Thank You.

Earlier this week I received the following email message from our nominated charity, Start Inspiring Minds. I thought - as a closing post for #VISBF - that this neatly “ties the bow”.

Hello Jim and Chris,

It was lovely to talk to you the other day and get such wonderful news regarding your donation to Start.

I can now confirm that £7,000 was deposited into our donations account on Monday under the reference Mr & Mrs J Cullen.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work in raising the £7,000 which you have donated to us against all the odds this year but I am sure this is down to your sheer determination, charm and arm wrangling! (Don't know about the “charm” bit - Ed)

We are all so very grateful for the work you have all done to raise these funds through your virtual event which given the present COVID world is absolutely amazing !!! This donation will make a very big difference to our services and those we help, especially given the challenges COVID has placed on us all this year.

I am attaching the thank you photo if this will help with your social media. I will also put it on our social media as well. Once again many thanks Have a lovely Christmas and New Year.

All the best.

Bernie

Bernadette Conlon

Chief Executive Officer

So. That's it. #VISBF is done, dusted and archived. And planning for the future of ISBF can begin (and has already).

See you at Hemsley House next November?

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Washing Up & Moving Forward - #VISBF

Well. That was……. Interesting.

I was really worried. All the way through this process. REALLY worried.

There were times where I doubted my sanity in taking on such an undertaking. A logistical nightmare. But - just about - in typical ISBF style, we winged it.

And - with an awful lot of last minute driving around Greater Manchester dropping off boxes - we got to Thursday evening with few outstanding issues.

Other than my inexperience of hosting Zoom meetings!

And a Cider case that arrived in Glasgow. That should have been in Glastonbury…

Pic Courtesy Mark The Gasman

Quite HOW that Cider (having been repacked into another box, with just bubble wrap as protection!) made it to Glastonbury - WITH THE GLASS - intact, is beyond me.

But I'm glad it did. I hate letting anyone down. Especially a Cider loving friend like “The Gasman”…

Pic Courtesy Mark The Gasman

Thursday evening.

Predictably, Andy “The Nicest Man In Brewing”© Parker was a star. Speaking passionately about his love of the Black IPA - treating us to a tasting - and a discussion on hops, the conversation flowed. The messaging function on Zoom contributing hugely (with all bar 3 of us muted). He even offered to pass a recipe for home brewing a BIPA!

Andy is a friend of ISBF and was a star. Having 70+ on the Zoom being testament to that.

And I thank him hugely for his time, eloquence and passion for his craft. He's a star. And IMHO, one of the UK's finest brewers. Something that - owing to his innate modesty - he would never say.

So I will.

Diverging from the zoom, some free advice. If you get a box of 12 beers with an average abv of over 7%, DON'T drink them all on the same evening. I took one for the team that evening…..

Pic courtesy Mark The Gasman

Friday. And the lovely Melissa Cole.

As I said at the start of that Zoom session, without Melissa and her fabulous book “Let Me Tell You About Beer”, there would not have been a #VISBF. There wouldn't have been an ISBF.

Full. Stop.

Guided by that wonderful book, I was taken on a journey in how to really taste beer. Extract maximum flavour and aroma. Which led to the trust I gained in the posts on my blog, writing about beers at home.

It led me into the foolish endeavour that was the first ISBF.

6 years later…

Melissa led us on a tasting of 4 beers. Then was joined by Joe Ince (Marble Head Brewer) and Stuart Neilson (Owner / Brewer at North Riding) in what started in a chat about the Blended Chocolate Ginger Porter.

And descended into

Pic Courtesy Stu at North Riding Brewery

It turned into something akin to pub banter. And - for me - just made me smile like I haven't in months. (Don't we all miss the pub?) Well, other than when Melissa turned up in her Sparkly Motown dress (Cheers m'dear!)

I'm immensely grateful - and equally flattered - that Melissa agreed to take part. She really knows her stuff and is one hell of an ally! Her agreeing was a big emotional thing for me. Which I tried to repay at the start of the evening.

Thank you also to her “accomplices”, Joe Ince & Stuart Neilson. Getting them together was my dream Collab. And I can't be more grateful.

