Awards

It's the time of year for awards. Why shouldn't I award some, too? I'm always pushing the parcel, theme-wise.

The winners won't receive any financial reward. Nor, indeed, anything of a physical nature. They'll earn something much better than mere trinkets or baubles. Enduring fame and glory.

The first (and most likely last, as I'm sure to have forgotten about all this by February 3rd) annual Shut About Barclay Perkins Awards go to:

(You'll have to imagine some pauses, where, if I were presenting this on some shit TV show, there would be long gaps in a pathetic attempt to create tension.)


Best Beer
Winner - St. Bernardus Abt
Runner up - St. Bernardus Christmas Beer (bottled)

Best blog
Winner - Charlie Papazian's blog
Insightful and well-researched, it's a joy to read.
Runner up - Jeff's Beer Blog. (Or whatever he calls it this week.)
A deserving winner because he's my mate.

Best Book
Winner - 2009 Statistical Handbook of the British Beer and Pub Association
Maybe they'll send me a free copy now I've given it a prize.
Runner up - "Numbers!" by Ron Pattinson.
"The prose is breath-taking." - A. Pattinson. "The most important book on beer published this millennium." A.N. Other Pattinson.

Best Brewer
Winner - John Keeling.
A worthy victor for his careful use of the word innovation. And for letting me at Fuller's records.
Runner up - Kelly Ryan
For brewing some good beers. And because I like him.

Best New Beer
Winner - St. Bernardus Christmas Beer (bottled)
Runner up - St. Bernardus Christmas Beer (draught)


Hang on, have I already done this awards thing? Best check. . . . . . .

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No. Not done it. My memory really isn't what it was. Except for beer gravities in WW I. I'll never forget those.

I'm a winner!

I never win anything. That's why I'm such a lonely and embittered old man. Well, one of the reasons. The inability of pretty girls to appreciate my inner beauty is another. And the inexplicable reluctance of multimillionaires to give me enough money so I never need to work again.

Which is why I'm so overjoyed to have finally won a prize. In Alan and Stonch's annual photo contest. A bit surprised, too, as my photo has no obvious beer connection. It's a photo of a bit fat book. Well there is a sort of beer connection, because the big fat book in question is a Whitbread Ale log. But only I know that.

And what a prize. As much beer as I can drink in the Gunmakers. My sort of prize. And appropriate as the photo was taken just a couple of hundred yards away.