News
#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….”
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….
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)
“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!
#ISBFX #Brewday6 : Brewing Up A (Dark) Storm with Runaway Brewery
“When you wake up
It's not the first thing that you wanna know
Can you still count
All of the reasons that you're not alone?“
“Charcoal Baby” - Blood Orange
The day we came “full circle”
Another train station, another sunrise.
This time, however, not quite so far too go, not too complicated a journey.
Northern Fail strike again….. It was easier getting to Glasgow than Stockport!
But seeing Mark's smiling face as he opened the door….
Ah. Mark.
An ISBF OG.
We had the first Cask he ever packaged at the first ISBF (American Brown). In year two we had Runaway IPA - again, cask.
Mark is one of the loveliest, most supportive people I know in this industry and he and Sam have been fervent supporters and advocates of our little bash right from the start.
They even invited us to have an ISBF bar at the Runaway 5th Birthday…..
The ❤️ is mutual.
Brisk hobble from the train station, quick chat, bag down and straight into the brewery to see Chris (#ISBFFamily), Oli & Jake, malt ready and time to get shattered (er…. you mean “started”? Ed)
This was Chris’ day, one he'd been looking forward to for months. And he was soon enthusiastically stirring those beautiful grains, creating that lovely porridge smell.
Now then. Almost all beers have a foundation of Pale barley. This one had almost 40% of a variety of other malts, for colour and flavour…. Got to say, I'm partial to a little roast barley……
As for the colour….. That was only ever going one way.
A little taster sample was taken, to also assess the colour in the glass.
Safe to say that Chris was enamoured…
Hops required being prepared. Chris steeled himself - STEELED HIMSELF I TELL YOU - and broke up substantial quantities of the following hops
Now then. Mark and the team had a cunning plan.
Mark has - as long as I have known him - been a passionate believer in community, locality. For this beer, he was inspired by a local eaterie - stay with me - San Juan on Petersgate.
So. Transfer to copper completed, mash tun dug out, that inspiration provided an exceptional excuse for lunch
That soup. I haven't tasted something THAT delicious since I don't know when.
If you haven't been to this place, you need to. It's THAT good.
Also, best Latte I've ever had. (Leading on to the other reason we were there….)
Coffee. Or to be more exact, Colombian coffee beans, sourced from a collection of small farms in a small area (I WAS told, but ‘old man memory’….)
We got to smell some crushed beans in the cafe, huge aromas of dark bitter chocolate were my first impression. Perfect to accompany the roast and chocolate malts…
Yes. This will be a coffee infused beer. Mark listened to the advice of Luis (owner of the above San Juan - who roasted those beans himself, overnight) and is going to employ a 2 stage addition to bring out the best characteristics of the beans.
A cold steep (for 80% of the beans) and a lukewarm “brew” for the remaining 20%. This should lead to a smoother flavour and complement the roasted barley.
With transfer to FV done, yeast pitched and Oli's meticulous cleaning done, that's what WE were. Done.
And off to the nearby Crown for a beer and a debrief.
So. What have we got for you?
Espresso Stout. 4.8%. Smooth, Roasty, with a nice coffee lift. In both Keg & CASK. (Bringing us - as above - full circle. Back to where we started in 2014.
Runaway. Dark. Cask.)
HUGE thanks to Mark, Oli (who had his brain thoroughly picked by Chris!) and to Jake (who valiantly wrestled with my MS Outlook sync issues! Not to forget Chris, who had a great time!
Back soon. With 3 Brewdays in 4 days! (I'm obviously mad!)
There are a few tickets remaining. Click here for availability. Come join us, we're quite a nice bunch you know!
Be kind to one another.
Jim x
Ooh….. Just one more thing….
Are pigeons really spies? 😁
#ISBFX #Brewday5 : Feels Like Home
“Why don't you take my hand
Come away, come out of your blues
Boy, everything you give
So I give something to you
I'll take you down, deep down where the love lives….”
“Where Love Lives” - Alison Limerick
For me & mine, this week is emotional. The welling up, sighing, sagging shoulders.
What helps, is keeping busy, being with friends, people who understand.
That's Stuart, Karen, Adrian…. And North Riding.
That vista would lighten any spirit.
The pub, the brewery, they both feel like home. My beer home. And remember, this is coming from a militant Lancastrian!
And the ritual Glaves Breakfast Butty feels like a tummy bursting Homecoming present.
