#ISBFXI Brewday 5 - Flipping The Script with Torrside

“When the last train is going
And the streetlights look like stars
And your thoughts like rockets
Are all but homeward bound
When everyone is dreaming
And you don't know who you are
I will keep my arms wide open
You can pour your heart out”

Ramona’s Tea Party – “Pour Your Heart Out”

Jim : ISBF wouldn’t be where it is without the love shown by hordes of lovely humans and scores of those people happen to brew exceptional beer. It has - for me - been life enhancing. Those people have made such a difference not just to my life, but the lives of so many people touched by the work of Start Inspiring Minds - the magnificent charity supported by ISBF.

Some of these lovely humans - in late 2015 - formed Torrside Brewing. Since first meeting Chris, Nick & Peter on the Manchester beer scene, they have been open and welcoming. They have been firm and steadfast supporters of this event since we first took a beer (I think) in Year 3. Each ISBF, we get invited to New Mills and it is always a brewday we look forward to.

They’re special people, in a lovely location, brewing some of the finest beer in the UK (there’ll be a Beers Manchester post coming soon featuring their beers) and it’s always a special day for us. But something we never take for granted. They’re friends of this event, to state it plain.

I’m going to leave it to my companion for the day - and dear friend)/lovely human - John O’Donnell to describe the day (in both his words and his photographs). (I’ll freely say that his words brought a tear to my eye…..)

Over to you John…..

Having been a small part of what Jim calls the #ISBF Family since ISBF #1 in 2014, there’s many of his achievements that make you want to be more Jim.

Watching him grow that family into a year-round community of like-minded beer lovers that have spawned countless friendships and even an ISBF baby or three. Seeing him persuade some of the very best brewers to make small batch, niche beers for a tiny event. Handing over the stupendous amounts raised for the charities. Observing him do all this while totally committed to his amazing family. Yes, there are times we could all wish we were a bit more Jim!

This morning was not one of those mornings! It was 15 minutes before my alarm when I woke up, pulled out the phone to find that the first picture on my doom scroll is from the man himself, already on the platform of his local station. While I’ve not even crawled out of bed. At that moment, I was glad to be less Jim – ‘Bless the rains that I’m just a twenty-minute tram ride from Piccadilly’ I thought. (That “music” reference is duly noted! Ed….)

A shower, a coffee and a sausage sandwich later, I was on my way to Picadilly where I met up with the ISBF head honcho on the 07.51 to Buxton. Our destination was a brewery that I’ve visited many times, but have never had the opportunity to brew at. And in another personal first, todays brew was the first time I’ve been involved in parti-gyle brewing.

Our hosts have made the art of getting two beers, one ‘big’ and one ‘small’ out of one grain bill something of a speciality of theirs so it was with some excitement that we alighted at New Mills Newtown for the short walk to Torrside Brewing. We were greeted by co-owner Chris, our brewer for today as Torrside’s primary brewer Sarah was away taking a well-earned break.

While Torrside’s usual parti-gyle modus is to use the first runnings to produce a small batch Monster beer and the second runnings for a larger batch of a more sessionable beer, on the journey down, Jim had explained that today, we were flipping the norm. The plan was for the first-runnings to be the base for a full batch of a big hoppy beer, aiming somewhere between East India Porter and Black IPA. The second runnings were destined for a small batch of what doesn’t sound like a Torrside beer at all – dark, yes,, but under 3.5% ABV? Of course, it would be given a Torrside twist, but more of that later.

Chris had already weighed out the malt and - more importantly for my old knees - got it up onto the mezzanine floor. So after a quick coffee, we set to work on loading the hopper. Sharing the work three ways makes the heavy lifting a lot easier (and from the off, Jim was busting the myth that he spends collab days behind his laptop screen….). So it wasn’t long before the hydrator was on and the mash was underway.

Having only ever visited Torrside during brew tap weekends and the annual Smokefest (diary date, 20th & 21st March 2027), seeing the space in production mode makes you realise why those tap weekends are infrequent. The space that, on a tap weekend, is filled with packed tables of beer geeks, canal boaters and walkers enjoying the output is instead packed with pallets and pallets of bottled beers, casks, kegs and more. It must be a hell of a game of Tetris (“Game of Tetris” simply HAS to be the name of a Torrside/Elusive collab - #JustSaying - Ed) to pack it all tightly into the brewing space to welcome the public.

As we commence the mash rest, we are joined by assistant brewer Barney who gets his priorities spot on – the second coffee of the day is along in a jiffy. Jim retreats to the bar and deals with the laptop’s abandonment issues (OK, he was editing the post about last week’s Elusive brew day). Meanwhile Chris and Barney start setting up for the interesting part of the day

– the gas fired mini-copper perched atop a stack of pallets, ceramic tiles and bricks. Now we are in Torrside territory!

With the main kettle already full with the first runnings off the wort, Chris returns from his shopping trip just as the second runnings are transferred to the small copper and the gas burner is lit. While it might be unusual for the baby copper to have the baby beer in it, it’s a method Torrside have completed successfully many times and an hour later it’s flame out and time to add the final additions of Bramling Cross and 100 bags of vanilla chai tea. The aroma hit is almost instant – spicy cinnamon dominates with subtle sweet vanilla in the background. It might not be a Monster ABV but it IS a Monster aroma and once again, we know we are in Torrside territory.

Although he has spent a good chunk of the day at the computer, confirming beers with brewers who have confirmed availability and chasing brewers who haven’t, as the day draws to a close Jim commandeers the mash shovel as his gym session for the day, leaving me as sack monitor as the spent grain is bagged up for its next life as animal feed.

Our last collaboration effort of the day is to make the flame out additions to the big hoppy dark part of the days efforts before Barney kicks off the transfers and starts the final clean down.

The whole Torrside crew have been stalwarts of the ISBF family since the early days, during which time they’ve come up with some of the very finest beers to be served at the festival. Less than seven hours after we arrived, we’ve made not just one but two beers to join that legacy at #ISBFXI – two beers that I’m now eagerly anticipating drinking and I hope that you, avid reader, are too.

Thanks to Chris & Barney for welcoming us to New Mills. Jim will insert a footnote here to tell you how few tickets are now left and how you need to snap them up quickly if you want to taste these and all the other special ISBF brew day beers.

Thank you John. Especially for the tear inducing intro…. (and for introducing me to Ramona's Tea Party)

Where do you think you're going to get both of these beers first? (Thank you Torrside!) Is that even a question that needs asking?

So. Yes. Tickets. They're getting low. Especially on Thursday.

If you haven't already got yours - and want to come along to our little slice of beer heaven, click here (there's little more than a handful left for Thursday!)

Back soon. (I'm currently on my way back from yet another Brewday!)

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFXI Brewday 4 - Or "Four Go Mad In Berkshire" : Elusive BrewingTim

“Leave your pride in the cabinet // Pay the man and be done with it
Now we are not worthy of pith // Face the facts, we're back in luck
Turn on the light and wake me up // Now we are not burdened by love”
Future of the Left - Suddenly It’s a Folk Song

Tim : “Say folk, and two distinct flavours clash on the tongue: the firm, heavy "L" of an American accent versus the soft, cozy "fowk" of the British.

That contrast is what inspired Garrett Oliver when he set out to revamp the bold, punchy Manhattan Brewing Co IPA as inspiration to the beer that would inform the development of the iconic Brooklyn East India Pale Ale. Remembering his fond years sipping traditional cask ales in London pubs, he softened the loud, sharp American edges with rich British malts and earthy hops, turning a bitter shout into a gentle, harmonious song.

It’s the same magic at play in the music of mclusky and Future of the Left: taking the noisy, abrasive engine of American rock and breathing a dry, witty British soul into it. On "Suddenly It's A Folk Song," they tap into the roots of traditional folk, not for campfire nostalgia, but for its honest heart as an old-fashioned storyteller.

Storytelling, community, and sharing a craft, that’s what ISBF is all about. Homebrewer and volunteer Chris Airey takes over from here to tell the story of Brewday #4 with Elusive Brewing, brought to life by that exact same love for beer and camaraderie.

Over to you Chris…

I first went to ISBF as a keen homebrewer wanting to learn about what makes a beer great, and how to brew a great beer. What I didn’t know or expect to find out was a statement of truth that has become a mantra that “Beer People Are Good People”.

Having been every year since (including “lockdown virtuals”) as a punter, a sponsor and more recently as a volunteer, I am fully on board with that statement, this is what makes great beers great! It is because of that, I now find myself back at home after a couple of days of tomfoolery with wonderful people that know lots more than I about the technical side of “great beer”!

On Thursday lunchtime, I packed up a few belongings (mini sausage rolls, a Japanese version of a Pot Noodle & 2L of fizzy VIMPTO [sic], a very large bag of nervous excitement), and set off south in my Campervan, eventually arriving at the Q-Park in Reading, where I was going to stealth-camp for a couple of nights.

This year’s mischief started the night before the Brewday in the Nags Head, as I met up with Chris, Tim & Steve (all of whom are more than ISBF Stalwarts). After our welcoming hugs, we had a pub tapas of all of the various crisps, Tims hiccup-inducing ‘Hot Sauce’ and some nice beers, some thanks to Jody, our host at The Nags.

We also discussed what we could do to make life comfortable for Jim (or not). And that was when something easier to predict than a Michael Fish hurricane happened and Tim began flaunting his hirsute belly to those with a stomach strong enough to look!

Having made a few strategic decisions apparently, we agreed I would transport us all to “a difficult to find brewery” down in Finchampstead early the following morn.

