Meantime’s Hook named ‘brewer of the year’

Meantime Brewing Company’s founder and master brewer, Alastair Hook, has been named “UK Brewer of the Year”.

Hook was awarded the accolade by the All-Part Parliamentary Beer Group at the group’s annual awards dinner in Westminster last night.

He was selected for his “pioneering” work in the UK’s craft beer scene and for how his “unique sense of creativity, passion and skill” has helped grow a flourishing business and “usher in the current era of modern craft beer.

Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton and Uttoxeter and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, said: “Alastair Hook is one of the most passionate and inspiring brewers not just in the UK, but in the world. One of the pioneers of Britain’s thriving craft beer scene, Alastair’s dedication and knowledge is second to none.

“You only need to drink a pint of any of his beers to understand why his brewery has grown from a one-man operation in Penhall Lane to the state-of-the-art facility in Greenwich that stands today. Alastair is the driving force behind every pint and we raise our glasses to him as he accepts this enormously well-deserved award.”

Hook himself added: “I first fell in love with beer and brewing in the eighties and for the past 15 years I’ve been able to share that passion through Meantime Brewing Company. It’s always been my goal to change the way people think about beer and make the amazing and complex world of beer as accessible to British drinkers as possible; I’m honoured to receive this award because it’s testament to how far we’ve come in achieving just that.

“To be recognised by my peers and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group in the same year as Meantime’s chief sommelier Rod Jones was announced as Beer Sommelier Of The Year goes to show what a special brewery Meantime is and I’m immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved. Here’s to the next 15 years!”