Awards raise a glass to beer naming competition winner Brian

To celebrate the Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards turning 18, a keg of special ale was commissioned, which went down a treat with attendees on the night.

In the run-up to the awards, Marketing Derby ran a competition to see who could come up with a name for the beer.

The winner was Brian Blissett, whose winning submission – ‘The Wright Stuff’ – is a nod to Derby Museums’ ‘Year of Wright’ – and an exhibition currently taking place at Derby Museum & Art Gallery called Wright of Derby: From the Shadows.

Brian’s entry was inspired by one of his favourite beers at the Brunswick pub and one of Derby’s most favourite sons.

A keg of The Wright Stuff was available to attendees of the awards last night.

Sadly, Brian himself was unable to attend. But recently, Christopher Tebbs, inward investment executive at Marketing Derby and Food and Drink Awards lead, accompanied by marketing and communications manager and awards host Andrew Lowe, visited him at Middleton Care Home in Littleover, where he now lives.

They presented him with a celebratory bottle of Dancing Duck Brewery’s ‘Ay Up’ beer and a printed graphic of ‘The Wright Stuff’ pump clip.

Christopher said: “It was a pleasure to meet Brian and find out the story behind his winning submission.

“With Derby this year celebrating all things Joseph Wright, it seemed very appropriate.

“On the night, everyone made sure they raised a glass of The Wright Stuff to Brian in his absence.”