My earlier reference about nervous excitement was because of the brewday. For me as a homebrewer, the opportunity to brew with what I believe to be a “Homebrewers Hero” as renowned as Andy Parker, was a bucket-list opportunity, that as it turned out, was nothing to be nervous of because he does live up to his other tag of being “the nicest man in Brewing”!

We arrived at about 7:40am and were greeted by Andy, Ricky, Rachel & Ian from Elusive as they began setting up the Brewery & Tap ready for what I hope was a good night for them.

I’m not going to try to explain the heritage of the beer that was being brewed as it’s an homage to a ‘Manhattan project’ that arguably created a major shift in British brewing tastes but I can confirm that many 25kg bags of low colour Maris Otter were unpacked and fed through the grist auger & hydrator (?) into the Mash Tun. .

We helped mash in and then headed for a bacon & sausage baguette & some caffeine before heading back to play Tekken 3 between bouts of brewing, with Steve & Tim particularly competitive.

As the mash process came to an end, and the transfer of that sweet & sugary fermentable liquid was moved to the Copper we were able to unpack and savour the hops.

Much digging out of the mash tun then took place with us working like a well-oiled team of Celebrity Traitors where our version of James Blunt was in command, and we nearly filled the bags to a level of Rickys high standards. The bags were stacked and wrapped ready to be taken to a Cow Sanctuary where they will be gratefully received by said cows.

Much digging out of the mash tun then took place with us working like a well-oiled team of Celebrity Traitors where our version of James Blunt was in command, and we nearly filled the bags to a level of Rickys high standards. The bags were stacked and wrapped ready to be taken to a Cow Sanctuary where they will be gratefully received by said cows.

A bit more Tekken 3 was fought and a Brown Ale or two tried before getting to the boil. I was honoured to be asked to add the first hop addition and managed not to either spill any or steam-bend my forearm!

Shortly after this is where the brewday took a slightly less usual turn, insomuch as I then drove us all back to the Q-Park in Reading and we headed off via a train beer to Ascot for the CAMRA Beer Festival, and a bit of horsing around.

A few good beers were consumed for research purposes, and a wager or two earned some of us a ‘few bob’ before we headed back to Reading and a nightcap in RG1, The Alehouse (where my enthusiastic recount of Camper Van life led to a spilled pint shambles) and a final hurrah back at The Nags Head!

My summary of the last two days is that I am so lucky to have be a small part of a brewday with a hero of mine, lucky that I have been a part of something that means so much to a lot of people who come and become part of the Family at the ISBF festival, and lucky to be able to help raise money for the local charity, START Inspiring Minds.

A huge thank you must go to Andy, Ricky, Rachel, Ian, and the whole crew at Elusive Brewing for opening their doors and showering us with such incredible warmth and hospitality throughout the day.

Massive credit goes to Chris D for proposing the recipe, Chris Airey for gamely retelling the adventure, and Andy once again for skillfully reshaping it into what we know will be a fitting tribute to that original Manhattan Brewing Co IPA. Keep your eyes peeled: "Manhattan" (aka Mischievous Nephews) will be making its official Salford debut this November!

#ISBFXI Brewday 3 - Beer & Community : Steam Machine Brewing

“Well old Tom Paine he ran so fast
Left me standin’ still
And then there was a piece of paper in my hand
Standing at the top of the hill
And it said, "This is the age of reason"
And "These are the rights of man"
I kicked off religion and monarchy
It was written there in Tom Paine's plan…”

“Tom Paine’s Bones” - The Trials of Cato

‘Twas a long day. And a very long drive. But when you get to your destination and feel that sense of…….belonging. That’s when it hits. I’d admired what Nick Smith and his small team have been doing since being introduced by Daisy in 2024. “The Fellowship of Beer” that Nick and the Team created, is truly a wonderful thing, that is something that I truly do not say lightly.

What hit me was the fundamental sense of “community”, both the “Fellowship” and the links to the local Community that they have built. Kind of the essence of what we try to achieve with ISBF. There’s the feeling of a bond between us, from 117 miles away.

Yes, Nick won Beer of The Festival (no easy feat!) with our first collab “Look Down, Look Down”, but this is a little more of an emotional bond.

And I felt all that whilst sat at the brewery, enjoying a coffee and hearing a tune come on and exclaiming “Trials of Cato!”

Was a proper day.

This year, with the brewdays, we’re trying to get members of the wonderful #ISBFFamily involved. Many of these lovely people are keen (and talented) Amateur Brewers. Many are Beer Enthusaists. They are all a simply lovely bunch of humans (I’m in tears as I write this) without whom this event wouldn’t be possible.

One such is Bevis, A lovely human that I am proud to call “friend”. He’s also a member of the aforementioned “Fellowship of Beer”, so there could not be a finer companion for this day.

Jim

Over to you Bevis….

“I’m heading out at half past five on a late September morning, but I’m more annoyed at Robert Smith writing about 10:15 Saturday night, rather than penning a track about this much slept through part of the week, which I am rudely roused from to attend to ISBF business.

It is no great shakes because I’ve been greatly looking forward to this trip, enough to cushion the uncomfortably early start, to get to the rather Northerly Steam Machine Brewery in Newton Aycliffe for the start of their working day, only really made possible by Jim’s driving through a predawn darkened morning.

I dive into Jim’s car and it seems only a couple of Fugazi tracks before we are passing Leeds and being embraced by the raising sun, and heading on north along a rather thankfully uneventful drive that delivered, due to Jim’s diligent driving, safely to Steam Machine.

The reason I have been looking forward so much for this brew day is that ten years ago, I managed to get hold of a bottle of Steam Machine US Brown ale, which very much impressed me. But this was a random find and wouldn’t be followed till the beginning of 2024 when I stumbled online onto the Steam Machine ‘most exclusive beer subscription service’ that I signed up to.

I have continued to enjoy the delivery of a myriad of bottle conditioned beers of all styles - many barrel aged - all showing a brewery of genuine ale magic. Not only magic, but truly unique, with it being led by a head brewer with a genuine love of all things beer, backed up by a community who act as an advisory board on that subscription, “The Fellowship of Beer”.

That head brewer and owner, Nick Smith arrived, greeted us with hugs and lead us through the front bar to where the real magic happens, a place of shiny stainless steel brewing vessels, wooden spirits and wine barrels and sacks of ingredients to for us to start of the brewing of their contribution to ISBF 11. A Black Forest Dunkelweizenbock, not only chosen from suggestions from the Fellowship of Beer members, but a true spiritual successor of their ISBF beer, “Look Down, Look Down”, a Cherry Chocolate Dubbel. Switching from that Belgian style to this Teutonic big beer style.

Another gratuitous barrel shot!

No. This is not AI. This is me doing some physical work!!! (Note to Phil….)

We all started gathering the grains for this mighty brew, for the mash and the sparge. To create a liquor full of malty fermentable sugars, and chocolate malt to help give a richer flavour and add a darker colour. Adding low alpha hops to manage a low bitterness, then there may have been a slight infringing the Reinheitsgebot - the German beer purity law - with the inclusion of cacao and cherries, which transforms a dark malty strong German style beer into something like the dark chocolate cherry gateaux, without sullying the affair with ‘pastry’.

I think Nick is pleased with the results…..

Then beers from the bar and the Fellowship were imbibed (not by me - Ed!), compared and contrasted whilst listening to a playlist of folk rock, before we had to part company for the long journey home.

But what is fermenting now, for Steam Machine’s second beer for the ISBF, isn’t just a collaboration of a beer festival and a brewery, but the coming together of two ale loving families.”

(Back to Jim now!) Thank you Bevis for the lovely words. HUGE thanks to Nick, Gulen & Amy for inviting us along to brew this fascinating beer. Big thanks too for Robin (my previous Co-conspirator at First & Last last year!) and to Angela & Sam (Fellow “Fellowship” members) for coming along and getting involved in what was truly - for me - quite an experience.

A truly lovely day, with lovely humans, making beautiful beer, with love and community at its heart.

If you find yourself within striking distance of Newton Aycliffe, don’t pass up the opportunity to visit Steam Machine, It’s truly a lovely place.

Do I REALLY need to ask you where you can get to try this truly unique beer? A few tickets still available for Thursday and Saturday Evenings by clicking here

Come and join us. We do things a little “different” at Hemsley House.

Back soon with Brewday 4.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

This Webpost is dedicated to the memory of Des Fisher, one of the original #ISBFFamily when we started in 2014, who has passed away suddenly.

A caring and generous soul, kind hearted, he was loved by many. He introduced me to real Belgian beers, his cellar was a thing of legend.

He helped make this event what it is and he will be sadly missed by many.

The hearts of the #ISBFFamily go out to (and our arms around) Claire & Scott at this sad time. And our love and thoughts go out to them and their family.

Des. I'll find something Belgian tonight.

Sleep well. Jx

Friends Working Together - The #ISBFXI Collaborations

“Every dial tone, every truck stop, every heartbreak,
I love you more
Looking like you just woke up from making songs,
Shooting satellites that blew up the pay phones...
Singing we'll all be together,
Even when we're not together
With our arms around each other,
With our faith still in each other

I've got calling cards
From 20 years ago…..”

Calling Cards - Neko Case

At Steam Machine in 2024

Back in October 2014, 37 people came through the doors at St Sebastian’s Community Centre to drink at the first session of The Independent Salford Beer Festival. I don’t mind saying that we were flying a little blind.

It was a small new event. We leaned heavily on one or two people who knew what they were doing (because I certainly didn’t!). But one of the things that sticks with me is how many of those people returned the next year – and each subsequent year. That’s guests and #ISBFFamily both.