Generally, I think that Zoom worked well. The message functionality enabling a degree of interaction which facilitated and enhanced the conversation.

There were one or two Zoom room after parties too. After Thursday's “misadventure”, I bowed out slightly more gracefully on the Friday. At a rather sedate 2am….

Pic Courtesy Mark The Gasman

The Cider event - limited to Cider box purchasers - was a delight. With Charlie Hooson-Sykes chatting with Grant Hutchinson (of re:stalk Cider). Grant, being a former Professional drummer with the ace band Frightened Rabbit, also has fabulous musical taste. And the chat about each Cider was accompanied by a playlist curated by Grant, which was as eclectic and well judged as was the Cider list.

From the US Ciders - The bright, spritzy Anxos to the elegant (and more complex) Albee Hill, through the UK Ciders from Caledonian, Ross, Little Pomona to the Pomologik from Sweden, what we were tasting was simply exceptional. And Grant took us through them with passion and eloquence. With tunes on the playlist matched to each Cider. A great effort. And it really enhanced the drinking for me in particular. Introducing me to bands and music that I'd never heard but will do again.

What came across from the Cider discussion - quite clearly - is that Cider/Perry is a broad church. But within that broad church there are great passions both for modernity and heritage. For tradition and innovation. That much was evident.

I want to thank the lovely (and most excellent interviewer!) Charlie. She's been a friend of ISBF from dot. And she's a bloody good egg.

And Grant. For his grace, eloquence, charm and passion for what he loves. The Ciders that he sells, (and he's got great taste) which was exceptional. And for the brilliant idea of matching great Ciders - diverse in styles and flavours - with an equally diverse musical playlist.

I adore music. And that playlist put a fabulous seal on my weekend.

Thanks also to Albert (Ross Cider - more later….) and Blair (Little Pomona) for their joining us to shoot the breeze and chat about their bloody lovely Ciders.

As for Cath Potter & Dick Withecombe, words really do fail me. So I won't try. They are now a big part of this event - whatever form it takes.

So.

Where does this leave us?

Well. The feedback was genuinely overwhelming in its positivity both for the beers and Ciders - every beer was excellent - and for the fact that we held such an event at all!

The warmth of response set me back a little. I don't handle praise well, I get a bit emotional.

If I had one major regret, it would be my lack of ambition in not having a concurrent Saturday beer Zoom tasting event. I didn't think I could do that.

Now I know better.

The beers. And your favourites. Well…….

Like I said earlier, the feedback on the beers (and Ciders) was almost universally excellent, with most of the beers receiving votes for Beer Of The Festival. A testament to the great brewers involved.

But, to keep this simple, there has to be a 1, 2 & 3. And voting was close….

So.

Joint 3rd

Marble / North Riding - Blended Chocolate Ginger

Marble - Extra Special Marble

Five Towns - Black Tie White Noise

Ross Cider - Kingston Black Cider

2nd Place Campervan Brewing - Lost in Leith, Chocolate Orange Milk Stout

1st Place Bexar County - El Fin (Oud Bruin over Damsons)

Congratulations all.

Bexar County winning is quite a finish (hopefully temporary) for the brewery and the maverick brewing genius that is Steve Saldana. Steve has brought some serious “Weird Science” style alchemy to Salford over the years. For his final beer to win, well, I'm made up for him. Bravo my Texan buddy.

But after those deserved plaudits, the Raison D'Etre of ISBF.

How did we - you, the drinker - do. Well…

#VISBF was conceived as something roughly 30% of the scale of a “conventional” ISBF. On that basis, I estimated (conservatively) that - IF this made a profit - it would be in the order of around £3-3.5k.

Er…..

Thank you. The drinkers. Thank you, the Brewers, the Cider makers, thank you to our sponsors, to Petersgate Tap, Black Jack, Marble for their financial and logistical assistance.

Thank you to James (aka “The Usurper” aka “@BeerFinderGen”) for all his help. To Charlie, Chris, Alan & Jaz for their help getting those pesky packages out.

