft Brewers Conference. The meeting will take place at U-Bahn, a subterranean bar three blocks from the Convention Center. Enter through the upstairs door at BRU. Please be prepared to renew your membership.

We will begin at 12:30 promptly so please aim to arrive between 12-12:15, so that we can complete the meeting in time for the second round of seminars.

Deschutes beer from the previous night’s tap takeover will be available for $5. There is also a Shelton Brothers event upstairs at BRU, and you are welcome to bring beer down from there.

NAGBW Annual Meeting | Fri., May 6, 12:30 PM | U-Bahn, 1320 Chestnut St., Philadelphia

We look forward to seeing you in Philly!

NAGBW Writing Awards Competition now open - entries due August 17, 2015

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 13:25:25 GMT

We are excited to announce The 2015 NAGBW Awards is now accepting entries. The Board of Directors has worked to restructure this year's categories by content, rather than publication type. The deadline to submit is Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. Winners will be announced on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver (more details to come). Please see the categories below and submit your most competitive work.

In the coming months we will roll out improvements for the NAGBW, including a new website, in order to supply resources and networking for members. We encourage you to renew your membership and participate in this period of growth. There will be opportunities for members to submit their input and suggestions for resources.

Best Beer and Food Writing: Beer writing, including print or online media, that places beer in the context of food, including but not limited to recipes and pairings (cookbooks submit here).

Best Beer and Travel Writing: Beer writing, including print or online media, that transports the reader to a place and provides guidance or insight on the location’s unique features and beer landscape (travel books submit here).

Best Beer Writing, Short Form: Beer writing, including print or online media, that contains fewer than 600 words.

Best Beer Writing, Editorial/ Humor: Beer writing, including print or online media, that provides the author’s position or opinion on a topic related to the beer industry with or without comedic emphasis (submit columns here).

Best Beer Writing, History/ Technical: Beer writing, including print or online media, that chronicles beer historically and/ or technically, offering industry guidance (introductory beer books submit here).

Best Beer Writing, Local/ Regional: Beer writing, including print or online media, intended for a local, statewide or regional audience (alt weeklies, brewspapers, local newspapers submit here).

Best Beer Writing, National/ International: Beer writing, including print or online media, intended for a national or international audience (magazines, online magazines and newspapers with national/ international circulation or readership submit here).

Best Podcast/ Broadcast: A serial podcast or broadcast that focuses on beer/ the brewing industry. Please submit three examples of your online series that best represent your beer industry coverage.

Best Blog: A blog series dedicated to beer/ the brewing industry. Please submit three posts that best represent your beer industry coverage.

Enter the 2015 NAGBW Awards: https://northamericanguildofbeerwriters.submittable.com/submit

Questions: email erika@nagbw.org

North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) Writing Awards

Stan Hieronymus — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:31:01 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 7, 2014 - The North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2nd annual competition for writers, bloggers, broadcasters and authors. Results of the NAGBW Awards were announced on Friday, October 3, 2014, during the Great American Beer Festival at the McNichols Civic Center Building in Denver, CO.

This year, over 140 entries, published between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014, were submitted to the contest in eight categories. Winners represented 13 states across the U.S. and three countries. Congratulations to all of the winners.

Best Beer and Food Writing

1. John Holl, “Roast Masters: Exploring the Art of Brewing Beer with Coffee.” All About Beer Magazine.

2. Evan Rail, “Where What Is Brewing Is a Recipe.” The New York Times.

3. Mark Dredge, Beer and Food. Dog 'n' Bone Books.

Best Blog

1. Oliver Gray, “Literature and Libation.” Literatureandlibation.com.

2. Bryan Roth, “This is Why I’m Drunk.” Thisiswhyimdrunk.wordpress.com.

3. Jessica Miller, “Hey Brewtiful.” Heybrewtiful.com

Best Book

1. Patrick Dawson, Vintage Beer. Storey Publishing.

2. Tim Webb/ Joe Stange, The Good Beer Guide to Belgium. Campaign for Real Ale Ltd.

3. Evan Rail, Beer Trails: The Brewery in the Bohemian Forest. Self-published.

Best Brewspaper/ Free Zine Writing

1. Ken Weaver, “Getting Hopped Up -- Again.” Bohemian.

2. Jonathan Shikes, “Avery Brewing’s got good taste -- and the science to back it up.” Westword.

3. Randy Clemens, “Mark Jilg: The Craftsman.” West Coaster.

Best Magazine Writing

1. Evan Rail, “Born Again in Berlin.” All About Beer Magazine.

2. Joshua Bernstein, “Of a Certain Age.” Imbibe Magazine.

3. Aleszu Bajak, “Stemming the Rise of Barley Disease.” Beeradvocate Magazine.

Best Newspaper Writing (Paid Circulation)