Brewing at Revolutions Brewing in 2015 (The Queen Is Not Dead - Sorachi Stout)

That first year, all of the beers were suggested and supplied by the 36 breweries. Each beer (for the first 2 events) was in cask. That first year, we took part in one brew day (on that occasion with Deeply Vale of Bury – the music links were important. Even then) , then stepped up in Year 2, with several brew days. Sadly, of the 7 we brewed with that year, only 1 of the breweries are still brewing (Five Towns)

Mark Johnson - Pulping Kiwi Fruit at (the greatly missed) Tickety Brew in Oct 2016

It has been incredibly flattering - over the years – to have taken an active part in more and more brews. From helping with beer ideas, recipe thoughts, stirring, digging, mauling hops and cleaning vessels.

The breweries don’t have to do this. This event is too small to boost profiles. They do it because they want to. They get what we’re trying to achieve. The good that we’re – as a whole – trying to do.

Brewing on the Elusive Brewing “Home Brew” kit in 2017 (A now ISBF Annual Tradition)

This is a small event. Deliberately so. So for some of the UKs finest to invite us in never ceases to amaze me. To be frank, it gets me a little bit emotional just thinking about it.

This year, we started making beer a few months earlier than normal, in May, with a Bourbon Barrel Aged ESB at Tom’s Tap & Brewhouse. (I’m actively drooling at the prospect of tasting that!)

BA ESB - Tom’s Tap - May 2026

Then, earlier this month, I was at Northern Monk, with Brian and Fraser, brewing a rather unique American Brown (We’ll be the only place you’ll get to try that!)

American Brown - Northern Monk - Sept 2026

Starting next Tuesday, we’ll be collaborating on another 11 beers. (You read that right. ELEVEN)

Steam Machine (Newton Aycliffe); Elusive (Finchampsted); Torrside (New Mills); North Riding (Scarborough); Lakes (Kendal); Five Towns (Wakefield); Pictish (Rochdale); Marble (Salford); Mallinsons (Huddersfield); Runaway (Stockport). (And – possibly – a multi brewery collab, in Yorkshire, especially for us)

Brewing at Torrside - For #ISBFX

This love, from the brewing community, helps to make our little event feel a bit special. And gives us that warm feeling, knowing that the community cares about what we do as much as we do.

Attending the World Suicide Prevention Day vigil (outside Salford Art Gallery) recently reminded me and The Boss just how important the work is that the wonderful people at Start Inspiring Minds do. The reason WE do what we do.

Chris hard at work enjoying himself - Last year at Runaway

Being “Not For Profit”, every ticket sold, every beer purchased, every raffle ticket, they all make SUCH a difference. YOU make a difference. Please don’t ever forget that.

Digging Out at Lakes Brew Co - October 2025

Speaking of tickets, have you got yours yet? With 3 sessions already sold out (and one more – Thursday Evening – getting close) there really aren’t many left. Come join us. Be part of our little community, doing good things.

Ticket Link here -  

Back next week, with news about #ISBFXI Brewday #3, at Steam Machine. What liquid joys await?

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFXI - The Chilled Sessions

There is a rather touching sense of loyalty with guests (never “customers”) at ISBF. So much so, most are almost regarded as #ISBFFamily.

These are the people who’ve been with us since St Sebastian’s. And those who’ve stayed with us since the “Vader” days of the first event at Hemsley House (#ISBF5).

What this loyalty and love ensures is that some of the sessions sell out. Quickly.

Saturday Lunch Session. Friday Evening Session. Friday Lunch Session.

All gone.

There is a commonly used phrase for such phenomena : “If You Snooze, You Lose”. But that doesn’t apply here.

The 2 remaining Sessions have a charm all of their own.

Thursday is relaxed. Just first dibs at the most wonderful beer list (that weekend) in the UK (65 Keg, 25 Cask inc 12 Collabs! Almost ALL “First Pour” in the Manchester Area), poured by the friendliest people (That’s the #ISBFFamily for you), tunes from Jo & Mike (with the Rebellious Jukebox) and conversation with friends – including some you won’t have met yet.

The very essence of the event.

ISBF is kind of different in that way.

(And tickets are now in the “Low Availability” zone)

Saturday Evening is our favourite session.

THE most chilled of all the sessions.

We’ve again got the most wonderful beer list. Jo & Mike again with their – magnificent - request based playlist.

We’ve also got the hugely talented George Fell with his angelic guitar playing (if you’re coming on Friday or Saturday Evening – and love music – get in the “Green Room” and treat your ears!)

And again, the friendliest bunch of people pouring your beers and ciders.

And even WE get to relax a little! (I might even have a beer myself....)

Fancy joining us? Click the link below. We’d love to see you.

https://share.google/3FVGgzM56vD1LFDAY

And remember this : ALL profits go to our nominated charity, the wonderful Start Inspiring Minds, just a short walk away along the A6. A fabulous bunch of people doing wonderful things in the field of Mental Health in Salford (click and see)

More posts soon (next collab Brewday is a little over a week away!)

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFXI Brewday 2 - Life’s Rich Pageant : With Northern Monk

“There’s the progress we have found (When the rain), a way to talk around the problem (When the children reign)

Building towered foresight (Keep your conscience in the dark) isn’t anything at all (Melt the statues in the park)

Buy the sky and sell the sky and bleed the sky and tell the sky

Don’t fall on me (What is it up in the air for?)

Fall on me (If it’s there for long)

Fall on me (It’s over, it’s over me)

Don’t fall on me...”

“Fall On Me” – R.E.M

(It’s SO easy to forget quite how bloody fabulous REM were - thank you Brian for the nudge!)

Walking through Leeds - from the train station - I was constantly reminded how (relatively speaking) “human sized” it is in comparison to Manchester. I’ve always had a soft spot….

Brewing  Season Starts – in earnest - Here.

And it’s always an early start. The 06:30 walk to the train station (no buses THAT early in my manor!) was certainly refreshing.

From Walkden Station….

I’m lucky in that there is a direct train from my nearest station to my destination – and my second brew on this rather special Pilot Kit. I love Leeds. And Leeds International weekend seems like a perfect time. The first major Craft event and an inspiration in many ways to what we tried to do with the “first runnings” of ISBF.

The walk through Leeds was slightly confusing, but that’s Google Maps for you!

Arriving at my destination, all seemed quiet – mainly because Brian was in Greggs ordering a recuperative Sausage butty...

Suited & Booted (almost literally), Fraser (actual brewer for the day) and ourselves were soon off into the Brewhouse to start mashing in with the world’s tiniest paddle. Pale, Brown, Chocolate malts – along with oats – all blending together with some beautiful initial coffee & other dark aromas filling these nostrils.

The World’s Tiniest Paddle - Honest Guv!

On this lovely wee kit, mashing in was really straightforward. The recent gym sessions didn’t help my shoulders however (note to self!) but it was soon time for the hot liquor to do its thing and release those beautiful sugars.

I don’t wish to come across like a fanboy, because I’m quite difficult to impress (I’ve been doing this event for 13 years, effectively), but to be stood in the shadows of some quite enormous tanks, storing some of the best selling Craft in the UK (inc the BEAUTFUL “Further Beyond” WC DIPA!), being invited to brew on a kit the size of which Amateur Brewers would deem “adequate”, it’s a bit ******* humbling.

A brewery like this. Enabling me, for our little do, to brew something quite exclusive on this little kit....

But that’s Brian. One of the genuinely nicest people in the game.

(Unless you’re talking Fantasy NFL. In which case – like a certain Mr Parker – he’s a complete git 😂)

We chatted all things beer. Knowledge, hops, the general business and other stuff. You can learn tons talking to someone like Brian – all of it forgotten by the next morning (but not the insults to my Fantasy Drafting skills – oh no.....)

The face tells it all…..

We had a wander to collect the hops for bittering and aroma (Chinook & Mosaic, seeing as you’re asking) at which point, I was informed (politely, obviously) that my grandchildren had been kidnapped by The Lactose Liberation Front – Leeds Division – and to release them, i needed to embrace the Devil’s Effluent.....

Grandkids released, we added the (stunningly fragrant) hops and awaited transfer to FV (fermenting vessel).

I may have “dug” some grain out, but given the size of kit, it was barely exerting... 😂

We were then pretty much done. The wort was nestling nicely in the FV and we were off on a stroll to The Refectory for a beer and to bump into the Fake Tyke (aka Yorkshire’s Oldest Brewer….)

Gratuitous shot of Malcolm…..

So. What have we got for you? Well – and this is the mark of Brian, Fraser & NMB – AN EXCLUSIVE!!!

In Keg – AND CASK – a rather beautiful example of my personal Catnip, An American Brown. Currently unnamed, but I’ll forgive Brian in his attempt to find an anagram from “Bless the rains down in......” No! I just can’t name the continent.

I WON’T DO IT!!!

But an exclusive. From Bri & the team. Makes me feel a little teary. Thank you all SO MUCH for the day.

And where can you get this delicious drop of Yorkshire Heaven?

Silly question!

Got your tickets yet? Still some left for Thursday & Saturday evenings (Thursday Evening Session now LOW availability)

Link here.

Come join us. We’re not a bad bunch......

Back soon.

Jim x

#ISBFXI Is GO!

‍ 13 years.‍ ‍

Who knew that that stupid moment of weakness, when I agreed to “organise” a Beer Festival (to help raise funds for St Sebastian’s Community Centre) would result in a post like this.

13 years.

13 years of friendship. 13 years of community. 13 years of – simply put – quirkiness!

