Newcastle Journal columnist Alastair Gilmour has been crowned Beer Writerof the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers.

The Guild's award is in the shape of a gold tankard.

It is an annual prize given to the person who judges think hascontributed most to the promotion of beer, brewing and pubs in newspapers,magazines, radio, television and the internet.

The prestigious national award adds to a regional press prize he gainedin May, when he was highly commended for features writing at theTom Cordner North-East Press Association awards.

The judges said: "The award is for a succession of beautifully-balancedand well-illustrated articles. Alastair clearly has a great passion foreverything to do with beer and this passion shines through in all hisarticles.

"They are always highly readable, amusing and well-researched."

Alastair said: "It's terrific for a North-East journalist and aNorth-East newspaper to get such an honour.

"It's just one example of thewealth of talent and the range of abilities of people working on TheJournal."

The portfolio he submitted included examples from his weekly MyRound column and articles on the Wylam Brewery in Northumberland, theHesket Newmarket Brewery in Cumbria and pub murals.

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