Co-founder of dwink.com, darling of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and regular-contributor to Imbibe, Ben McFarland(pictured, left) has just been crowned Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers.

Chairman of the judging panel, and last year’s champion, Simon Jenkins (pictured, right) commented, 'Ben is really setting the standard for writing about beer. His work is always interesting and informative – and his passion for the subject really shines through everything he writes.' Chris Losh, Imbibe's editor was similarly effusive, remarking, 'He deserves it, I like his style…'

McFarland took the biggest award of the night after picking up the Fuller's ESB Award for Best Writing for the Beer and Pub Trade, and going up against six other category winners, including fellow Imbibe contributor Mark Dredge, winner of the Shepherd Neame 1698 Award for Beer and Food Writing.

Full list of winners:

Brewer of the Year 2011: Evin O'Riordain, Kernel Brewery

Budweiser Budvar John White Travel Bursary: Des de Moor

Shepherd Neame 1698 Award for Beer and Food Writing: Mark Dredge

Thwaites Award for Best Corporate Communications: Pete Brown

Brains SA Gold Award for Best Use of Online Media: Martyn Cornell; Silver Award: Mark Charlwood

Adnams Award for Best Writing in Regional Media: Marverine Cole; Silver Award: Gavin Aitchison

Fuller's ESB Award for Best Writing for the Beer and Pub Trade: Ben McFarland; Silver Award: Glynn Davis

Molson Coors Award for Best Writing in National Media: Adrian Tierney-Jones; Silver Award: Will Hawkes

The Michael Jackson Gold Award – Beer Writer of the Year 2011: Ben McFarland

News item from Imbibe.com, 05-12-2011