There’s nothing quite like ISBF.

One of the best selection of beers you’ll find in one place. But no bells. No whistles. ‍

No “Best this” or “Greatest ever that....” That’s not who we are.

No expansive Live Music line ups. No ticker tape. No self-generated hype.

That’s not who we are. ‍

The Simple Things (the cheque is in the post Phil!). Relaxed. Comfy. Sit if you want to – there’s plenty of seating – stand if you like. Busy, but never rammed. It’s how we like it. ‍

That’s who we are.

Friendly. Simple. Uncomplicated. Family.

That’s who we are.

Yes, ISBF is about great beer, beautiful cider & perry. But what it is MOST about is Friendship. Community. Love. The simple things. Done right

Friends coming together. From all over the UK.

Year. After. Year.

That’s who we are.

People who get the point. Raising vital funds for the loveliest local charity, START Inspiring Minds. A charity dear to the entire ISBF Family. Last year you raised £16,000, the most we have ever raised.

This matters hugely to a charity like START. Something that cannot be overstated.

THAT’S who we are.

Nor can the time and love poured in by the #ISBFFamily. The loveliest bunch of humans that come together (many of them each year since 2014) to make this thing happen.

You know who you are. Thank you all. You make ISBF an event that people want to return to, year after year.

Anyhow. Stuff. And Beer.

We have 2 Side Events / Tastings.

1.       On the Friday Evening Session, Dan from Fyne Ales Origins Project will lead a guided tasting and talk around the history of the Origins Project. How Time & Place guide the beers. Been trying to get Fyne to ISBF. Can’t wait for this! (There’ll be some special beers to sample! Tickets £10)

2.       On the Saturday Lunch Session, the Inspiration (to me) that is Melissa Cole will be leading a Beer & Cheese tasting/matching – even I’ll be buying a ticket for this one! Note : The beers will be small pack. Not from the bar. (Tickets £20)

Tickets for both of these chats will be released soon.

Since 2016 – when I was told directly (remember, Rob?) that I wouldn’t be able to do this again – almost (if not all) the entire ISBF beer list features beers that are “first pour” in Manchester. It’s a challenge, believe me, but it’s one that I embrace.

What this means is that we don’t know the actual beer list until the week of the event. But we do know the brewery list. Well, most of it (a few International beers will come nearer the time_

Check here (“C” = likely Collab)

‍ ‍

Cask

‍ ‍

Blackjack C ‍

Blue Bee‍ ‍

Brid's Cross‍ ‍

Burton Bridge‍ ‍

Chin Chin‍ ‍

Elusive C‍ ‍

First & Last‍ ‍

Five Towns C‍ ‍

Fyne‍ ‍

Lark Hill‍ ‍

Mallinsons C‍ ‍

Marble C‍ ‍

Marble C‍ ‍

Mysterious‍ ‍

Northern Monk C‍ ‍

North Riding C‍ ‍

Pictish C‍ ‍

Redwillow‍ ‍

Runaway C‍ ‍

Steelfish‍ ‍

The Kernel‍ ‍

Ticking Clock‍ ‍

Tom's Tap & Brewhouse C‍ ‍

Torrside C

‍

Keg

‍ ‍

Abbeydale‍ ‍

Abyss Brewing‍ ‍

Alter Ego Brewing

Amity

Ampersand

Anspach & Hobday‍ ‍

Balance‍ ‍

Blackjack‍ ‍

Brewery of St Mars of the Desert‍ ‍

Burnt Mill

Chain House‍ ‍

Cloudwater‍ ‍

Coldframe‍ ‍

Docks ‍

Dolphin‍ ‍

Double Barrelled‍ ‍

Duration‍ ‍

Earth

Elusive‍ ‍

Fell‍ ‍

Field & Theory ‍

First & Last‍ ‍

Fourman Brewery

Fyne Origins‍ ‍

Hideaway‍ ‍

Holy Goat‍ ‍

Ideal Day Family Brewery‍ ‍

Kernel ‍ ‍

Lakes C‍ ‍

Little Earth‍ ‍

Lost & Grounded‍ ‍

Lost Cause/Five Towns/Chin Chin C‍ ‍

Mills‍

Marble‍ ‍

Neptune‍ ‍

Northern Monk C‍ ‍

Pastore‍ ‍

Pixie Brewing‍ ‍

Pomona Island ‍

Rigg & Furrow‍ ‍

Rivington‍ ‍

Runaway C‍ ‍

Scatterlings‍ ‍

Simple Things Fermentations‍ ‍

Siren‍ ‍

Steam Machine C‍ ‍

Talking Tides‍ ‍

Thornbridge‍ ‍

Toms Tap & Brewhouse C‍ ‍

Torrside C

Track

Tun

Two Flints

Twice Brewed

Unwins

Wild Horse

Wilderness

Wishbone

Zapato

There’ll be a few additions closer to the Event (we’re aiming for 25 Cask & 65 Keg)

There’ll be 4 or 5 ciders on Draught (and several in bottle) – They’ll be announced nearer the time.

We’ll have a small, yet lovely, selection of Gin & Wine.

We’ll even make you a brew if you want one!

But, for most of you, the important thing is the ticket link..... Click below

Tickets are £25 + Booking Fee. Except Saturday Evening, which is £23 + fee.

(Please remember, each ticket gets you your glassware, lovely programme and £10 of tokens. And ALL profits go to START. We’ve always been “Not For Profit”, always will)

‍

Independent Salford Beer Festival (#ISBFXI) - Universe

‍ ‍

Look forward to seeing you in 12 weeks.

Jim

a daft Idea Becomes Tradition

“….We truly believe you'd be better off with us
So come, come to the land where anything belongs
No one else will let you know the truth

Because we are your friends
You'll never be alone again
Come on, well, come on…”

“Never Be Alone” - Simian

The chorus led to this, possibly my favourite “Lift up” tune

Some time in Summer 2016 I had a daft idea.

“What if we had a little party/get together/thing on the night we launch tickets for ISBF?” ISBF was an even smaller event than it is now! The idea was daft....

Chats were had, a venue sorted and Voila! It was held in the bar many of us – in Manchester – knew as “The Dungeon”. The Brink.                                             There was even a race - Public Transport v Car - FROM BRISTOL! To get to a tiny event, selling tickets for a tiny event! Just over a month later, The Brink became - to me and mine - something more, much more. They know why.

Little did we know that a tradition was born....

We did the same again in 2019. Beers, tunes, advance knowledge of what was happening. And an early chance to book tickets.

We even had a contest to see who could get to the launch bash first. From Bristol!

That was ISBF5. The first at Hemsley House. ISBF changed.

Still friendly. Still decidedly “niche”. But more people. More beer. Easier to get to.

Post-pandemic, we lost The Brink. The loss of The Dungeon was heartbreaking on a personal level. Gaz, Kate, Ste, Pirate Pete, these weren’t hospitality staff and business owners, these were friends.

Then..... (Back to that “other such place”....)

The Marble Arch.

Back in 2016, Jan Rogers was another who put her arms around me and mine. Seemed to instinctively know when to chat & when to leave us be. I/we can’t thank her enough for that time.

Now forward to 2022, I asked “would there be any chance of..... Ticket Launch Bash.......”. I was a little stunned when she said that they’d close the pub!

We had a new home.

Each year since, friends old, new, some we haven’t even met yet, get together, insult my senses (Playing “Africa” by **** for pities sake when I started talking! Audio Torture!) have a chuckle and grab tickets before they actually go on sale.

(There are only TWO ways to guarantee your preferred sessions at ISBF. Sponsorship of Beer/Cider. Or come to the Launch Bash)

This year is no different.

From 18:45 (prompt) on Sunday 16th August, we gather at The Marble Arch. (Some of us even book for a beautiful Sunday Dinner beforehand!)

Beers will be had. Information will be passed. And, those present, get themselves a link (and may be the chance to grab an exclusive T-Shirt or Hoodie!). To buy their tickets to #ISBFXI. Before they go on open sale.

With over 30% of tickets going to Sponsors, it’s the only way to GUARANTEE tickets to the session of your choice.

Fancy joining us? Tickets for the Launch Bash are FREE but very limited indeed.

Here’s the link.... https://www.universe.com/events/isbfxi-ticket-launch-bash-tickets-SP3Z4G

Come and join us!

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

“A mistake on the part of nature,
You are a tall glass, a blast from the past
Yeah, things were simpler then
You ask, exactly when….”

“Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk”

The New Pornographers

A long time ago, I (Jim) repeatedly used the phrase “Beer People Are Good People”. Whilst I took some light ribbing for it, it was my truth. I had met some truly lovely humans in the beer industry.

This only intensified with the founding of The Independent Salford Beer Festival.

Two of those people are Jacqui & Sean Ayling - a relationship that started when Sean brewed at Pig & Porter only intensified and strengthened when they bought the business interests of Offbeat Brewery in Crewe.

Simply lovely humans, Tom’s Tap & Brewhouse became an integral feature of ISBF, from supplying exceptional beer, to the semi-legendary cheeses they bring to the Cask room, to actually sponsoring the glassware in Year 7.

Sean has even brewed a Beer of the Festival! (Quite the achievement, given the normal line up!)

Tom’s Tap like to be involved with ISBF, a friend of the event, Sean likes to pull out the stops.

Tom's Tap hosts a Cheese & Beer night almost bi-monthly. It's a truly unmissable event. Magnificent cheeses matched with delicious beers.

It was on one of those evenings that the idea for this collab arose. I had just had a beautiful beer and praised the beer by saying “wouldn't it be lovely if we rebrewed this and Barrelled it for a few months”?