Glaves. The shop of legend.
Having mashed in a metric f ton of Extra Pale Malt (with a relatively small amount of Wheat malt), the butty was wolfed and the hops were selected and 1st addition made ready for bittering, German Magnum
Bittering hops added by Stu, we had some Cow Chow to package. With Stu's skills and my enthusiasm for digging, we soon had sacks filled with the hot, moist malt that had generously given its sugars up…
Shortly after, the call for hops to be broken up was heard. An onerous task (I lie) as the Chinook pack was sliced open for the beautiful, sharp, fruity aromas to leap out. Breaking them up was an awful (AWFUL I TELL YOU) job, all sticky and aromatic.
As we headed towards the end of the boil, that helicopter (No. The hops you idiot! Ed) needed chucking in for the flavour/aroma addition. Given that fuel & metal is never a good flavour, I reached for the box containing 5 kilos of freshly broken up leafy stuff…
If you've never brewed a beer at a commercial brewery, you are missing out. The smells as the Chinook (no. Not the helicopter…. Ed) hit the hot wort were simply divine. So citrussy.
I do love the sensory joy of a brewday. Just heavenly smells, from the steeping barley (beautiful, bready aromas) to the hop additions.
What I also adore is the Technobase evisceration of timeless classic tunes, with The Fugees “Ready or Not” & Marc Almond's “Days of Pearly Spencer” given the whacked out Techno treatment.
The following statement is, indeed, true…
Transfer to fermenter ongoing, yeast pitched, the brewday was almost over, bar the cleaning and hop dig out.
The oily, piney goodness of the Chinook was the last thing to be transferred, with the daunting task of removing what looked like a vast amount of hop leaf next up….
Hops cleared quickly - mostly by Stu - all that remained was to lid the FV, a quick spray down of vessels and the future addition of large quantities of Centennial & Columbus dry hop into the FV next week.
So. What have we got for you?
An absolutely SMASHABLE West Coast Pale at around 4.3% abv.
And where will you get it first in Manchester? (Do you REALLY need to ask?
Thank you to Stu & Karen for putting up with me (I always sleep well at the NRBP!). My happy place. And one of the finest pubs in the UK. This beer is going to be right up my street!
I know it's BORING, but you can get the few remaining tickets via this link…..
Today (Tuesday) comes Brewday 6!
Back soon. Be kind to one another.
Jim x
(I didn't mention the quiz team win on the Thursday evening and the FIVE Kernel lines? No? How rude! 😁)
#ISBFX #Brewday4 - Keeping Things Simple
“You know I'm always moanin'
But you jumpstart my serotonin
But how d'you know you've ever really loved?”
“The Shy Retirer” - Arab Strap
Another early morning start.
And a journey to tick something off my bucket list.
The brewery list at ISBF is carefully curated. “All killer, no filler” being the appropriate phrase. And today's brewery fit that phrase perfectly.
Some of my closest friends know significantly more about this industry than I, but when we have chats about those breweries that should be “up there” in people's lists, this brewery is always on those lists.
Stylistically, unafraid to try something new, different. Fearless about leaning into Heritage. No hesitation about the unconventional (Spoiler Alert : like today!)
Simple Things Fermentations just fit this event like the warmest of gloves.
“No hesitation about the unconventional…. “
The idea behind - and the recipe for - this beer had been the subject of discussion for a number of weeks, with emails flying excitedly around.
And we all were excited for this.
Mashing in was done and dusted by the time I got there (it WAS a long journey TBF 🤣) with transfer to the boil under way. The grain bill completely had me drooling, with a significant amount of Cara & Chocolate Rye added to the Bohemian Pilsner, Vienna & Munich Malts.
This is a totally malt led beer and the rich aromas in the brewery reflected that. Olfactory bliss.
Now then. Unusually - and I think this is a first for me - there are no hops in this beer.
And another quirk of this beer? An incredibly short boil - and that was only to dissolve some sugars to boost the fermentables.
I'm going to attempt to explain the style that we were aligning with…. Or a place adjacent to the style….
A Sahti.
A Sahti is an ancient (apparently as far back as The Vikings) farmhouse Beer style. An authentic Sahti has some “interesting” characteristics - to put it mildly!
Mashing in would be - traditionally - 5 to 9 hours long. It is a “raw” ale, in that the wort would not be boiled.