To the #VISBF “Brains Trust” (James, Chris, Jock & Steve) for being my sounding board and keeping me grounded.

To Andy for the beautiful design adorning website, T-Shirts, Hoodies, masks and bags. Genius.

To Jo and Mike for the fabulous music. Mwah.

Thanks to you all, this afternoon, I transferred £7000 to the bank account of Start Inspiring Minds. A figure that messes with my head a little bit.

You did good.

Thank you.

Jim x

The Presents Are In The Post….

Well. Kind of……

Back in April, I thought that the ISBF Goose was cooked, for 2020 at least. I didn't want to give up, but didn't see any option. To be Frank (my “weekend name”), I didn't see ANY beer events taking place this year.

Not being with the Friends of ISBF in November was a particularly joyless prospect.

The last place I thought we'd end up is here ⬆️⬆️⬆️

And for that, you have a Gentleman by the name of Simon Gare to thank.

Simon is the member of our personal extended family (more than a close friend) who uttered the fateful words

“Why don't you do something online?“

A simple sentence. One which has led to me hobbling around Farnworth with an aching back stoop, with strained hamstrings and sore calves.

Yes. I forgot the lessons of “Lifting boxes 101”

One that led to me playing the word game “Change a film title with one word” (“Bend It Like Beerfinder” being a personal favourite)

In short, I had absolutely no idea what we'd taken on. There were times when James and I were seriously worried that we wouldn't get there, pack everything in time for the couriers collecting the packs.

I. Shit. You. Not.

We needed help. So I picked up the phone (as did Charlie - more about the lovely Charlie later).

And that hashtag (#BeerPeopleAreGoodPeople) came to life. Alan and Jaz offered themselves up. Chris came back to help with his expert box making skills (the joy of being a Micro Brewer!).

We could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I'll never forget what these friends did. They were simply magnificent.

Alan, Charlie, Chris, Jaz and (in particular) The Egg Man, James. Take a ******* Big Bow.

Because of those lovely people, these are in transit….

(Thursday box)

As I've said previously, we are human, we make mistakes. Or (more accurately) I am. I make mistakes. There may be errors. If there are, please be gentle with me. I'm human. And (currently) physically fragile!

People made requests for preferences. Where those were emphatic, or dietary / allergy based, I've tried to honour them. To the extent that we had to search through all of the (packed, sealed & labelled) Thursday boxes to remove a beer from each of two boxes due to potential Peanut issues.

However, owing to time pressures, If the request was “less then emphatic” then the boxes were unaltered. So you ‘may’ have got a Sour. Or a beer you ordinarily might not like. But these beers are from some of the best breweries in the UK. They make fabulous and - in many cases - adventurous, beers. Try them, you might surprise yourself.

I hated having to make that decision. But I had to. And I hope that you understand.

Friday boxers, you're in for a treat….

So. The boxes are en route. Many have received emails from DX. Some haven't (I'll be touching base with DX tomorrow), but hopefully, all will arrive. Safely. 🙏

So. What's next.

Firstly, you should receive your beer (and / or Cider)

Secondly, tomorrow - or maybe Tuesday - those of you who have ordered will receive an email from YT. The email will give guests the code for the relevant Zoom event (should they choose to join) and access to the #VISBF music playlist (Spotify only - sorry!)

Third. The event itself.

As I said, if there are errors they're mine. Please be gentle and understanding.

If - by Tuesday evening - you've had neither your expected delivery, nor a notification (failed delivery) from DX get in touch. If you've been omitted from the list (no delivery at all) please get in contact. I can only apologise and issue a refund.

But please, no scamming.

A lot of stress, sweat and tears have gone into this. This is not an easy thing to DIY. And remember, all proceeds go to our partner Charity Start Inspiring Minds.

Hopefully, we get 99.9% of things right. If not, it's on me.

Remember the wise words of my dear friend Chris Dixon….

You don't have to drink all the beer in one session.

You don't have to Zoom.

You don't have to listen to the tunes.

What you have bought are some exceptional alcoholic beverages. From some of the best independent producers in the UK and beyond (if you are lucky enough to have the Cider)

Enjoy. Smile. Let's have some fun.