I swear i saw Sean's ears physically twitch! 🤣🤣🤣

This was why i found myself heading to Crewe (M60/62 in Rush Hour was BRUTAL!), to go make something extra special…

Technically a SMASH Beer, this is going down a different, more complex road..

The recipe requiring a significant mash rest, Sean was in early (5am!) to Mash in 100kg of Heritage Chevalier Malt (a mighty malt bill for Sean's 2.5bbl (400ltr) mash tun.

Upon my arrival at 8:45, the beautiful aroma of biscuity malt was unmistakable with a slight caramel note giving me a yearning for a Biscoff to go with my coffee.

Following transfer to the Copper, the climb to boil temperature - and a 90 minute boil - gave time for some admin. And i was delighted to assist - especially when cheese was involved…. 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

What this meant was that I got a sneak preview of the beers & cheeses for Friday Night's event. The drooling was REAL!

As was my surprise at the levels of trust Sean showed, leaving me unsupervised.

With all that cheese…. 🤤🤤🤤

Personally, I thought he was mad!

Cheeses packed and ready to ship, end of boil was nigh, which meant the hop addition - intentionally late. For the size of kit, a sizable chunk of Bramling Cross, smelling beautiful with their hedgerow fruitiness went in late.

Cue more lovely fruity aroma.

Transfer to Thomas The FV complete, i swiftly cleaned the copper - making it ready for another brew day the next morning - loaded my Cheese Night packs into my car and after a quick hug from Mr A, I was headed to avoid a 2nd Rush Hour…

Then, seconds ago, i was sent a beautiful sight. A beautiful fermentation shot….

I'm drooling. Again.

So. What have we got? Well, technically, 2 beers.

Half of the beer will be fresh. Mostly kegged (I'm hoping for some canning for the next Cheese Night!).

It's a Heritage Malt ESB, a beer style that I - in particular - have become very fond of these last few years.

But the other half of the beer? That will be warmly embraced by an ex Wild Turkey wooden cask. To have a little snooze. For 6 months.

And where do you think you'll get THAT first?

Silly Question…. tickets here (Thursday Evening Session now LOW availability)

Back soon.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Getting Involved (in a big way) With #ISBFXI

The first #ISBFXI Webpost! It's SPRING!!!! Time to get moving. And scrounging….

And mithering The Boy Genius for a design…… I don't call him that for nothing!

One of the most humbling things in my limited experience is the number of people that GET what we try to do with ISBF. And sponsor beer. The Programme. Take out an Ad in the Programme. Posters.

And the glassware. That Glassware Sponsorship thing is a biggie

Back when we started (in 2014) we didn't have a Sponsor for our glasses. Didn't think anyone would be interested…

But from Year 2, we were surprised. The OG of Mancunian Micro Pubs, Damian O’Shea of Heaton Hops stepped up. We were thrilled. One of my (Jim) beer heroes wanted to sponsor our glasses. (And we had to do two runs to get him all his glassware!)

WOW.

From that, each year has been a “Who's Who” of Micros with their name on our glasses :

• Heaton Hops

• The Brink

• Torrside

• The Northern Type

• House of Hops

• Petersgate Tap

• Nook & Cranny

• Tom's Tap & Brewhouse

• Old School Taphouse

• Stalybridge Buffet Bar

• Swinton Hop House

Exceptional bars and pubs all. Each of them - in various ways - having a huge place in both my personal beer journey and a huge place in the hearts of the #ISBFFamily.

And please note, without sponsorship, we'd have raised less than half the amount ISBF raised last year for our friends at START Inspiring Minds.

That's the amazing difference that sponsorship makes to ISBF. It's no small thing.

And we - The #ISBFFamily - love you for it.

So. For #ISBFXI, we're looking for a Glassware Sponsor. I'm all ears.

What does the Glassware Sponsor get?

• 2 tickets to each session of the event

• All the Glassware that remains at the end of the event

• Their logo on that Glassware

• Input into the style of the Glasses to be ordered. (Stemmed & Pint)

Interested? Contact me - Jim - at Sponsorship@salfordbeerfest.com and let's talk.

In other sponsorship news, we have a tiny number of beer/cider sponsorships remaining.

If you would like to get involved, the price to sponsor a beer is £90 (no rise for the 3rd year!). Each sponsorship gets you :

• 2 tickets to the session of your choice

• £10 tokens with each ticket

• Glass & Programme

• Your name (of choice) against a beer or cider

• A big thank you in our beautiful programme.

• The undying gratitude of both the #ISBFFamily & our chosen charity Start Inspiring Minds

The same amount would sponsor posters! (Same deal as above for beer! I do love posters. I'm a bit old fashioned like that!)

Fancy joining us? Just click this link and fill in the form.

Don't forget. Dates for our little event are 12-14 November.

Get those calendars noted!

Back soon with more news.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Democracy in Action! #ISBFX : Beer of the Festival

“Steal away at sundown, pick a place to hide
Check for signs of ambush, hunker down inside
Tired of running, tired of never standing still
Hear them riding up the hill

Men whose ribs are showing through their skin, bringing up the rear
It's high noon somewhere, it's dark in here…. “

“Dark In Here” - The Mountain Goats

ISBF. It's a little different. An amalgam of traditional and modern. An event that (in my opinion) is as much about the people and the feeling as it is about the beer.

I'm no longer shy about the exceptional beer list. That's now - kind of - accepted. But you can have the greatest beer list ever, but if the event feels wrong, people don't come back.

And we've had the same guests return year after year since 2014.

It's community. Family. And that's how we like it.

One of the more traditional things that we do is decide a “Beer of the Festival”. However, unlike some much larger events, this has always been a decision made by attendees (or guests).

This year is no different. Except, of course, it is. In that this year, I've not had to do a manual count.

That's on Daisy. She's clever. And suggested using a Google Forms document. So guests could choose.

Strangely, over the years, what started out as a little fun, has become quite a regarded thing.

As stated above, this is down to the excellence of the beer list.

And - this year - this is evidenced further by the number of beers that have received votes. Almost 60% of beers received at least one vote.

As I stated earlier. It's a decent list.

So. In short. There's no “prize”. No certificate. And this post is the only presentation (in so far as this is….)

And - for transparency - there were 82 beers to choose from. Each was listed individually. So, where we have the same beer on both Cask and Keg, they were counted individually.

So. In reverse order…… the Top 3 (as per the vote - which closed 2 minutes ago)

3. “First American Red” - Lark Hill Brewery (Salford)

2. “Marvoloso v14” - Commonwealth Brewing (Virginia Beach, Virginia, US)

1. “Double Yellow Lines” - Tom's Tap & Brewhouse (Crewe)

Congratulations to Sean Ayling (Now a TWICE WINNER!) & Jack Dixon at Lark Hill (just a few doors from Hemsley House)

So. That’s it for another year.

And - regarding next year - the first collab is coming SOON! #ISBFXI IS COMING!!!

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFX - The End of the Road

“…. All the rainbows in the sky
Start to weep, then say goodbye
You won't be seeing rainbows any more
Setting suns before they fall, echo to you that's all that's all
But you'll see lonely sunset after all

It's over…. “

“It's Over” - Roy Orbison

It was fun while it lasted eh?

That's #ISBFX all but wrapped up. That huge stressball can go back in its box. And archived. Done.

MD - Tunemaster!

What we do isn't complicated. Beer. People. Tunes.

Friends coming together for their annual get together.

I speak - I think - for the entire #ISBFFamily when I say that we're quite proud of what we achieved with this event from its start in October 2014.

When 37 people attended the first session.

We came a long way….

I’m not one for long goodbyes, so I'll be as brief as possible.

Firstly, some “Thank Yous”. (Most were detailed in the programme - I won't repeat those)

To Daisy Turnell & Amelie Tassin of Tipple Marketing.

For taking the Socials from me and doing them SO MUCH BETTER. I was nervous about letting those go. But after some teething issues (me learning to let go!), I saw talented professionals in action.

Talent. Organisation. Lower stress levels. De facto information Project Management.

Can't thank you enough. 💐

To Chris & Tim. You know why.

Jock, Jaz, Andy Packwood, Chris Airey, Bevis, John O’D, Mike & Jo - Thank you so much for everything, especially the Tuesday (made everything far less stressful.

The entire #ISBFFamily. You set the mood. That mood means people come back. Year. On. Year.

You make this event what it is. It's not the beer. People matter. You matter. Thank you. 💐

To Laura Hadland, Matt Curtis, Andy Parker, Mark Welsby, Russ Clarke and Krishan Rajput (Stirchley Wines - Birmingham) ) Sam Parker (Keg, Cask & Bottle - Prestwich) & Greg & Rosie Start (R&G Beer Vault - Macclesfield) for coming along to our little bash and taking part in the excellent talks. 💐

Also to Amelie & Tun Brewing’s Richard Alston for our excellent first ever Friday Lunch chat!

To our lovely sponsors. 💐

You make an enormous difference.

Thank you all.

To Claire (Brewery Jewellery). For coming to ISBF and celebrating her 50th birthday with us! For wearing that Tiara. For buying one of our Grandsons’ “artworks” (and for wishing him Happy Birthday!). Our Geordie 🌟 💐

To Hannah & Justine from Start Inspiring Minds. Being there, talking to people, getting an idea of how much it means to both the #ISBFFamily AND our attendees to have a part in making money for such a good cause.

It's easy for me to say stuff about why we do what we do, but - of course - it could be just me making up words. You gave those words substance. Thank you 💐

To Chris from NEW YORK (!!!) who flew over for this little event! Just WOW. Thank you for trusting your friend’s opinion and flying over!

