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

#ISBFX Brewday 1 or "Over The Hills & Far Away Where Monsters Come Out To Play"

#ISBFX - This Is What Doing Good Looks Like