Fyne Ales Wins SIBA Brewery Business of the Year at BeerX 2026

Fyne Ales Farm Brewery, perched on a 4,500-acre estate in rural Argyll, walked away from BeerX 2026 in Liverpool as the unanimous choice for Brewery Business of the Year at the SIBA Business Awards, capping a night that also brought the Scottish Highland brewery the UK's Best Independent Brewery Taproom title and a Highly Commended nod in the Collaboration category for its partnership with the Co-Op.

Sunday Times columnist and beer author Pete Brown, who presented the awards at what SIBA bills as the UK's biggest beer and brewing event, made the scale of Fyne Ales' achievement plain. "With a massive five nominations, and multiple wins, this year's brewery business of the year, Fyne Ales, were a clear standout to the judging panel who were hugely impressed with this unique brewing business across the board," Brown said. "With some of the best beers currently being produced in the UK, in a broad range of styles, a destination taproom, and a business which continues to go from strength to strength, this year's winner was a unanimous choice with the judging panel."

Managing Director Jamie Delap, accepting the award with his brewing team, offered a characteristically grounded take on what the recognition meant. "These days you've got to brew fantastic beer, but you've also got to tell great stories," Delap said. "So to be recognised that my team are getting it so right I really appreciate. You've got to find really good people, let them do their thing, and you've got trust your team — which we absolutely do at Fyne Ales."

The brewery has been building toward this kind of recognition for years. Its 6,500-litre, all-British brew kit, installed into a converted sheep shed with a maximum capacity of 100,000 pints per week, has produced beers that have drawn industry attention since Jarl won the SIBA Overall Champion award in 2015. The taproom that clinched Wednesday night's venue award is open seven days a week on the estate and helped draw over 2,500 visitors to FyneFest 2018, which poured beers from more than sixty UK and European breweries.

The judging panel, hosted by awards partner Napthens Solicitors, brought together Rachel Auty of Women on Tap CIC, Chris Welham of the Licensed Trade Charity, journalist and author Phil Mellows, Tony Sophoclides of UKHospitality, SIBA non-executive director Laura Mackie, SIBA head of communications Neil Walker, and SIBA chief executive Andy Slee.

Fyne Ales was far from the only story of the night. Howe Beer Project, which opened in June 2025, was named UK's Best New Independent Brewery. Brown described the project as "a community-driven and financially sustainable microbrewery and gathering space" that has "created something to be treasured by their local community at a time when too many shared spaces are closing." Elsewhere, Pivovar took UK's Best Independent Beer Retailer; The Green Goddess in Blackheath won Best Beer Bar or Pub in the city category with the Old Grey Mare Inn Highly Commended; Brewers 1841 in Ossett claimed the non-city pub category; Hackney Church Brew Co won Best Independent Brewery Webshop; Indie Rabble took Marketing Implementation with Charnwood Highly Commended; Bristol Beer Factory won Community Engagement; Moonwake's Dolcita IPA claimed Individual Design; and Jennings won Concept Design.

BeerX itself arrived at the awards ceremony fresh from being named Event of the Year at the Trade Association Forum Awards 2026, recognition that reflects how central the Liverpool event has become to the independent brewing calendar.