1. Ronnie Crocker, “Crafting a Houston Icon.” Houston Chronicle.

2. William Bostwick, “Build a Beer Collection.” The Wall Street Journal.

3. Tom Acitelli, “Rising Hop Prices Make Craft Brewers Jumpy.” The Wall Street Journal.

Best Online Magazine Writing

1. Gerard Walen, “The Death of Hunahpu’s Day.” All About Beer Magazine (online).

2. Austin Ray, “Headbanger’s Brew: A History of Heavy Metal and Craft Beer Collaborations.” First We Feast.

3. Christian DeBenedetti, “A Brief History of Sour Beer.” The New Yorker (online).

Best Podcast

1. Strange Brews Podcast. Strangebrewspodcast.tumbler.com.

2. Tales from the Cask. Talesfromthecask.com.

3. What’s on Tap. Kprcradio.com/media/podcast-whats-on-tap-whatsontap.

Thanks to new and returning judges representing 11 states in the U.S., two provinces in Canada and Europe. The judges for the 2014 NAGBW Awards included:

Tom Acitelli, Michael Agnew, Jeff Alworth, Ray Bailey, Steve Beaumont, Jessica Boak, Erika Bolden, Jay Brooks, Astrid Cook, Ray Daniels, Christian DeBenedetti, Pat Fahey, Oliver Gray, Steve Hamburg, Stan Hieronymus, Edward Lordan, Alan McLeod, Randy Mosher, Ryan Newhouse, Josh Noel, Evan Rail, Don Russell, Zak Stambor, Heather Vandenengel, Joe Wiebe

ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN GUILD OF BEER WRITERS – The Guild has members from USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe. Guild membership is open to all writers and content producers who cover beer and brewing, although industry and associate memberships are both non-voting categories. For more information, visit http://www.nagbw.org or follow us on Twitter @NAGBW

Welcome Erika Bolden as NAGBW Awards Director, contest open for entries August 1, E

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 02:33:11 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 1, 2014 - The North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) announces its 2nd annual competition for writers, bloggers, broadcasters and authors. The 2014 NAGBW Awards contest will accept entries in eight categories, beginning Friday, August 1 through Monday, August 25, 2014.

The NAGBW’s members broaden the conversation about beer and brewing, raise the standards of writing, provide leadership and continuing education for practitioners of our profession, while also encouraging and supporting more participation throughout all media channels.

As of June 2014, there are more than 3,000 breweries in existence with many new breweries and brewpubs in planning across the United States. When Canada is included, that number climbs even higher. Yet many media outlets in cities and towns of all sizes still do not regularly cover craft beer or brewing in their local newspapers, magazines or radio stations.

The NAGBW Awards honor the best beer and brewing industry coverage in eight categories. Journalism, feature writing, freelance authors, blogs and broadcast, published in print or online, are eligible.

The 2014 NAGBW Awards is now accepting entries online, with a discount on entry fees for current members:

https://northamericanguildofbeerwriters.submittable.com/submit

Deadline to apply: August 25, 2014

Beer writing/broadcasts published between July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 are eligible.

Fees are prorated for members ($15 per entry) /non-members ($30 per entry). You must be a current paid member of the NAGBW to get the discount.

To join the NAGBW, please allow 24 hours for your application to be processed at www.nagbw.org

Questions: email contest director Erika Bolden at erika@nagbw.org or contact NAGBW via Twitter @nagbw

See links to instructions and entry forms below. Follow @nagbw on Twitter for updates. Enter soon, and good luck!

NAGBW Beer Writing Awards Announced

Jay Brooks — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:36:37 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers is pleased to announced the winners of the 2013 Beer Writing Contest. Awards in six categories were announced earlier today at the McNichols Civic Center Building in Denver, Colorado. The awards were for work that was published between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. This was the first awards for the newly reformed writer's guild, who received just over 100 entries for this year's awards. Congratulations to each of the winners.

Best Brewspaper/Free Zine Writing

1. Randy Clemens, “Drinking on the Job: Traditional Belgian & French Farmhouse Ales”
2. Brian Yaeger, “An Oral History of Widmer Hefeweizen”
3. Ken Weaver, “The Big Show: Local brewers prepare for the Great American Beer Festival”

Best Beer Blog

1. Oliver Gray, Literature and Libation
2. Alan McCormick, Growler Fills: Craft Beer Enthusiasm
3. Terry Lozoff, Drink Insider

Best Beer and Food Writing

1. Ken Weaver, “Genesis of a Beer Dinner”
2. Kurt Epps, “Now Batting: Ted Williams at Tapastre”
3. No award

Best Newspaper (Paid Circulation) Writing

1. Evan Rail, “In London, A Flood of Pints”
2. Josh Noel, “The Best Beer in the World”
3. No award

Best Magazine Writing

1. Martin Thibault, “Top Secret - The Farmhouse Brewing Traditions of Lithuania”
2. Joe Stange, “Alt Reality”
3. Aleszu Bajak, “Brewing in Thin Air”

