Women in Beer has announced the shortlist for this year’s awards, celebrating the women who shape the beer industry.

Nominations were submitted in 10 separate categories, including the brand-new Women’s Collective of the Year, while the 11th category’s winner was selected solely by the judging panel.

All entries were judged by the Women in Beer independent panel, comprising Melissa Cole (Beer Judge, Journalist, Broadcaster, and 2025 Women in Beer Industry Icon), Paul Jones (owner and MD at Cloudwater Brew Co.), Sophie de Ronde (head brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery), Vinny Rosario (co-founder and head of production at Moonwake Beer Co.), Helen Anne Smith (founder and co-editor at Burum Collective), and Lucy Do (founder of The Dodo Micropub).

The finalists in each category are:

Brewer of the Year – Sponsored by SIBA

Laura Gillott – Thornbridge Brewery

Kate Hyde – Hand Brew Co.

Red Kellie – First & Last Brewery

Georgina Young – St Austell Brewery

Rising Star Award – Sponsored by Simpsons Malt

Chloe Farrer – Brewpoint

Aureja Jupp – Pixie Brewing

Sophie Millard – The Britannia Inn

Shannon Weir – Bullhouse Brew Co

Communicator of the Year – Sponsored by Crisp Malt

Rachel Auty

Laura Hadland

Elizabeth Townsend

Natalya Watson

Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Thomas Fawcett & Sons

Gunikka Ahuja – Bunta Beer

Sasha Miller – The Cotton Mill

Gill Sherwin – Best of British Beer

Sarah Watts – The Pour House

Beer Expert of the Year – Sponsored by Yakima Chief Hops

Alix Blease – Lallemand Brewing

Ruth Mitchell – Charles Faram

Nikki Rowe – Stone Daisy Brewery

Natalya Watson – WSET

Mentor of the Year – Sponsored by Murphy & Son

Robyn Bell – Cloudwater Brew

Tracy Fisher – Brewpoint

Genevieve Upton – Cara Technology

Natalya Watson – WSET

Industry Champion of the Year – Sponsored by eKeg

Ruth Evans – BFBI

Ruth Mitchell – Charles Faram

Jules Gray – Hop Hideout

Catherine Webber – Attic Brew Co and Brum Beer Babs

Beer Creative of the Year – Sponsored by WHC Lab

Maxine Fursdon – Ideal Day

Naomi Hayward – Indie Rabble Brew Co and A Hoppy Place

Nanna Koekoek – Pretty Decent Beer Co

Kate Stevens – Rooster’s Brewing Co

Hospitality Leader of the Year – Sponsored by BBPA

Jules Gray – Hop Hideout

Naomi Hayward – Indie Rabble Brew Co and A Hoppy Place

Maryann O’Connor – The Green Goddess

Women’s Collective of the Year – Sponsored by CAMRA

Glasladies Beer Society

Manchester Crafty Beer Girls

No Half Measures – Nottingham

Women on Tap CIC

Women in Beer 2026 – Industry Icon (judge’s choice) – Sponsored by Charles Faram

Lotte Peplow

Genevieve Upton

Lily Waite

Jaega Wise

Georgina Young

The winners in each category will be announced on the 20th of October 2026 during the awards ceremony at Cloudwater Brew Co. Taproom in Manchester.

Tickets are on sale here, with a ‘pay what you can’ option for individual tickets, to make the event accessible to as many people as possible.