An independent Bristol brewery has won one of the UK’s top food and drink awards, recognising not just its beers but its role in regenerating South Bristol.
The Bristol Beer Factory in Southville has won the Best Drinks Producer in the BBC Food and Farming Awards.
The award was presented at a ceremony last night and the brewery will be included in a special awards programme on BBC Radio Four at noon tomorrow.
The shortlisted entrants were decided on votes from the public and the winners by an expert panel of judges chaired by chef and restaurateur Richard Corrigan.
The judges liked the fact that the Bristol Beer Factory is at the heart of the community in Southville and Ashton and central to the regeneration of the area. They also loved its ‘12 Stouts of Christmas’ idea of a dozen beers created to celebrate the festive season, including one made with fresh raspberries and which are being launched this Saturday.
Bristol Beer Factory founder George Ferguson said: “We see this as an accolade for Bristol and the craft beer industry as a whole and feel very lucky to be representing independent brewers up and down the country who put so much care and attention into producing high quality craft beers.
“We strongly believe that independent local businesses, whatever they are, are capable of producing higher quality products and services than national mass-producers. We make a truly local beer – using local suppliers and materials and re-investing in the area.”
Bristol Beer Factory was founded six years ago after a chance conversation in the Tobacco Factory. Architect George Ferguson had decided to buy the building which now houses the brewery and which was then under threat.
Originally known as the Ashton Gate Brewery with 120 pubs in the area, it was closed after Georges Brewery took it over in 1933 and the building stood empty until Mr Ferguson took it over. Initially unsure about what to do with it, George came up with the idea of returning it to brewing over a drink in the bar of the Tobacco Factory over the road.
It started out as a traditional brewer but in the past couple of years has moved to the forefront of the craft brewing industry.
George continued: “As an architect interested in place-making, I believe that beer-making, along with great good, can play an important role in regenerating an area. Pubs have always been the heart of any community and we feel there should be local beers to go in them. But it’s not just about the ales we create, it’s also about being part of the local community and local economy. Like other independent brewers, we’re not aiming to be the biggest, but strive to be the best we can.”
The Bristol Beer Factory is having an open day at the brewery this Saturday to launch the 12 Stouts of Christmas, with beers to sample, specially made ‘beery’ food, brewery tours and goodies to buy for Christmas.