Read his thoughts here.

To YOU the ISBF attendees. By enjoying yourselves, drinking from the most fabulous beer list (I'm not going to be shy about that), chatting with friends old & new, buying raffle tickets, YOU make one hell of a difference to many lives in Salford & beyond (seriously, I'm tearing up as I write this).

Without this lady, there would be no ISBF.

Anyway. To the point of this post.

Last Wednesday, Jock & I had a chat with Justine Wallace (START CEO) to run through how things went, how much she loved the event - and thanked everyone who came.

She “gets” the feeling of ISBF. And that was lovely to hear.

The sense of “community” was palpable.

What was also lovely was transferring £16000 to START (while we were talking).

Thank YOU so much. And give YOURSELVES some flowers. You deserve them.

£16000. Let that sink in. A record amount for us. In consecutive years.

We can't top that. So we're not going to try…….. Farewell ISBF……….

Gah! Who am I kidding?

#ISBFXI : 12/11/2026 - 14/11/2026.

You coming? Put it in your calendars.

Back soon to ask you for your Beer of the Festival. (And also with details of how to contribute directly to START - Several people have asked me for this!)

Love to you all. Peace out.

Jim x

#ISBFX - The List.....

Now then. Ordinarily, we would have published a beer list by now. However, I made a promise to hold off until today.

So. A brief post. With some beer information.

60 keg. 22 cask...

3 chats. With tastings (Fri Lunch, Fri Evening & Saturday Lunch)

We have a small range of Lo/No beers & drinks in can from Abbeydale, Cloudwater, Deya, Redwillow.

We have a small choice selection of Gins & Wine.

Soft drinks from Steep Soda etc…

But the vast majority of you are here to see friends. And drink from a rather…. decent beer list.

.... and we've been fielding some requests to see this list….. There may be 1 or 2 changes between now and then. Wouldn’t be ISBF if there weren’t!

The Cider list will be complete on the day….

So. For the lucky few with tickets, the planning starts here.

I make no apology for making those decisions difficult.

With Thursday evening's session now being sold out, there are just 10 tickets left (at time of writing)

for the super chilled out Saturday Evening Session.

A few beers may have “kicked”, but it will still be the best beer selection on a bar in the UK this weekend.

Treat Yourself.

Tickets here…..

For those with tickets, see you soon!

Be kind to one another.

Jx

A Winter Ale Hymnal - Marble Meets The Knave (A #ISBFX Special)

“I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red
As strawberries in the summertime.. “

“White Winter Hymnal” - Fleet Foxes

At ISBF, we're lucky. There are some lovely people in beer, who really get what we do. And why...

But it's not just about the beer - exceptional though that is - it's about the people.

People like Joe Ince, Carl Eccles, Paul Plowman and all the team at Marble Beers. And people like Henry Kirk, brewer at Harvey's - and under his own steam as Sunken Knave.

Over to Henry…..

Last Thursday I had the absolute pleasure and privilege of returning to brew at Marble for the first time since 2017! This time under my own Sunken Knave banner to once again make a beer for the wonderful 10th edition of the Independent Salford Beer Festival.

Speaking with Marble Joe, we both agreed to make a 6.1% Strong dark winter warming Burton Ale.

To be made with a 50/50 base malt blend of mild malt and best malt, with Vienna and Brown malt for colour and roasted malt flavour, then hopped with lashings of Ernest hop on the hot side, with a whirlpool and dry hop addition of Ernest and Amarillo to really amp up the marmalade citrussy notes.

Finally we had our falling out over sugar, I demanded invert they went with molasses- their house their rules and I am glad we did because the 50kg of molasses added a delicious richness and licorice flavour to the beer.

Marble's brew kit is an absolute dream.

Carl our brewer maestro for the day had already mashed out by the time I rocked up at half 9, Carl having mashed in at 6am like all true brewers and an early start is essential.

He kindly allowed me to add some hops for the socials while I enjoyed Marble's legendary hospitality and they truly make such glorious brilliantly executed beers in all styles! 

Once Carl had finished all the hard work, having hit all the gravity targets to ensure we hit 6.1% ABV after fermentation, I watched him skillfully add 3 buckets of Marbles house ale yeast to the FV before he chaffeured me to the perhaps Manchesters greatest pub - controversial I know! - where more food and beer was put on the Marble tab. They truly know how to look after a brewer. I hope one day I can repay them.

The beer is going into cask and can and I can't wait to hear people's feedback at ISBF on the 6th November and Sunken Knave and Marble will be having a southern launch at The Evening Star in Brighton on Friday 21st November see you there!

Thank you Henry. And Joe, Carl and the entire team at Marble. Can’t wait to taste this!

Do YOU fancy tasting this FIRST? Got your #ISBFX ticket? No?

Then click here. There really are very few left!

Back soon. Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFX Brewday 12 - Lakes Brew Co (aka "Ozzy Osbourne's Dead!")

“Seven months and two lonely days
I've been away from home
Been travelling the country from city to city
Trying to find somewhere to belong
So come on train….

Oh how I long, yes I long
To see your smiling face
But I know it's been so long
I hope it's not too late
So come on train….. Come on train…. “

“Come On Train” - Don Thomas

Now then. The tunes at the top of the Webpost ordinarily link in to the brewery or the beer we are making. But this one felt right.

Catching the train felt overwhelmingly like the end of something, the end game to a ridiculously stupid (but immensely fun) idea of taking part in so many brewdays.

And getting back to normal life.

Until you realise that there's less than 3 weeks until the doors open at Hemsley House!

And anyway, Come On Train is a stone cold Northern Soul classic and floor filler.

Treat your ears. Have a listen.

Another early start.

An Uber may have been needed - buses not running to the train station that early (sensible, sensible buses)

But this 2 change journey is worth it. To brew with a bit of a hero (he'd never accept that - the finest humans never do).

Luckily, Don Thomas wasn't needed. The trains were - unusually - on schedule.

Fuelled by coffee and eager anticipation, if I have a “best foot”, it went forward. It really is the only way.

Preston Train Station grows on me. A big station with a little personality. (And crucially, didn't need to change platforms to catch the Glasgow train…)

Now you know about my kit Nerdery. This kit is beautiful. A fabulous set up. Logical. Designed to make great beer.

And it does. Well, Matt & Alex do……

And no. Those wooden stakes were neither going into the beer (cue a chat about Budweiser using beech chips in the 80s), nor to be used in a local vampire cull. They were headed to Ambleside. To address an outdoor “planning” requirement….

Matt did warn me that he would be in early. Mashing in was done and transfer to the kettle was almost complete as I arrived at around 07:45!

The colour in the beautiful SSV kettle was visually warming. Right in my yard.

Hello Darkness my old friend….

Chocolate malt, Chocolate Rye, Carafa, Crystal, Roasted Barley…

Just look at all those lovely dark grains, sacrificing their sugars and flavours for the greater good….

Utterly selfless…

I chatted, via email, with Matt about the recipe, the malts, additions. And got excited WAY before I set foot on the 06:09 from Bolton.

Now there are a few other friends of darkness due to enter the granular fray, a small amount of specially selected coffee found its way into the mash for flavour & mouthfeel.

More to go in later.

It was at about this point that we had a “serious” issue. Walking into the office, I detected some audio filth…. “The Accursed Song” was on the Radio.

Me to Steve “I can't stay here…. “ cue Steve's chuckle

Later, we discussed the awfulness of “The Accursed Song” with Matt being absolutely on my wavelength.

At no point was “The Accursed Song” given its awful true name. But I felt a distinct twitchiness as I left….

My new best friend Loki took my mind off it with his constant play demands! And - despite Bob (always a pleasure) turning up to present a new playmate - he never stopped. His control of two footballs at once was quite stunning!

Brewdays are 10% of constant motion and 90% chatting and sitting around. And anyway, some things are best left to the Alchemists, like Matt.

I had some gaps on the Keg list I needed to fill. And got to it…

Lactose added late in the boil - body and a little sweetness - transfer to FV was looking good.

I mean just look at that colour!

With that transfer done. There'll be an addition in FV of a dark chocolate blend, Cacao, vanilla pods and a coffee infusion late in the process…

There are a number of things that attract me to Lakes.

There's the exceptional beer, obviously, DUH!

There's the generosity of spirit and sense of community, that being OF the community that the best local breweries have.

There's absolutely a resilience. Overcoming adversity to set up this fabulous business.

Walking around Kendal (as we did later), there's a sense of mutual respect

But what strikes me most, it's the sense of being a tight team. Togetherness. Everybody at the brewery coming together to overcome, to achieve. I, for one, can't wait to visit their new Bar in Ambleside when it FINALLY opens.

Knowing the people involved, it's going to be special.

So. What have we brewed…. “Four Bean Stout” at 5.6% abv. A coffee infused Stout with Tonka, Cacao & Vanilla.

A mighty beer. And first available at Hemsley House.

I'm not sure that I have the right words to express my gratitude to Matt, Michelle, Steve and Alan (not to forget Loki!), but time spent with people you admire and respect is always a joy.

Thank you all.

Back soon

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

If you don't have tickets already, click here…. Back soon.

We went for a walk. The beautiful Brewery Arts Centre….

Ending up in the mighty New Union (via Elsewhere Bar) to chat with Phil and the regulars. A lovely end to an ace day.

