As we race towards the end of 2011, stuffed to the gills with peanuts, mince pies and fave winter warming beers, I just thought I’d drop a few pics and vids online about the amazing things that have presented themselves to me this last year because of my love of beer. Not withstanding the constant stream of beers that breweries send me to try and for which I am forever grateful. So I try to drink one new beer each week and, with 52 weeks in a year, give or take a few weeks here and there and me drinking some old faithfuls, then your maths on how many beers I’ve enjoyed this year will be about right.

If you read my blog regularly you’ll know I’m not a ‘campaigner’ in any traditional sense, I write my lovely blog for fun in my spare time as 99.9% of beer bloggers do. No-one pays me to write it, and it’s not a site that reviews beer as such.

THIS GIVES ME THE CHANCE TO HIT IT RIGHT BACK AT YA AND SAY A MAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSIVE THANK-YOU TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WHO’S CONNECTED WITH ME THIS LAST YEAR! Whatever you’ve done from reading just one blog post, subscribing to it, commenting on it here, tweeting & retweeting me,  leaving me a message on Facebook or liking my page. EVERYTHING & ANYTHING. It means sooooooooooooo much I can’t explain it, cos sometimes blogging seems a bit lonely. There are too many of you to mention, but you know who you are, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Keep telling your friends that I’m here

And if there’s ONE over-riding message in this blog it’s that is there IS beauty in beer, so don’t knock it till you try it. Plus there’s a couple of others:  if you haven’t found a beer you like drinking, then you haven’t tried enough of them yet!; and drink responsibly

I personally EMBRACE beer as the healthy, lower-strength ABV alcoholic alternative to wine and spirits. Beer is my drink of choice and has been for nearly two years now. I never ask anyone I meet to forsake their favourite tipple for beer and never look back, because I still drink champagne, red wine and spirits now and again. My two years of beer love have flown by, and I’m hoping 2012 will bring plenty more opportunities to drink ever more exciting beers, to meet even more exciting beer lovers, and to have many more beery adventures! Amen to that, eh?!?

Top things about beer for me in 2011

1. In December, I became the first ever woman to win a GOLD Award at the British Guild of Beer Writers.

Check out Nathan Nolan’s cool vid highlights of the night!

2. In October, I was summarily ordered to put my gladrags on and flown to Prague by the amazing Czech brewer, Pilsner Urquell to host their prestigious International Master Bartender of the Year Awards at the stunning Rudolfinum, home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. A ceremony awarding fifteen of the best bartenders from around the world who care about this great beer, how to serve in the correct way to customers and who care about the experience that customers have with the beer.

The winner was Fearghus McCormack from Dublin – a MORE THAN deserving winner in my eyes – not least because when he stood on stage next to me and performed his Perfect Pour and answered questions about PU, I was blown away by his knowledge!!

I also got a private tour of the city and the historic Brewery in Pilsen.  I’ll load up many more pics from the night on my Facebook page very soon. And I can’t thank PU enough for an incredible time at The Open Golf this year too. Words fail me!

Rudolfinum - the setting for glamorous PU'S IMB 2011

BB on stage in Prague for Pilsner Urquell's International Master Bartender Awards

BB with the PU IMB 2011 winner: Fearghus McCormack from Dublin

3. October was the month, that The Main Man & I forfeited our annual pilgrimage to the Birmingham CAMRA Beer Festival (!) to go off and get married in the spectacular St. Chad’s Cathedral. We brewed our own beer for the occasion, and we had a ball on –  what will always remain in our hearts as  - the most magical day of our lives!

Beer Beauty & The Hubz with the Wedding Ale

4. Wowzer! The Belgian Tourist Board very kindly handed me a 2011 Press Award in London, for writing what they consider the Best Blog Article about Belgium, after my first-ever and, rather amazing, trip to Brussels. It was everything I’d hoped for, I was in terrific company, tasted some incredible beers, met the most fabulous people and the weather was unexpectedly scorching to boot!! Check out my award-winning article here (WARNING: it’s in 2 parts! lol)

Brussels Tourism Minister & BB collecting her award & sharing a beer

5. Not forgetting some of my amazing beer parties. I think I’ve done around 5 this year – including 100 women for beer and food matching at the coolio Malmaison hotel way back in March. Check out these pics!!!!

All in all I think I’ve preached the good word about beer to over 300 people this year! Make sure you’re subscribed to my blog because there’s going to another ladies party at Malmaison hotel in Birmingham in March 2012!!!!!!!!!

3 happy guests at Beer Beauty's FemAle night with Purity Brewery at Malmaison Birmingham - March 2011

6. Project Venus and Eire was massive this year with three brews and counting – feels like more! Venus Jade was the first brew; next up was Venus Rouge and I got to observe that day, alongside a BBC2 film crew who arrived to film for Historian and TV Presenter, Michael Wood’s next epic documentary series. How cool!  Venus Black was brewed in October and got served in Ember Inns across the country. Thanks to Sara from Triple FFF for sending me some – delish!

Venus Black roll call on hot October brew day (courtest of the Project Venus & Eire facebook page)

There’s so much more to come in 2012, with Venus Gold in January – to be brewed in Wigan.  And there’s a rumour I might be getting involved in a brew day with two other fabulous female beer writers. SO WATCH THIS SPACE!All the female head brewers involved are consummate professionals, and I’m really proud and honoured to know and have met some of them and seen their brewing action. Read the write-up on what PVE is all about, the brewsters involved in Venus Rouge and watch this little highlights vid I did of the day.

7. This year I’ve been asked to do some judging. It started at my local beer festival in Walsall, then I was asked to be part of the Great Sainsbury’s Beer Hunt and then the Thornbridge/Nicholson’s Homebrew competition! Sitting among an illustrious set of guest judges like Pete Brown and Alex Barlow was both a humbling and  fabulous experience. The winner of the homebrew comp gets their beer brewed at Thornbridge and served in Nicholson’s pubs across the country. The winner is due to be annouced in February and I cannot WAIT to hear who it’ll be. I know which beer I want it to be but, of course, Thornbridge does have the final say. No doubt, I’ll be there for the big announcement

Beers and palate cleansing devices - Thornbridge Homebrew comp

Homebrewed beers waiting to be judged at Thornbridge Hall

Fellow judge, and Thornbridge Production Manager, Caolan, administering our beers

8. Not forgetting all the cool beer festivals I’ve been to and the people I’ve met there. You know who you are, and I can’t wait to yakker much more about beer with you very soon!

My glass of Angel Brewery's Hark Angel at the DWAF 2011 - lush!

If I’ve forgotten anything or anyone then EEEEK! Apologies there was so much going on and I’ve had so much fun.

I’ve got a very busy journalistic (but non-beery) start to 2012, so I may be a little quiet for a while. But, rest assured, I’ll be knocking around somewhere or other tweeting away! And exploring a bit more of  London’s pubs and breweries

Cheers, everyone. Here’s to a glorious 2012!!

PS If you like what I write, then let me know by comments here, of on my Facebook or Twitter page or on Beer Beauty TV. All the links are on the right-hand side of the page, underneath my Featured Video clip.