“I played video games in a drunken haze
I was seventeen years young
Hurt my knuckles punching the machines
The taste of scotch rich on my tongue, yeah
And then Cathy showed up and we hung out
Trading swigs from a bottle, all bitter and clean
Locking eyes, holding hands
Twin high maintenance machines
I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me
I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me”
“This Year” -The Mountain Goats
Why this lyric?
Released in 2005 on “The Sunset Tree”, the track was an instant MG classic, but attained even greater relevance during Covid, when John and the band performed 5 “virtual” gigs broadcast online and released as “The Jordan Lake Sessions”
This year has been a struggle (for reasons I've related elsewhere) and almost every Brewday has been intensely emotional for me. But it's confirmed that there is huge support - bordering on love - for this event that I am now starting to truly appreciate.
And am ever so grateful for.
I've got through this year. And it hasn't killed me.
Oh yeah. And I adore The Mountain Goats!
The year flies by so fast…. But here we are. The eve of another ISBF.
Still niche. Still Homegrown. Still….. A little different.
No confetti cannons. No glitter balls. This low key event is about beer, cider & friendship.
Simple is how we like it. And we'll stay that way.
So. What have we got for you?
Food : This has always been provided by the venue. It will be simple, tasty and wholesome. And located in the same room as the Cask Bar.
Thursday : SOLD OUT - Thirst Chance Thursday - the first chance to try beers from the finest range of beers in the UK that week. (One of the new guys at Blackjack was astonished at the range and variety of the Keg beers - as he used to work in Cafe Beermoth, that one hell of a recommendation!) — Complemented by the fabulous tunes from Jo & Mike’s Rebellious Jukebox
Friday Lunch - SOLD OUT - Beer, Cider, Tunes. Simples.
Friday Evening - SOLD OUT - Same as above, but with a difference :
On Friday evening – at approximately 7pm – we’ll have an MTB style chat with Dan from the Fyne Ales Origins Project.
Time. Place. Provenance. The special beers made on the original Fyne Ales brewkit, now the home of Origins.
There are 3 very special beers being tasted during this chat, with Dan guiding us as to how the beers came about, their inspiration.
I, for one, am hugely looking forward to this.
If you have a ticket to the Friday Evening Session, you really shouldn’t miss this There are some tickets left for this – cost £10.
Ticket link here....
Saturday Lunch Session – SOLD OUT
Featured in this session is the already SOLD OUT Beer & Cheese Tasting hosted by World Renowned Beer Author and ISBF inspiration Melissa Cole
It is no exaggeration to say that if I’d not read – and taken lessons from – Melissa’s magnificent book “Let Me Tell You About Beer” you wouldn’t be reading this.
Because there wouldn’t BE an ISBF.
But – as i said, SOLD OUT.
Saturday Evening Session : The Chillout session. Our Favourite (Remaining tickets here….)
The ability to sit, sip and simply enjoy a few magnificent beers & ciders, with friends, should never be underestimated.
Again, we’ll have the elegiac guitar stylings of the wonderfully talented George Fell
Did someone say “Beers & Ciders?
I’ve always shied away from what we achieve on these bars, but when someone (take a bow Jack) who knows beers, has worked in one of the area’s premier bars and is almost awestruck at the variety and range of the beers going on the Keg bar, you know you’ve done something right.
There won’t be a better, more diverse beer range in this country this month. Period.
There. I’ve said it.
Here you go....
There will be a small selection of Gins & Wines - because not every guest drinks beer!
There is also a small selection of cans of Lo/No Alcohol Beers from Deya, Jump Ship, Redwillow & Rivington along with a small selection of pop from the lovely Steep Soda
As with each and every year, the beer line up changes post print. There is no beer from Docks, that spot will be filled by either a DIPA or Imperial Stout from our friends at Lakes Brew Co.
The Mills beer is actually “Billie’s Regent” a Wine/Beer Hybrid at 7% abv
The Zapato Beer is actually hopped with Superdelic rather than Simcoe. It’s what happens when you try to get the beer as “First Pour” in Manchester!
There. That Shallot (#JimmyDoesntDoFunnies)
Look forward to seeing those of you with tickets later this week.
Be kind to one another.
Jim x