Yes. The brewdays are over, but… there's a post or two to come. Stay tuned…

Jim x

#ISBFX Brewday 11 - Myths & Legends with Brids Cross Brewery

“I’m going to make a good sharp axe,
Shining steel tempered in the fire;
We’ll chop you down like an old dead tree,
Dirty old town, dirty old town”

“Dirty Old Town” - Ewan McColl

2016 is - in so many ways - a year that I wish never happened. And one that me & mine will never forget.

It's only a slight exaggeration to say that this event kept me sane. Helped me in ways that very few know & understand.

I owe ISBF so much.

But there is one memory from that year that always brings a smile.

Andy “The Boy Genius” Heggs and I were discussing the logo design for #ISBF3 when I had a rare flash of inspiration….

“Go listen to ‘Dirty Old Town’ by Ewan McColl and use that……”

Andy - “You don't want a logo. You want a work of art!”

Look carefully at that t-shirt whilst listening to the song. And you'll get how good that design is…

There's a reason why I call Andy “Boy Genius”.

This brewday felt a little like coming full circle.

Some things are simply meant to be. Written in the stars, if you will.

There are few breweries that achieve that marriage of branding & product in a way that grabs ME.

Sean O’Reilly has done just that. With Brid's Cross.

Myths. Legends. Celt & Saxon imagery. I'm fascinated by the ancient history of this nation. Brutal, yet oddly romantic.

Just like “Dirty Old Town”. Go listen.

Sean & I seem to think the same things about beer.

I try to balance the beer list at ISBF and there was a beloved beer style I didn't have. We chatted and soon found common ground.

Dark malts feature…

Brewdays are brewdays. This one was slightly different in that the kit tested Sean's skills and ingenuity.

He's definitely one for solutions. Not problems.

Mashing in was smooth and straightforward, then Sean's skills and knowledge came in to play, quickly sorting a major transfer issue in to the copper.

Then we came to hops. And this beer will be seeing plenty.

An early addition of my current Catnip, Columbus for a little bitterness, followed late by more Cs (Columbus, Chinook & Cascade) for flavour and aroma.

Adding the hops is my favourite fragrant job…

I won't tell you about the beeautiful aromas.

It wouldn't be fair…… 🤣......

And there's more Chinook & Columbus to go on in dry hop too 🤤🤤🤤

Brewing is 10% of blue assed fly stuff and 90% time best utilised in other ways.

Me, I contacted breweries for beer details….. I mean, beer is rather important at a beer event, wouldn't you say?

Having filled in several lines in the Spreadsheet of Earthly Delights, it was time for transfer to the FV and almost home.

Was a lovely day with Sean. Shooting breezes, talking present & future plans (for him & the brewery, not ISBF!). He's one of life's true lovely humans. And I'm thrilled to not only have made this lovely beer, but to have beaten him - but not by too much - in our Beery NFL Fantasy League at the weekend! (Sorry Sean!)

A cracking day. Thanks to Sean for putting up with me and humouring me with the beer style….

So. What is chuckling away in sean’s FV?

“A Good Axe”. A US Porter at around 4.8%. Dark. Tasty. Sessionable.

Oh yes.

And where……..

OK.

If you want first dibs at this, there's only a couple of tickets left for the Thursday evening session.

Get. A. Shake. On. Click this link.

Back soon. With the final collaboration brewday!

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFX Brewday 10 - Lark Hill Brewery (aka : Another Tick on the Bucket List)

“Hey….

I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
Take a packet of seeds
Take yourself out to play
I want to see River of Orchids where we had a motorway

Push your car from the road….. “

“River of Orchids” - XTC

If you know XTC, but have never heard anything from the album “Apple Venus”, have a listen. It’s astonishingly good (and very different!)

I vaguely recall an email conversation - from the early days of ISBF at Hemsley House - with Prof Ian Goodhead from Salford University.

My recollection is around the University setting up a brewing facility. In my head, I had dreams of Salford Uni setting up a mini Heriot Watt. Training the Brewers of the future.

What I didn't envisage was a brewery just a few doors down from Hemsley House!

And not a particularly small brewery either…

This became an instant “Bucket List” tick.

A brewery we needed to make a beer at. Before this event stops for good.

The idea was to try to brew there for #ISBF9, but it just didn't work out.

Then, the brewer left to go brew at Cloudwater….

Enter Jack Dixon. Former brewer at 7 Brothers and (more pertinent to ISBF) First Chop Brewing Arm (can't help but use their original name!)

Back in the St Sebastian's days, I collabed at First Chop, when the brewery in a railway arch was just off Trinity Way.

We brewed a Chai IPA. There were spices. There was a pump. They didn't get on. And Jack spent as much time cleaning and engineering that pump as he did brewing.

I recall a transfer still ongoing at 7pm…

He persevered. The beer was ace…..

Now brewing at The Old Fire Station, we made contact. And plans. And discussed possible styles to brew.

Now then. I can see the current beer list for #ISBFX. It is very stylistically diverse. If you've been to ISBF before (and most coming to #ISBFX have), you'll know this comes as standard.

We pride ourselves on that.

But I, Jim, have my particular stylistic desires. So I pitched an idea at Jack. Something with a good firm malty backbone. Colour. Hops. Something to get Chris The Commish (from my NFL Fantasy League) to travel for….

The malt bill brought the colour…. The first malt bill I can recall where the pale malt was outweighed by others.

I loved the mash tun window. Like a window onto my malty soul…

The colour we were aiming at was in evidence early, as transfer to the kettle began…

Jack was more than happy with the colour. I was thrilled.

So much so, I treated myself to an exceptional Pain Chocolat from The Old Fire Station café/bar.

Absolutely fabulous patisserie and breads.

Walking into The Old Fire Station, as you enter, you have a bakery to the right. Facing you are the exceptional range of pastries and sweet treats. Then, to the left, the bar, with a seating area that has a view into the brewery.

All in one place. An excellent set up. And rightly busy.

Team ISBF - each morning - of the event do a breakfast butty run. They're eagerly anticipated. And bloody gorgeous.

Transfer to kettle done, hop selection time…. Cascade & Citra early and late / whirlpool, with Citra, Cascade & Amarillo to be added in FV (Dry Hop).

Adding them, the place smelt divine, in the fruitiest of ways.

That colour tho…… beautiful. And just what we were after.

Time was flying. And transfer to FV was soon upon us.

Time for a brewery nerd shot.

This kit is so well laid out. There's a lot of kit in a very small space, but it never feels cramped. Superbly well designed & built.

Digging out done, transfer complete and yeast deployed, we were done - all bar the cleaning.

So. What have we brewed

“Our First American Red” - a US Red IPA at 5.3%.

The beer name is simultaneously a nod to Indie band Tubelord “Our First American Friends” and to the fact that it is indeed the first US Red brewed at Lark Hill!

The ONLY CASK will be coming to Hemsley House - and if it tastes anything like it smelled and looked on the brewday, it's going to be a belter.

You coming? Got your tickets yet? If you haven't, we've got less than a handful left on Thursday evening and not many on Saturday evening. So click here….

HUGE thanks to Jack for the invite, the brewday and his enthusiasm for what he does and his patience with my questions!

The Old Fire Station is a rather lovely place. If you're coming to ISBF, it really rewards a visit.

Back soon with Brewday 11 (then just one more to go….

Just over 3 weeks to go!

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFX Brewday 9 - Ampersand (or "The Bucket List Gets a Tick")

“… On the last leg of a journey
They started a long time ago
The arc of a love affair
Rainbows in the high desert air
Mountain passes
Slipping into stones
Hearts and bones…. “

“Hearts & Bones” - Paul Simon

There are a number of reasons that I found myself driving along the A17 in the coal black early Lincolnshire morning.

You don't need to know them all.

I think it was ISBF 7 when I first met Andy Hipwell. I was a fan of his beers - it's a rare thing for me to ask breweries to supply if I'm not - but I was simply astonished when he walked through the doors at Hemsley House.

It's not easy getting from Diss to Salford. It's a bloody long way, with no easy route. I know. My family travelled to Great Yarmouth every year for holidays when I was a kid.

It was at that point that I NEEDED to get to Diss to brew.

I tried. I didn't drive, so checked train services. 3 changes. London. Newmarket. Ely.

But that bucket list needed ticking. Before I give this up.

Buying a car changed things….

The 3rd of 3 Brewdays in 4 days.

I don't drive 2 1/2 hours in the dark for just anybody.

Arriving, I was struck by the size of the building. But that was soon explained once Andy opened the door.

A wonderful, spacious Taproom. The space for which was one of the benefits of relocation.

I'm a brewery nerd more than I'm a beer nerd. And this place, this kit, won me over the moment I entered.

A lot of thought and planning went into this. And it's so worth it.

What a lovely place. Smitten, but I wasn't here to gawp. I was here to make beer…… so, introduced to Ben, we got on with it….

Like most beers, the vast majority of the grist (malt bill) was Pale, with small amounts of Munich & Caramalt / Caragold for colour and body / mouthfeel.

Discussing this brew over several weeks, this was a beer for me. Right up my street. A Session Pale loaded with classic US hops.

With a relatively straightforward malt bill - and a fabulous mash tun - the grains were soon fully hydrated and giving up their precious sugars

It's fun when you have design input. And can select some of the hops. Absolute Catnip Central.

Opening bags of Hops is such an aromatic joy.

Having enjoyed (and I REALLY do) the malty smells, transfer was complete to the kettle and it was a matter of waiting to “dig” out the soaked malt for the local cows to enjoy.

There was an impressive focus on sustainability and environmental impact - all part of the thought and planning here.

I was crushing harder….

An early addition of Columbus hops for bittering didn't hurt!

Nor did the lush BBQ that Andy sorted for us all for lunch..

