He’s best known for his award-winning beer.
But now Huddersfield brewer Stuart Ross has won another accolade - for his beard.
The man from Magic Rock Brewery has won the Beard of Spring Award, from the Beard Liberation Front.
The group campaigns against beardism and has said that after an on-line vote Ross has beaten off strong challenges from cricketer Moeen Ali and actor Michael Sheen to win the title.
It is the first time a brewer has won the award in the 20 years it has been given and reflects the rise of craft brewing in recent times, which has attracted both hirsute drinkers and brewers alike.
BLF organiser Keith Flett said: “Of course there is a certain media stereotype associated with craft beer and beards.
“But the reality that is the first time a brewer has won an award underlines that it remains the case that the beard must be one that makes an excellent positive public impact and that is certainly the case with Magic Rock”.
Ross was up against some strong competition with the shortlist including Moeen Ali (cricketer), Steven Fletcher (footballer), Tim Howard (footballer), Harry Kane (footballer), Michael Sheen (actor), Tim Sherwood (football manager) , Donald Sutherland (actor) and Benjamin Zephaniah (poet).
Magic Rock is in the middle of a £750,000 move from its premises in Quarmby Mills, Oakes, to a site off St John’s Road, Birkby, in a bid to almost double the brewery’s output.
