Top beer sommelier named

Rod Jones of Meantime Brewery Company in Greenwich, south London, has scooped the Beer Academy's Beer Sommelier of the Year title.

Jones was accredited as a beer sommelier in 2013. He joined Meantime as a brewer in 2007 and spent two-and-a-half years learning all aspects of the brewing process. He then transferred to the company's microbrewery at The Old Brewery restaurant when it opened and now also educates staff in, for instance, how to sell and serve beer as well as giving brewery tours to clients.

Simon Jackson, executive director of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling, said: "Rod Jones is a shining example of the status that the Beer Sommelier qualification has attained since it was launched by the Beer Academy in 2011. The judges singled him out from the strong shortlist because of his passion for extending beer knowledge and standards in the industry."

Jones said: "I'm very privileged to be working with young people coming into the industry to help equip them with the skills to develop their career prospects, which is a passion I share with the BII and Beer Academy."

The award was presented at the BII Summer Event, held at the Honorary Artillery Company in London.

Looking for a job? See all the current pub and bar vacancies available with The Caterer Jobs >>

Latest video from The Caterer