One of the ingredients for flavour would be certain Juniper branches, but there are significant issues both with sourcing here and with toxicity if you pick/use the wrong ones.
Given this - and other issues - this beer is not a Sahti in the traditional/ancient sense. But it's damn close. We'll call it Sahti Style.
The initial idea of a Sahti came from the utter psycho Tim (ISBF Keg Maestro) an idea which was both absolutely in the wheelhouse of STF and hugely intrigued Phil & Ewan......
I missed the mashing in, but got the chance to check out some of the more interesting Rye Malts used. And drooled. (Love Rye me!)
As I said earlier. No hops. But this doesn't mean no flavour. Oh no.
Meet the Toddler Triffids (aka Spruce Tips). And the Juniper berries. (I got close to those berries and - I s**t you not - exclaimed “who needs hops!”)
The smells were simply wonderful. Those Vikings knew stuff
Before I knew it, transfer was done, mash tun emptied and we were headed into Glasgow for a swift beer. (I HAD to visit a classic….)
I've taken part in something like 100 brew days. But never something like this. This beer will be the first beer I taste post set up.
The history, the planning, the thought that has gone into the making of it is just mind boggling.
I'm a history nerd. And I want to taste some.
Welcome to…..
(I love the Salford music nod!)
Thanks to Phil for inviting us up, to both him & Ewan for their time and effort in formulating the recipe. And to little Eli who popped in, briefly, with his Dad (Ewan) and was an absolute 🌟
And where will you get this historical marvel first? (as if I need to tell you?)
Tickets are heading to sell out. So if you haven't got yours, click on this link and do your tastebuds a flavour. You will be helping a wonderful charity while you do.
Back (VERY) soon with #ISBFX #Brewday5
Be kind to one another.
Jim x
#ISBFX #Brewday3 : Karen PD Ray - A Series Of Unexpected Events
I don't know why I should wait / I don't know why
I've got to find a way / I don't know why
Something you feel inside / I don't know why
Something you feel inside / I don't know why
Waiting at the back door of my mind
Once or twice in each ISBF Cycle, some of the ISBF Family go rogue. And collaborate on a brew. This year is no different, as Chris & Tim (with friends) headed South to brew something special.
Could they top last year’s Sticke Altbier? Or even the Chocolate & Aji Limon Chili Stout from ISBF8? Would they get arrested for Offences Against The Beer Act 1923 (Abuse of Potatoes)?
Over to Tim to tell us - almost - all…..
It's time for ISBF Brewday #3; so, let’s go on a Friday evening ROADTRIP!!!
As you may well expect, that’s exactly how Chris, myself and our special guest Michelle (formerly of Offbeat Brewing) find ourselves wending our way towards Reading to make something a little bit fun with Andy Parker at Elusive Brewery.
All checked into our digs for the next couple of days, we promptly headed off to meet Andy in Double Barrelled Brewery for a few obligatory beers and to finalise the brew plan…
Andy having arrived literally several steps behind us joins us at the bar as we peruse the beer list. A scan of this cavernous space has us picking out the pool table (on a previous visit I’m semi sure this was a table) and marvelling at the fridge selection and the fact that it is essentially a direct frontage for the cold store behind the bar. Beer selected (in my case a frankly unapologetically good Cali IPA) we get down to expanding on the brew plan for the morning. Beer planned we expanded the conversation to talking about some of the outrageously fantastic beers that formed the basis of Offbeat’s portfolio. Outlandish, Out of Step and Dotty DIPA all fond reminders of beers gone by (and maybe beers gone future, wink wink).
As time is called at DB we asked ourselves (and Jim) one very important question “Are we in The Nag’s Head yet?”. The obvious solution to this quandary was to hop in a strategically placed taxi outside and head straight there. That familiar bar frontage once more in sight and it’s a bee line to the bar to be met with a plethora of offerings including a dab of Elusive (Haem), a far too sinkable beer from Mysterious Brewing (Lo-Fi) and something dark and offensively strong from a retired brewer (doffs flat cap). Some of which may have contributed to a slower than preferable start in the morning.
<Cut abruptly to the next morning>
One of the recurring themes of conversation we have every year on the way over to Elusive is just how much the surrounding housing estate has grown on each recurring visit. The very minute we broach this topic of conversation suddenly a surprise mid-sized Sainsbury’s looms into view. At this rate Finchampstead might gain city status ahead of Reading itself.