Digging out was semi auto, so didn't take too long, with the rest being cleaning….

..... and late hop additions pre “flameout” (turning off the heat), a lovely mix of Simcoe, Azacca, Centennial (aka Jimbo Catnip) & Mosaic.

Aroma central. To say the least.

Like attracts like. Andy & Amy Hipwell are good beer people.

And they've built a lovely team here. Ben, Ellie, James & Pip were so warm, welcoming and extremely tolerant of my questioning, phones calls and laptop bashing!

I just wish I lived nearer. They've got a fabulous set up here, a magnificent and lovely Taproom and they wouldn't have a beer on the bar at Hemsley House of they didn't make fabulous beer…. Which they must definitely do.

So. What have we brewed?

Paper Boats. A beer that couldn't be more in my wheelhouse if it was a wheel in my house.

Pintable, refreshing a beer from the Best Coast brewed on the East Coast.

Yum.

Massive thanks to the Team. And I can't thank Andy & Amy enough for inviting me.

Got to say, was a bit emosh driving away.

3 collab brewdays in 4 days. Shattered, but this day was special.

X

Now then, I had to get back to Sleaford via the A10 and Kings Lynn.

Slight diversion time…

I had to….

Back soon. With a brewday considerably closer. To say the least!

Still a few tickets available. But not for long.

Click here. Treat yourself.

And be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFX Brewday 8 with Five Towns - Impeached! (aka The Jock Shock)

“I, endlessly guard the things that I believe
And wear my heart in pieces on my sleeve
Watch me as I bleed
Pink & Red, Red & Pink
I think I'm stuck somewhere between

What do you need?
Of course, I'm gonna sell you lies
'Cause it's worse to try and tell you why

You don't really want what I got to give, (to give, to give, to give)
You don't wanna know what my secret is… “

“Pink & Red” - Larkin Poe

The calls always end with “You know what to do…. “

People are so much more important than beer. That's another tenet of ISBF. And few matter more than Malcolm Bastow.

It's not about the winning of awards, it's about the person. And what he means to me & mine.

A tower of strength, when we most needed it.

We've got history.

It's not just anybody that I'll travel to Wakefield for on 3 hours sleep….

Setting off at 5:30am - having only got home from Bellingham 6 hours earlier - only for Malcolm…..

Getting to The Shed of Dreams by 8:30, a quick (essential) coffee and we were mashing in.

A mostly Pale Malt grist with some wheat, brewing on Malcolm's kit was one of my earliest brewing experiences. And feels like a comfort blanket.

Like the shed itself. On such limited space, it's a rare old dance to stop from bumping into each other!

But the heavy duty stirring is worth the effort - as you'll find out…..

Following another strong coffee, transfer started. I did say this was mostly Pale….. The place smelled like a warm malty hug. A joy. The smells of a brewday are so uplifting.

Something that I'll miss when this all stops….

Again, I get all the dirty jobs….. Breaking up the hops.

This time - unusually for Malc - not something New World. Something more classic and European.

Hallertau Blanc. A perfect match for the style we were going for.

This is going to be fruity. The Hallertau were perfect for this…. Time for lunch…

Tony's chippy is - quite simply - legendary in the ISBF story. The only thing better is a Malcolm Sunday Dinner. Eh Stu?

Transfer time. Getting prepared for a - these days - rare manual dig out…

Hitting an original gravity of 1065 was just about where we wanted to be for destination strength. Around 7%. This was going to land in the ballpark. A Home Run if you will….

In a world of double figure Hectolitres (100L per Hl), Malcolm's kit is tiny at merely 3. So, whilst digging out is plenty exercise for this desk feline, it is the smallest in this cycle.

Other than the cleaning out of the kettle (those hops don't fly out themselves!), we're done. Time for beer. And the legendary “Mad Axeman” (Tigertops Brewery - IYKYK) receiving a National Award from the SPBW (Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood) for his Edwardian Porter at the mighty Harry's Bar.

More beer in the beautiful Fernandes then I'm off to Kirkgate for the convoluted return journey (via Dewsbury. Well, you HAVE to….the WRLRR is legendary!)

Anyway. What YOU want to know is not about the Burning Sky American Brown that I drank, but WHAT HAVE YOU BREWED???

And you'll get it first…… blah blah blah…..

A work of love. With a true friend. It means stuff to me does this. More than I can ever say in person (I'm getting a little emosh just writing that….)

Come join us. Click “tickets”. You know you should!

Back soon (by the time you read this, I'll have done two more brewdays since then - and this brew was last Saturday!)

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBFX #Brewday7 : A New Crush (or "Thinking of Igor Cavalera")

“Between lightning and thunder three seconds the gap
A warm candle glow keeps this wood room from black
My cat, she sleeps on an old clippy mat
Purring out echoes of faint pitter-pat

As the rain pours down in the yard
Rain, a most haunting sound
Rain makes beautiful music and
Rain brings peace upon all whom it falls”

“Rain” - The Daintees

Let's start with this. That lyric.

Martin Stephenson and The Daintees. Legends of the North East.

The album “Boat To Bolivia” is - for me - an 80s classic. The Daintees are a shared love of The (one true) Boss & I.

But Martin links to last year.

On one of the collabs last year (The Beer of the Festival no less - with Steam Machine) Daisy reached out to ask for permission for us to use the title of a Daintees track as a beer name.

This led to me actually approaching Martin at a gig (Thank you Anita!) to thank him.

“They” say, not to approach your heroes. Nonsense. Martin was sweet, lovely, warm, funny. He also doesn't drink, which just made that approval all the more precious.

Without Daisy, i’d never have forced myself to chat with one of my musical heroes. X

Speaking of Daisy……We had a chat about North East Breweries, maybe a collab…… So, over a period of a few days we chatted with the brewery, hops, style. I mentioned a thought about a complementary fruit addition. They liked the idea……

Which finds me getting up at 03:45 (Yes …the one in the morning!) to get me to the 06:00 train from Mcr Victoria to Newcastle.

Now Daisy is one of the nicest people in beer, generous to a fault. Knowing where we were going, she said she'd pick me up at Newcastle Station. I soon realised quite how generous that was….

Walking to the bin to drop off some rubbish, I heard a familiar voice calling me….

A quick “hello” to fellow traveller Robin, we were soon off into the stunning Northumbrian countryside. And it WAS a bit of a drive….. Now I'm a history nerd. And this proved to be the closest I've been - on foot - to Hadrian's Wall. The village of Bellingham. And First & Last Brewery.

As also a bit of a brewery nerd (“No Sh1t Sherlock!” - Ed), I loved this small yet quite spacious set up on first sight (as I limped from the car), but we were soon ushered into their stunningly cosy and lovely taproom. I was instantly smitten (and that's not said lightly).

A tiny, yet beautiful hug of a room. It just - even empty - oozed “community”. It felt like ISBF. Difficult to put into words, but whatever “it” is, it's here.

In the words of Arnold, “I'll be back”.

I digress (you do that a lot - Ed). Mashing in was really simple. The malt bill (Pilsner, Wheat, Carapils and Oats) was pumping in with the liquor (“hot water” - Ed) leading to a really smooth mix, needing little stirring intervention - I gave it a go mind…(That said, Red did most of the work!) 😁

Hop Selection was next. A small amount of Magnum early, for its anti-foam capabilities as much as its bitterness, a more substantial amount of Hallertau Blanc followed Pre “flameout” as a little flavour backbone for the main event hop - a big dry-hopping of Nelson Sauvin.

I'll come back to that later! (And I think that Robin enjoyed the Olfactory Overload upon opening that bag…..)

By this time, the lovely Clare turned up with more pie than even Desperate Dan could have coped with!

One of life's lovely humans.

Fed & watered (I had a BEAUTIFUL Amarillo Pale on keg), it was time for emptying vessels, cleaning, transferring to FV in fairly short order.

I got in a bit of grain shifting, but Daisy shifted most with some exceptional shovel techniques!

Pretty soon we were done.

Now to that Nelson. I've got this thing about matching fruit & hop to emphasise flavour and aroma.

In our pre brew WhatsApp chats, Ric mentioned hopping with Nelson Sauvin, to which I almost blurted out “GOOSEBERRIES”!

This is a beer that will be shouting Sauvignon Blanc. Nicely Nelsoned and emphasising the fruitier hoppy with a distinct Gooseberry Sauvignon hit.

This will be the first beer I sample on the Tuesday setup. I'm genuinely excited.

This was the loveliest of days. A day that I needed. A real livener.

Excellent fun, making excellent beer, with - importantly - most excellent people.

This is a great set up, both Taproom and brewery. And Ric & Red make exceptional beers on that kit (“Fanboy Alert” - Ed)

HUGE thanks to Red & Ric for the unmistakable welcome. They've got a great team, a great location, beautiful micro Taproom and they make simply fabulous beer. (Repetition for emphasis!)

To Clare for the fabulous grub! Always a delight to hear those Geordie tones!

An absolute pleasure meeting Robin for the first time, a most excellent drinking companion with a passion for his locality. (And thanks to both you & Daisy for the little tour of some lovely bars & pubs in Gateshead)

And massive thanks to Daisy for making this happen. The company, the knowledge and generosity. A star.

So. What have we made?

“Multi Love”. A Grisette hopped with Nelson Sauvin augmented with oodles of Gooseberries. It's going to be special.

And where will you get this first around here? (Do you really need to ask?)

Tickets here.

Back (VERY) soon. I've been busy!

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Igor Cavalera? That’s what happens when you’re listening to Is It Always Binary by Soulwax at 5 in the morning!