Georgina Young, who has led the production teams at St Austell for the past five years, was recognised at the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG)’s annual dinner in early July.
The Brewer of the Year award is nominated by an expert panel comprising representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), Frederic Robinson, Titanic Brewery, and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The award recognises not only brewing expertise but also the individual’s wider contribution to beer, brewing, people, and the community.
Rita King, Honorary Secretary of the APPBG, said: “Georgina was a standout candidate and a truly deserving winner of this year’s award. Her dedication to brewing, her innovative spirit, and her passion for educating and welcoming others into the industry are highly respected across the beer community. When we speak to people about influential brewers, Georgina’s name is often mentioned as an inspiring figure whom many admire.”
Georgina joined St Austell Brewery – a leading independent, family-owned brewing, hospitality and drinks wholesale business in the south west – in May 2019, leaving her role as Head Brewer at Fuller’s to return to the West Country, where she grew up. Georgina was promoted to Brewing Director in 2020 and oversees production at both St Austell Brewery’s brewing sites – St Austell and Hare Brewery in Bath. She continues to receive international recognition for the quality of St Austell Brewery’s beers – including Proper Job, Tribute, and korev.
Last year, she successfully launched St Austell Brewery’s first no and low beer, Proper Job 0.5%, which has already scooped awards just nine months on from its debut, as well as releasing a canned version of her refreshing pale ale made with 100% British ingredients, Anthem.
Georgina said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been given this award, which I was truly not expecting. It is a real privilege to be a brewer at St Austell Brewery and to be able to collaborate with such talented individuals across the industry. Together, we are committed to celebrating great British beer, inspiring the next generation of brewers, and advancing sustainable practices in an ever-evolving world.”
The award comes hot on the heels of being voted Brewers’ Brewer of the Year at the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) Business Awards in 2025. In 2023, Georgina also received two further accolades: Brewer of the Year at the Guild of Beer Writers Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Brewer’s Congress.
Georgina is a trustee of the Chartered Institute of Brewing & Distilling and a member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers. At St Austell Brewery, she serves on the Sustainability Steering Committee, where she champions energy-saving and environmentally responsible initiatives. She plays a key role in helping St Austell Brewery progress towards its ambitious – yet essential – target of achieving net zero ahead of the government’s 2050 deadline.
The Annual Beer Awards Dinner, supported by the APPBG for over 30 years, celebrates achievements across the beer industry and Parliament. This year’s event welcomed 170 attendees, including 70 MPs and peers.
The APPBG’s mission is to promote the enjoyment of beer and the unique role of the pub in UK society. It seeks to raise awareness of the social, cultural, and historic significance of brewing and pubs in the UK and their contribution to tourism and employment and to support the success of the UK’s brewing industry at home and abroad.
Visit www.staustellbrewery.co.uk for more information about St Austell Brewery.
(Main image: Piers Thompson, St Austell Brewery’s External Relations Director, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, Georgina Young, and Paul Harbottle, St Austell Brewery’s Commercial Director.).