On the run up to the brewery a familiar ISBF fixture sneaks into view; none other than Mark “The Gasman” Pursey. Behind him however the Elusive brewery “pilot” Grainfather is up on metaphorical bricks with its inner workings being prodded by Andy and Mark due to a power supply issue. Luckily on this occasion a relatively easy to solve issue; so, with that fragile truce established we cracked on with making a beer! Grainfather delicately repositioned, a nice simple grain bill was put together: 14 kilos of Golden Promise and 500g of Caraglow for a dash more colour.
After we'd finished doughing in the grain, Andy tidied away the evidence of any issues we had with the pilot kit and started to populate the brew sheet for today’s beer. Chris, who's more observant than I am, noticed that the conditioning tank was engineered in Wolverhampton. Not especially exciting unless you consider that in a few short weeks the big kit in the brewhouse is due to be replaced with a newly commissioned brewkit.
As the time draws closer to midday we set to making a few decisions about today’s hops; first up bittering… We’re looking to make a beer with a decent and mouth wetting amount of bitterness, so it’s an early charge of Challenger to the front. Now for the real fun, aroma!!! Andy produces an envelope chock full of fresh, direct from farm New World hop samples that cause Chris to become animated to say the least.
Hops selected we notice that across the way the Siren Tap Yard, or more to the point the Time Hops Festival that Siren are running this weekend. A celebration of some headline hops inspired by pivotal times & places where growers and brewers made magic happen. We’re talking some seriously heavy hitters; Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, Saaz and Strata across a range of four beer styles that make the most of each hop. We made our way slowly across the way to check out the beers on offer from Siren and their invited friends.
As we strolled back from Siren to check on the progress of the brew, we were greeted by a concerned looking Andy… The Pilot kit was again drawing no power which meant to the wort contained within would be just sat there… Plan B it is then - jug 50 litres of hot wort into temporary containers so that the power issue could be investigated. Obviously, this is no small feat, but out came the wort, the pilot kit was again upturned, and the source of our woes (a broken switch) was quickly identified and bypassed. Power was returned and we were back on track… Well almost!!! Problems like buses always come in threes and here was number three. In our exuberance to get wort back into the kettle, we had accidently left the drain tap open. A small portion of our precious wort was already on its way to the Berkshire waterboard.
Fear not though we have a way to fix this latest mishap, so we do and in timely enough fashion to get the bittering hops prepped and the wort on its merry way to boil… It’s a slow climb towards boil but thankfully one that is now progressing in the right direction. The brewing gods have seen fit to bestow us with mercy because with 15 minutes to go in goes the early aroma addition, followed shortly thereafter by the flame out aroma addition. A divine smelling wee beastie this is, even if it has encouraged me to completely fog up my glasses in pursuit of breathing it all in.
So as not to tempt fate and invite more problems we elected to wait a little and allow the temp on the wort to stabilise before starting transfer to the awaiting mini fermenter. Or as Andy put it “We really don’t want to goose the transfer pump by running boiling wort through it”. As the wort eventually gently bimbled its way across, we turned our attention to cropping some yeast from FV1 (or FV Oregon Trail). There is a knack to getting live yeast out of a conical fermenter under pressure. So obviously today’s brew day having gone so smoothly meant 30 seconds later the brewhouse and Andy had very possibly soiled themselves. That moment of high drama aside wort was transferred, and yeast was duly pitched (once Andy had tidied himself up) and thus we have a beer in the offing!
Post brew day analysis was undertaken swiftly and with minimal prejudice in the taproom next door, and eventually as with every visit to Reading it seems in the familiar confines of you guessed it - The Nag’s Head.
Time for the big reveal (no not the compromising pictures of Andy getting yeast splatter off his jeans), because until now we have deftly skirted around the specifics. The astute amongst you will have noticed multiple references throughout the preceding witterings to colour, bitterness and new world hops. It’d be remiss of us to come all the way to Elusive to force Andy to make some obscure half remembered style that the dinosaurs forgot, so we thought we’d keep it simple by grafting a bunch of super fresh New Zealand hops to a West Coast IPA, a NZWCIPA if you will?!? What will we call it you say? Well due to the absolute chaos of the brew day it could be nothing other than “The Swedish Chef”, feel free to add your own “Bork Bork Bork” when you find it on both the cask and the keg bar in November!
