Top brass from Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I (BBG) and other organisations including malting giant Boortmalt gathered from various parts of the UK and Europe on Wednesday (July 22) for a special celebration.

They chose East Anglia as the heart of the UK's barley-growing operations - inviting local farmers, malt suppliers and industry partners involved in the beer supply chain to join them for a field-to-glass experience.

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Budweiser Brewing Group's Cheers to Farmers celebration (Image: Daniel Burman)

Rougham Estate near Bury St Edmunds hosted the Cheers to Farmers day which included a tour to a nearby barley field and a lunch featuring beers paired to dishes.

The aim was to highlight the essential contribution of growers and suppliers in producing high-quality beer - and to promote sustainability across the supply chain.

Farmers Matt Carter of the Rougham Estate, Nick Scantlebury of Elveden Estate and Patrick Barker of Westhorpe were among the guests. Maltsters Muntons, Crisps and Boortmalt and AHDB were also represented.

Budweiser Brewing Group's Cheers to Farmers celebration on the Rougham Estate, near Bury Edmunds (Image: Daniel Burman)

Sustainability director for Europe Yleni De Neve said they started the event last year "to create a moment to cheer our farmers because in the end it's because of them we can make our amazing beers".

"It helps make your supply chain resilient," she said. "It's also more sustainable to source close to home."

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Katie Hoard, global vice-president of sustainability operations at AB InBev - said farmers are "critical" to her business.

"When we think about a good place to talk about sustainability there's no better place than in the field - because that's where it all starts," she said.

Budweiser Brewing Group's Cheers to Farmers celebration on the Rougham........

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