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A Northumberland brewer has been named Brewer of the Year at a national awards ceremony.
Red Kellie, co-founder of The First & Last Brewery in Bellingham, Northumberland, received the honour at the 2026 Women in Beer Awards, which took place at Cloudwater Brewery’s taproom in Manchester on Tuesday night.
The event marked the start of the five-day Women in Beer Festival and recognised Ms Kellie’s work in small-batch brewing, as well as her use of foraged ingredients from the Northumberland countryside.
Ms Kellie said: "The Women in Beer Awards are such a wonderful celebration of all of the work going on up and down the country by women in every aspect of the brewing and beer community.
"I met so many inspiring women at the event.
"It was such a massive surprise to win, and at the same time a really proud moment to celebrate all that is special about what we do at First & Last."
She was selected from a shortlist that included Laura Gillott of Thornbridge Brewery, Kate Hyde of Hand Brew Co, and Georgina Young of St Austell Brewery.
The judging panel included beer broadcaster Melissa Cole, Cloudwater Brew Co owner Paul Jones, Burnt Mill head brewer Sophie de Ronde, Moonwake co-founder Vinny Rosario, Burum Collective founder Helen Anne Smith, and The Dodo Micropub founder Lucy Do.
Located in the village of Bellingham, The First & Last Brewery is known for its "terroir-led" approach, creating beers influenced by Northumberland’s wild landscapes and dark skies.
Each of their seasonal releases features locally sourced or hand-foraged ingredients, including wild spruce tips, fruit, and blossoms.
These practices not only give each beer a distinct sense of place, but also support the brewery’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
The award complements a landmark year for the brewery in 2026.
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Earlier this year, it won Silver Overall Champion (Bottle/Can) at the National SIBA Indie Beer Awards for its Spruce Saison.
The brewery is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary with the 10 Beers for 10 Years project, a series of special releases that highlight its journey and creative approach.
Ms Kellie’s national recognition is seen as another milestone for the growing reputation of North East brewing.