I raise my (Virtual) glass to you.

See you soon.

Where We Be. What We Do. And How We Do It…

It took somebody else to spell stuff out……

Because I'm an idiot. I only see small, not big, pictures. And focus accordingly.

So. What's occurring then?

Well. If you've been daft enough* to buy in and grab a case of beer or cider (*personally I would say “wise enough”), you will - on the week commencing 9th November - be receiving some delicious liquids.

And I'm the only one at this point that can say that. Because I'm the only one that knows what's coming.

At least for the next minute or so……..

On each evening - a notional start time of 6 (and I DO mean notional) you can join us in some beer drinking. Just like Chris says above.

You could join us on the Zoom chat each evening…..

• Thursday - Andy Parker (Elusive Brewery - and former National Home Brewing Champion) and his love of the Black IPA #BIPAComeBack

• Friday - Melissa Cole and a guide to beer tasting

• Saturday (Cider Packs) - A chat with Charlie Hooson-Sykes, Grant Hutchinson of re:stalk Cider and some lovely makers of the divine juices of both Apple & Pear…

From this divine list

Little Pomona - Table Cider 7.3%

Ross Cider - Blakeney Red & Brandy Perry blend

Caledonian Cider (Scottish Highlands) - Islay Cask 6%

Eve's Cidery (US) - Albee Hill 2017 7%

Pomologik (Sweden) - Björk 6.5%

Anxo /Tom Oliver- Hereford Gold 6.9%

Anxo Rosé 6.9%

(I'll be sending Zoom links and times to the ticket holders via email the week of the event)

You can choose just to drink the beer solo.

You can do whatever you feel like. You're not committed to anything. Other than ownership of some divine bottles and cans.

And they ARE divine. I've seen some of them.

If you've bought some, you could even wear your pretty Merch…..

(I'll wear the facemask to protect your eyes….)

Still - in essence - if you want to join in and witness/take part in the Zoom things, you can.

Or just sit back and sip beer, linking in with us on Social Media using the #VISBF hashtag on Twitter or FB.

Or…… Just drink the beer. In your own time. Your way. There's no rush.

And certainly no need to drink all 12 beers on the same evening!

ANNNND….. We're buddying up with our friends at The Brewers Eye!

The app is going through a bit of a transformation stage at the moment and will be up and running in time for #VISBF.

They'll have the beer list uploaded in advance of the event and ready for you to give your thoughts on the 12th!

I'm really looking forward to the reboot of the app. I would encourage you to download it (and will remind in the email to ticket holders) upon relaunch (which should be w/c 5th November)

As well as the beer. And the events on each evening. Our dear friends Jo & Mike have been busy.

If you've been to ISBF in the last few years, Mike & Jo have been the tune providers. Bringing The Rebellious Jukebox. An absolute stack of tunes that guests could choose from and create a guest curated playlist. Last year, Mike didn't choose a tune after the first 15 minutes.

They've got impeccable taste. And have created a 6.5hr Spotify playlist. FOR EACH EVENING!

I've been privileged enough to have access to each evening (and been tweeting teasers liberally). The playlists are ace. I'll be sending the links to ticket buyers too so - should they choose - they could just kickback with beers and music….

Or Cider…..

I'm not naive enough to believe that many have read this far for anything other than what comes next.

The beer list.

Typically with ISBF, it's eclectic. If you've been to Hemsley House, you'll know what to expect. Style diversity. To quote the title of a Frightened Rabbit album, this is winter. And it's certainly a Winter of Mixed Drinks.

In the interests of balance, I've had to shuffle a beer or two from Friday into Thursday and Saturday.

We've got Pilsners, Pales, IPAs, plenty of Darkness, Funk and Saisons & Wits. It's eclectic.

I'm also seriously astonished at the number of beers either brewed especially for us or released first to us. There are a lot of really lovely people out there. Making fabulous beer. And fully recognising why we do what we do.

I thank them all.

Here it is. The list. I'm now going to hide for a while to decompress!

