Not believable: This website, Craft Brewing Business, is a finalist for website of the year

Awards are dumb — until you win one — then they’re awesome. For us, the jury’s still out, as Craft Brewing Business is currently only a finalist for the most coveted web award in the business publication world — Website of the Year, 2018 Azbee Awards of Excellence. We’re one of 10 finalists in the nation (the nation!), which is, well, pretty frickin’ impressive. Entries for the B2B Website of the Year category are judged on:

1. The quality of writing, reporting, and editing
2. Value and usefulness to readers,
3. Design,
4. Effectiveness in quick communication of information,
5. Navigation ease,
6. Interactivity and community,
7. Use of Web technologies and graphic design to support and add usefulness to editorial,
8. Legibility and readability,
9. Clear distinctions between editorial and advertising,
10. Depth of information, and
11. Information architecture/editorial organization.

Wow. Look at that criteria. We are, in fact, surprised to be a finalist. Past winners of this type of prestige include some heavy hitters: Architect; ENR; ComputerWorld; and BusinessWeek. All of the national Azbee winners will be announced during dinner on May 10 at the B2B Media Success Conference at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. We will be attending. Till then, enjoy our submission entry, which we think describes us pretty well.

Please describe the enterprising work that went into this entry and its significance or impact on readers:

The indie beer business was built on moxie and bold talent, and that force of character (propelled by determination and experimentation) is captured daily on the posts and pages of Craft Brewing Business. Since 2013, Craft Brewing Business has been a trade publication dedicated to investigating, analyzing and explaining the enormous amount of business hurdles that small breweries face every day. From machinery and ingredients to trademarks and distribution, the brewing industry is one of the most challenging and controversial markets in America — transnational corporations vs. small owner/operator businesses; a three-tier distribution system that controls point of sale; ridiculously capital-intensive brewhouses; and insane competition with more than 6,000 breweries now in America.

Craft Brewing Business helps breweries navigate the mountain of entrepreneurial demands that comes with owning a brewery, and we do it with the same flair and bold indie spirit that personifies our readers. We bravely challenge giant corporations to play by the rules (https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/business-marketing/ab-inbevs-craft-brands-against-brewers-association-certified-independent-seal/), we deep dive into profiles with industry icons (https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/20-questions-with-green-flash-brewing-brewmaster-erik-jensen/), we pen trade tech features you can’t find anywhere else on the internet (https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/12-best-brewing-equipment-features-2017/) and so much more.

Most importantly, we are independently owned. We are four entrepreneurs with nearly 40 combined years in the trades. We embody the same indie spirit as our readers. In fact, we posted hard-hitting trade journalism four times a day for the first two years without making a dime. Today, we are the top trade publication dedicated to the craft brewing industry. Just go read our site: craftbrewingbusiness.com.