All in all, a fabulous day out at Elusive full of fantastic beer, belly laughs and genuine moments of head scratching concern. Thanks as ever to Andy and all at Elusive for being amazing hosts.
Thanks for that, Tim. Good to hear that no Maris Pipers were harmed!
Now then. Where will you get this beer? It will be UNIQUE to ISBF. And if you haven’t yet got a ticket, better click this link pronto! Because there aren’t many left…
Back VERY soon
Be kind to one another.
Jim x
#ISBFX #Brewday2 - "2nd Down & 9" - Amity Brew Co
“Because we are your friends, you'll never be alone again, COME ON! “
“We Are Your Friends” - Justice v Simian
As a blogger - way back in the mists (the mid 10s) - I popularised the hashtag #BeerPeopleAreGoodPeople
Some mocked. But, whilst it may not be a universal truth for some, some of the loveliest humans have entered my life via this beer world that I circle around.
My main passion is music, not beer. My sporting passion is The NFL. American Football. My team? The Baltimore Ravens.
The Raven. The blackest of birds. Dark. Like the beers of my dreams…… (hold that thought)
3 years ago, I was invited to join an NFL Fantasy League, populated mostly by Beer Industry folk. I felt incredibly flattered.
That group is such fun. The “smack talk” is brutal. But the sense of camaraderie is real.
Further reinforcing my premise. #BeerPeopleAreGoodPeople.
This group was where I first encountered Russ Clarke, owner of today's hosts, Amity Brew Co.
Amity - Friendship. Just the very brewery name screams ISBF.
And when Russ invited us over to brew, it was a no brainer. It felt just right.
Unlike me. When I realised i’d arrived at the wrong building!
But Russ is one of life's “good ‘uns”. He came to pick me up…… phew. Looked a long walk for this gammy knee!
But seeing as we were - inadvertently - at Sunny Bank Mills, Russ took the chance to show me the “old” site.
Having moved - the majority of - brewing operations to the new site at Greengates (Bradford), the former premises maintains as a rather lovely tap room.
The kit at this site is where - for now - Amity Cask output is brewed.
The Taproom is lovely. And the brew kit was nicely set up. But didn't prepare me for what was coming!
I've been to - and brewed at - larger set ups, but this was so well set up. A beautiful kit.
And I was about to see it in action….
Pilsner Malt predominantly, this malt bill had lashings of Munich, Carafa, Vienna & Chocolate Malts. This beer was heading to a place in my heart. Darkness.
Watching this kit in operation was fun. The mash tun was soon occupied. And the colour of this beer was soon established….
Russ explained to me how the new kit has substantially increased efficiency, with extraction from the malt of up to 95%. Lifting my jaw for a moment, I peered into the vessel that aids this, the Lauter Tun…
First Runnings were soon heading to the kettle/copper, but not before I got a taste… Thank you Tom (head brewer)!
Warm and sugary, yes, but this was so clean, beautifully smooth, with a rich maltiness lightly infused with a little chocolate.
Full of promise….
That Fish tho……. 🤤🤤🤤
Once boil had commenced, with that beautiful dark liquid merrily rolling, it was nearly hop time. Only one variety going in, for a slight twist, Mandarina Bavaria.
My job…
With my favourite bit to come, the dig, there were more Mandarina Bavaria hops to add generating more beautiful brewery nose joy.
Transfer to FV was soon under way and Russ had an arrangement to attend (kindly taking me along - thanks for the lift Rich!)
So - so far as the brewday was concerned - my day was done.
HUGE thanks to Russ for the invite and his hospitality. Such a fun day, brewing a style close to my heart.
Massive thanks too to Tom & Dave for their patience and the education - every day is - indeed - a school day!
A really excellent and lovely team.
So. What have we brewed?
A Delicious Schwarzbier, “Festoon” with a slight tweak with the hops. And we'll have it TWO WAYS (Both Cask & Keg).
And you'll get this first where?
Few remaining tickets via this link
Come & join us. See for yourselves why people say nice things about us!
That “arrangement”? The soft opening of the new Taproom for Bini Brew in Ilkley.
And what a lovely place it is. Well worth a visit.
Back soon with TWO MORE Brewday blog posts!
Be kind to one another.