See you soon. I'll be the guy in the Black face mask…

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

“Welcome Back….. To The (Virtual) Independent Salford Beer Festival

Hello again! It's only me……. Taking some time from the day job and herding the most lovely (Brewing) cats to drop you a few words.

Those who have been to either Hemsley House or to (previously) St Sebastian's will know how the beer selection works for ISBF.

I created this event - kind of - in my own image. My first thought was “What do I like to see in a beer festival?” And the mirror replied, “Comfort. Friendliness. Space. Localism. Beers I can't regularly get.”

In that order.

So we tried to put that into play.

From year 3 however, I took a slightly bolder, riskier, approach. To make every beer a first time beer to Manchester. Year 3 went ace. Notable for two things.

I threw very little beer away. And..

Our first #EvilKegFilth bar. And THAT changed the ISBF game.

I was told by a friend in the industry (take a bow Rob!) that I'd never be able to do that (the new beer thing) again. It wouldn't be feasible for the breweries.

So, I did it again in years 4, 5 and 6. The breweries approached each year have been simply fabulous and pulled out the stops - especially the high abv stops! Repeatedly.

Beer people really ARE good people.

This year though, the game changed. That's pandemics for you.

I couldn't ask for “beers new to Manchester”. Because - in small pack - that means absolutely new beer.

So I didn't. I “just” asked for a recent release. For something released as close to the event as possible.

And yet…..

I'm looking at the beer list - so far - and…… I'm quite astonished at the numbers of beers that are going to be released first to ISBF.

It's just a little bit humbling. And generous. The efforts to which some of these small independent businesses have gone. Doing it for us, but also - knowingly - for a good cause.

I applaud them all.

Not all beers will be new release. That was never likely. But all come from excellent breweries. I wouldn't approach anyone else.

That said, there are always likely to be changes to plans. Some breweries - 1 so far (and I'm gutted, both for us and them) - won't be able to supply. Plan A needs to be slightly adjusted.

Beers that I think I'm getting as at this evening may end up changing.

That's in the DNA of ISBF. Last minute changes come as standard.

But what's also in the bones of this event is eclecticism. Of beer, of attitude, music…… If I can twist the old John Peel quote about The Fall, it's always the same, it's always different.

ISBF is not “conventional”. In the words of Jan Rogers (Marble) it's “Niche”. Different. And proud of that.

These beers range from IPAs, DIPAs, BIPAs, Porters, Stouts (small & LARGE), Bruins, Mixed Fermentation, Saisons, Blended beers.

We might even have…… A Bitter (but an Extra Special one)

Like I said. Eclectic. It's what we do.

If you have a ticket, you won't be disappointed….. 🤞

I now know - to a greater or lesser extent - about 30 of the beers. I'm excited to share them with you. (NOT the actual details - yet - GOOD GRIEF, I CAN'T TEASE WITHOUT SECRETS!!!) And - after 7 years of doing this - I don't excite easily.

I'm also excited that there are only 2 tickets left. For the Saturday session. Buy them. And smile. You'll be getting fabulous beer. And helping an exceptionally good cause in Start Inspiring Minds.

For which we, The ISBF Family, salute you.

Back soon

Jim x

“Hello, Good Evening & welcome” to the (Virtual) Independent Salford Beer Festival

So here we are. From Salford with love…

Back in February, I had big plans for #ISBF7 at Hemsley House. Arrangements were made to go and brew beers outside of the UK. Collabs were being planned, all kinds of ideas were taking shape. I was truly excited for what we were going to bring you. I had life changing plans for myself too.

But then Lockdown hit. And suddenly a beer festival seemed the least important thing in the world. And that was the end of that.

Or was it?

It took a family friend to say, blithely,

“Why don't you do something on this Internet…?”

And I was just the idiot to listen…

So I put in a few calls. Sent a few emails. Asked a few favours. Tugged on some heart strings. And do you know what? Beer people really are good people. They rallied round, offered help, facilities and just generally reaffirmed my faith in human nature.

And whilst a beer festival seemed so unimportant, it also seemed simultaneously essential. Something to lift the spirits. And it certainly has lifted mine.

But I won't bore you with that.

So. What is….