Best Book

1. Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont, “The World Atlas of Beer”
2. Janet Fletcher, “Cheese and Beer”
3. Tom Acitelli, “The Audacity of Hops”

GABF Meet-Up & Membership Drive

Jay Brooks — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:29:42 GMT

As GABF week looms, it is my great pleasure to announce our annual North American Guild of Beer Writers GABF Meet-Up & Membership Drive. On Saturday, October 12, the good folks from Blue Moon Brewing at Coors Field (formerly SandLot) will host us for a little get together beginning at 6:00 p.m. and ending at either 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. The Blue Moon Brewery is located at 22nd and Blake Streets. As of today, my contact at 10th & Blake was still working out details with the owners of Coors Field to see if we might be able to stay an hour after they close.

Directly after the event at Blue Moon ends (at 8 or 9), we'll walk a few blocks to Great Divide Brewing, located at 2201 Arapahoe Street, where owner Brian Dunn has agreed to host us in their back room, the more private brewery area where they used to hold annual media events at the start of GABF (for those of us old enough to remember those). They close at 10:00 p.m. but have graciously agreed to let us stay there an additional hour, until 11:00 p.m., but have asked that we leave promptly at 11, since for the tap room staff it will be the end of a very long and busy week.

From there, we're on our own, and if there's enough interest, there's plenty of nearby spots we could move the party to, but we'll wait until Saturday night to make that decision.

There's no need to RSVP, just come on to down Blue Moon, or join us later at Great Divide. I'll update the time for leaving Blue Moon once I know that for certain. As this is not only an opportunity for the members to get together, but also a membership drive, we'd like to encourage any beer writers who are not currently members to join us, too. If you have any literary friends and colleagues who have not yet joined the NAGBW, please invite them to come and drink with us, no strings attached. We simply hope they'll have such a great time that they won't be able to resist becoming a member.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail to Jay.Brooks@gmail.com. I hope to see you all in Denver.

Jay R. Brooks

co-president, NAGBW

NAGBW Writing Contest Award Ceremony Announced

Jay Brooks — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 21:16:04 GMT

The North American Guild of Beer Writers is pleased to announce that we will hold an awards ceremony for the 2013 NAGBW writing contest during GABF on Friday, October 11, from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. The awards will be announced during the Rare Beer Tasting that Rick Lyke and his Pints For Prostates organization is sponsoring. The awards ceremony and Rare Beer Tasting will be held at the McNichols Civic Center Building at 144 W. Colfax St. in Denver, from 1 to 4 p.m. NAGBW members, along with non-members who have entered the writing contest are invited to attend, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

An RSVP is required to attend, please send an e-mail to Jay.Brooks@gmail.com with RSVP in the subject line and your name will be added to the list. Please RSVP by Friday, October 4.

After the awards ceremony, attendees will be permitted to enjoy the final hour of the Rare Beer Tasting on the 3rd Floor, courtesy of Pints for Prostates. Special thanks to Rick Lyke for his generosity in hosting us during his worthwhile charity event.

The NAGBW will also be hosting a social meet-up during GABF. Details of that event will be announced shortly.

NAGBW writing contest launches - now accepting entries

Mon, 05 Aug 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The new North American Guild of Beer Writers announces the launch of its annual competition for writers, bloggers, broadcasters and authors. The Guild is now accepting entries:

https://northamericanguildofbeerwriters.submittable.com/submit

NAGBW’s awards honor the best beer and brewing industry coverage in seven categories. Journalism, feature writing, freelance authors, blogs and broadcast or published in print or online are eligible. Online submissions are being accepted through submittable.com, including books in PDF format. Large files are accepted. If your book is only available in print, please fill out the entry form online, using a letter with shipping info to notify that the books are being shipped. Please send 2 copies of books with a copy of the completed submittable form to Lucy Saunders, attn: NAGBW Awards, 4230 N. Oakland Ave. #178, Shorewood, Wi 53211.

Deadline to apply: August 26, 2013

Beer writing/broadcasts dated between July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013 are eligible.

Fee $15 for member entries; $30 for non-member entries.

Questions: Contact NAGBW via the website, www.nagbw.org

Co-chairs, Jay Brooks (PST) or Don Russell (EST)

NAGBW Awards Director Stan Hieronymus (CST)

NAGBW Director Lucy Saunders (CST) @lucybeercook or 800-760-5998

Enter soon, and good luck!

draft of NAGBW writer's contest rules available for member comment

Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:08:17 GMT

The NAGBW annual writing contest will be launched later this month - a draft of the contest rules is posted in the member's only forum for review and comment. Please contact Lucy Saunders with any questions, cheers!

Ben Keene takes on twitter role for @nagbw

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Freelance writer and blogger Ben Keene takes on twitter for @nagbw - follow Ben for updates and news,
cheers, Lucy Saunders
admin, nagbw