Brewers and Distillers Come Together in London

The IBD Southern Section held its Annual Banquet on the 18th of November at the Imperial War Museum in London. It was a memorable evening that followed the Sustainability Roundtable that the section held at Brewers Hall earlier on the same day.

Both events were well received by all who attended. The roundtable event was sold out with 80 brewers and distillers attending the session, all of whom highly rated the event for the quality and divulged technical content that generated a discussion on how small breweries can adapt the technologies that larger brewers are deploying to become more sustainable. The roundtable was hosted by David Cook, AB InBev Professor of Brewing Science at the University of Nottingham and IBD Trustee, with Will Calvert, Windsor and Eton Brewery and IBD Honorary Treasurer representing smaller brewers.

The Banquet also sold out and was attended by 160 guests who enjoyed the spectacular venue, a great networking reception and a delicious meal accompanied by member brewers’ beers.

Bhavya Mandanna, IBD President, and Andrew Paterson, Southern Section Chair, spoke to praise the IBD for reaching its targets despite another challenging year and recognised the fantastic work that Jerry Avis, who retired as IBD Chief Executive in the summer, had done to make this possible.

Nigel Fitch and Ken Fairbrother, who retired at September’s AGM as Honorary Treasurer and Trustee respectively, were presented with engraved quaiches by Douglas Murray, IBD Interim CEO, to thank them for the service they both had provided to the IBD over a long period of time culminating with their trustee positions. Douglas also presented each of them with a bottle of Talisker single malt whisky as it’s a tradition to give a dram when offering a quaich to enjoy the spirit and the celebration.

During the event Bhavya Mandanna recognised the success of Nigel Davies, recently awarded IBD Fellowship, and Andrew Cameron, Cameron Smith (both from Beavertown Brewery) and Stephen Holland (from Hogsback Brewery)  who received their tankards after completing their Diploma in Brewing qualifications last year.

Andrew Paterson recognised all the speakers and contributors to the section’s successfully organised events during 2022 and thanked Steve Wilkinson, Southern Section Secretary, for leading the organisation of the Sustainability Roundtable and Banquet and presented him with a bottle of whisky.

This enjoyable evening brought together brewers, distillers and industry suppliers of different generations and levels of expertise to reignite old connections, establish new connections and share anecdotes and experiences to create one of the strongest social and network events for the brewing, distilling and allied professionals in South of England.

You can see more images of the Banquet here.