.... going to look like? Well…

Some of my favourite breweries will be supplying small pack. Cans and bottles.

The event will be in three “sessions”. When you buy a “ticket” (or package) you are buying 12 beers. From the breweries listed below*. You will get one of these…

Sponsored by the lovely people at Petersgate Tap in Stockport…

... and - time permitting - a little programme telling you what's occurring.

Each evening, there will be an event on Zoom. And I'm humbled - and in no small way excited - about each of these…

Thursday. 

"The Nicest Man In Brewing" (©) Known to some as Andy Parker. He of Elusive Brewing. And #BIPAComeBack - his one man campaign to popularise the Black IPA - will be talking to us of his passion for beer (in particular, the BIPA!) and - being a former National Champion Home Brewer! - maybe giving some hints and tips to make your own exceptional example! 

Can you guess what Elusive might be supplying?

We. Love. Andy. 

Friday

We're a bit chuffed that the lovely Melissa Cole has agreed to do an online beer tasting from the Friday pack! 

Melissa is a multiple published author on beer and food. She's bloody good. 

And this is an emotional one for me, Jim, as without "Let Me Tell You About Beer", I wouldn't have blogged about beer. Via that book, Melissa taught me how to properly extract flavours and aromas from the contents of my glass. 

And without Melissa and that book, you wouldn't be here, reading this. Because I wouldn't be doing beer events.

I owe her. Big. 

Saturday 

This is for the Cider heads! 

The lovely Charlie (Gin Fuelled Bluestocking) has agreed to host a chat with a number of prominent people in Cider. Ft Cider wholesaler Grant Hutchinson of re:stalk Cider (drummer with Frightened Rabbit!) and a number of guests from the world of Cider.

Apples. Pears. Music. I think I might have to wear my excitement pants!

I don't say things that I don't mean. And I'm bloody excited. 

There aren't many cider cases available (30 max), but they're lush. And this event is going to be ACE! 

(The zoom codes for each of these will be messaged (email or otherwise) to ticket holders on the week of the event)

Each evening has its own playlist on Spotify, created by Mike & Jo, who've played the most ace tunes at ISBF for years now. Eclectic, classy and with some quite amazing (and little known) covers and versions of classics, these playlists are fabulous.

I know. Because I'm lucky enough to have heard them!

And there'll be merch. With such a bloody gorgeous logo from The Genius (aka Andy Heggs), how could there not be?

We’ll even have branded facemasks….

All this effort goes to one objective. To raise important and much needed funds for our partner charity. That charity being Start Inspiring Minds, a charity we've supported for both #ISBF5 & #ISBF6, raising almost £23k so far.

It's the reason we do this. And this charity is intensely personal to me and mine. Indeed, to the whole ISBF family. And that's what the little cohort of lovely people who come every year to help are.

The ISBF family. And I love them all.

But what about the beer. And Cider. Well….

Cider & Perry

Little Pomona - Table Cider 7.3% (750ml)

Ross Cider - Blakeney Red & Brandy Perry blend (750ml)

Caledonian Cider (Scottish Highlands) - Islay Cask 6% (750ml)

Eve's Cidery (US) - Albee Hill 2017 7% (750ml) Pomologik (Sweden) - Björk 6.5% (750ml)

Anxo /Tom Oliver- Hereford Gold 6.9% 335ml can

Anxo Rosé 6.9% - 335ml can

(£50 Inc delivery) For Cider & Perry pack, click the link here

Beer

In the cases that you order, the beers will feature the following exceptional breweries

Thursday

Ampersand

Beatnikz

Brewsmith x Strata

Chain House

Cheshire Brewhouse

Elusive

Kernel

Mallinsons

Rivington

Track

Wander Beyond

Wilderness

Friday

Abbeydale Funk

Bexar County

Brewery of St Mars of the Desert

Campervan Brewing

Dolphin

Neptune

North Riding x Marble

Redwillow

Runaway

Squawk

Thirst Class

Torrside

Saturday

Black Jack

Cloudwater

Double Barreled

Five Towns

Korupted x White Faced Bear

Pastore

Pictish

Pomona

Tom's Tap

Rivington x Runaway

Turning Point

Yonder

(Case price is £55 Inc delivery and glassware)

By purchasing one or more packs, remember this simple thing…

You'll be supporting a fabulous cause, by drinking exceptional beer. Doing good, whilst drinking good.