Jim x
#ISBFX #Brewday1 or "Over The Hills & Far Away Where Monsters Come Out To Play"
Jim :
“In the dim and distant past, way before ISBF was a ‘thing’, I was a blogger - mostly about beer - with a small readership.
Manchester had a small, yet vibrant, modern beer (I still loathe the word ‘craft”. Even now.) scene, mostly centred around Port Street Beerhouse.
Many of the local breweries you know today, then, were home brewers. Most would congregate on a Monday evening on Port Street, for ‘Meet The Brewer’ events. These events may have been where I first encountered the 3 fellas who went on to ‘live the dream’ and found their own brewery.
They were all talented home brewers and would enter contests to showcase their talents. In 2015, when ISBF2 was in planning, I judged at a competition at Brew Dog on Peter Street. Peter, Nick & Chris each submitted beers. Each was excellent.
That competition is legend. Those 3 friends went on to join forces. And start a brewery in a canal basin unit. In New Mills.
The foundations of the Monster's Lair were laid. Torrside Brewing was born.
The Torrside Family (it was never really just the 3) have been supporters of ISBF - in so many ways - since they first started.
We've brewed here on a number of occasions. And each & every time we decide to do “one more year”, we get invited to New Mills. This year was no different.
Chris & Angharad, Nick & Sarah, Peter & Emma and everyone that had made magic in the canal basin unit are an essential part of the ISBF story.
And for me & Bevis to be invited to brew the first collaboration for #ISBFX was an absolute honour for ISBF.
I don't fly back from Prague at midnight to brew with just anybody the next morning. (it was an early train to catch!) Torrside are not only ISBF legends, they are - by common consent of many of the #ISBFFamily - one of the finest breweries in the UK.
Something that the self-deprecating Derbyshire malt maestros would never claim for themselves.
We had brief discussions - online - about the beers we were making.
(Oh yes. As per usual, there was something Monstrous planned….)
Something pale. Hoppy. Something that looked, well, West.
But with a Monstrously mutated malt sibling - where the fun begins.
Sarah & Ada were fully prepped up and ready to give us brewing lesson. Malted barley was already in the elevated grist vessel, ready to be hydrated as it descended into the mash tun.
The malt bill was soon steeping in the mash tun, giving up it's sugary goodness. Predominantly - like with most beers - Pale Malt, with goodly helpings of Munich, Caramalt & Crystal adding a warming shade to the end result.
Of course, we're in New Mills. The Monster's Lair. So once the grains had given up their beautiful fermentable sugars, the first 180 litres or so headed to Monsterville (or the small vessel), to travel a much different beery (and - indeed - berry) path.
3 kilos of locally picked, frozen blackberries, gleefully met the hot wort to give up their tart flavours and rich colours.
A Monster was born…..
By that time, the main beer was heading to boil.
A good chunk of Columbus introduced early, followed by regular additions of Chinook hops were sending this Pale firmly West.
In Sarah & Ada"s talented hands, the hop aromas were soon permeating the brewery, met, occasionally, by the hedgerow fruitiness from the blackberries in that small kettle.
With even more Chinook going into the vessel at “flameout”, then huge quantities of Chinook, Amarillo & (I'm so lucky!) Catnip (aka Centennial) going in going in to steep, prior to transfer to the fermenter, this beer is going to be a “Westie” to celebrate.
And with a heritage of beers like the magnificent “I'm Spartacus” & “Sandinista”, you know it's going to be quite fabulous.
Bevis enjoyed his dig out of the Mash Tun (with the much more efficient Ada taking over to finish - we're amateurs really!)
Following that, the transfer of the Monster commenced.
And then, we were pretty much done, bar those things best left to those who do it best (Sarah & Ada).
So. What have we done? (More appropriately, Sarah & Ada!)
Firstly, a West Coast Pale, laden with Amarillo & C Hop joy. Around 4.8-5% abv.
And an Imperial Blackberry “Blonde” (that was the original idea. But fruit will do its thing!)
The first, to cask, the second to keg.
And you get it first, where? (Do you really need to ask?)
Year 10 of Torrside. #ISBFX. It was in the stars!
Massive thanks to Sarah & Ada for the skills and patience (with us!) and to Chris for the invite.
There are still a few tickets remaining (Thursday & Saturday evenings), click here.
Come join us. And help raise some money for a rather fabulous charity (Start Inspiring Minds).
Back soon (brewing again tomorrow!)
Be kind to one another.
Jim & Bevis