AWARD WINNING HEART BEHIND EVERY BREW

Connecting people over world-class beer is at the very heart of every BBF brew.

When you meet up for a beer, you build community.  As Sam Burrows, our MD says, "Our community means everything to us which is why we donate 2% of every brewery sale to local charities." Since May 2023, when we launched BREWED TO GIVE (our community-giving initiative), we have given £170k of stock, space or support, which has helped raise over £416k for groups making a difference across Bristol.

On Wednesday night, we were recognised for our sector-leading COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT work at the SIBA Business Awards 2025. Known as the ‘Oscars of the beer industry’, the SIBA Business Awards look to congratulate excellence in the brewing industry across a variety of categories, from pump clip, can and bottle design, to efforts taken by brewers to make their business more sustainable, diverse, innovative or successful.

Presenting the awards was Sunday Times columnist and beer author Pete Brown, who commented, “Bristol Beer Factory impressed judges with a broad range of community engagement activity across the year, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity and supporting hugely worthwhile causes across Bristol. In what was an incredibly tough category Bristol Beer Factory stood out as a business delivering measurable change in a city hugely lucky to have its support.”

Bristol is a vibrant city buzzing with culture, creativity and opportunity. Like the rest of the UK, inequalities are widespread and many people experience significant disadvantage or deprivation. Sam continues, "the system is broken and those with the power to make change, are not getting it right. Our community made us who we are and we will always have their back. That’s why we donate 2% from the sale of every keg, cask and can leaving our brewery yard to local charities. Together, we can raise up our city". 

We also won BEST COLLABORATION with Charles Faram in our creation of Brush Up Euro Lager which saw all profits donated to Upfest - supporting public art that sparks conversation, positivity, and social commentary. Pete commented, “Judges were hugely impressed by Charles Faram’s project to bring together a variety of brewing industry businesses including Crisp Malt, Bristol Beer Factory, Fermentis, and Barrow Tanks to brew a beer for Bristol charity event Upfest. A superb example of the collaborative spirit of the independent brewing sector.”