Every penny of profit goes to our charity partner. Always has, always will.

Tickets are available er ……… Now.

Click these links….

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Go get some. Come and join us between 12th to 14th November.

See you soon

Jim x

In The Words of Marvin Gaye - “What's Goin’ On”?

Hello there! It's been a while. Since the last Webpost that is. And in a massive change from my normal behaviour, I adopted an attitude of not posting until there was something to say. So….

Firstly - and restating this is important - every penny of profit made from this (or any ISBF event) goes to a good cause.

This event was (laughably) conceived to support a local Community Centre run by a dear friend of mine. It was hosted for its first 4 years in that self same venue, St Sebastian's, a place with numerous pulls on my heart strings.

Since 2018, the event has been held at the beautiful Hemsley House and with that change of venue came a change of supported charity.

START Inspiring Minds is based within 1/4 mile of Hemsley House. It's an organisation that supports local people with issues with mental health, something with a particular resonance for the ISBF family. Over the last two years we have raised over £22k, money that - with ever increasing demands on the various funding streams - is vital in the continuation of their work.

Coronavirus put an end to any hope of #ISBF7 this year. Hence why, several months ago, we decided to try to “homebrew” a virtual event.

I love the fact that this event has been called a “DIY Beer Event” and as “Niche”. We are. A lot of people put a lot of love into this event, both the “family” that comes together every November to make it possible AND some of the loveliest beer consumers, many of who - over the last 7 years have become friends too. And wouldn't miss it. They “get” what we try and do.

It isn't perfect, it isn't bright and shiny, but we like it like that.

This is what we've (and there HAS been shared discussion - not just me running away with stuff!) kind of decided.

There will be 36 breweries. Each brewery will supply a single beer that will be a recent release, many will be first tried at this event, something that we are humbled by.

Many of those beers will be brewed especially for the event

Those 36 beers will be split into 3 packages, each to be particular to one of three “sessions” to be held on each of three evenings. From Thursday 12th November to Saturday 14th.

There'll be a special glass, a programme and the chance to buy a pretty t-shirt too (who fancies a branded face mask?)

So that - when we “launch” in late September - you'll get to see the brewery line ups for each evening. The actual beers may not be known until 2 weeks prior to the event. When we know, you'll know.

We try to keep things simple like that.

There will also be (as an addition to one of the sessions) a small - and perfectly curated - selection of Cider and Perry. Organised by our dear friends Dick Withecombe and Cath Potter, two of the UK's greatest Cider enthusiasts and Cheerleaders for #RethinkCider - there may even be a rather special event connected (keep your 👀 peeled!)

Now then. Here's a thing.

We're quite an unassuming bunch. And when this event was conceived as “Virtual”, we had no great hopes for the demand, so this is a small scale thing. Simple and small.

No virtual tours of historic breweries. No bells and whistles. No phased release of tickets. What you see on launch is all there'll be. And there won't be many tickets. But more on that later.

So far, I think we've got a Zoom event for each evening, 2 beer related with two of my personal beer heroes and one Cider. We also have various other generous offers, so I'm going to aim for two per evening.

The ones already arranged have got me personally quite excited. And I don't excite easily. More on these on the launch evening - which will done (for the first time) via Webpost and Zoom - we normally have an in the flesh party. But the times eh?

Availability. There will be 100 packages (cases) available for each session. Of those, almost 45 will be for sponsors.

So. There will be (on average) 85 individual cases / tickets available. Per session. If I've overestimated demand, then that's on me. I'll have an awful lot of beer to drink….. On second thoughts - given the breweries - that's a win for me!

There'll be some flexibility. So if you really don't like a particular beer style, it could be swapped (subject to human error). If you are Vegan and one of the beers isn't, then same thing goes.

You get the picture.

There are still hurdles to vault, but let's make this happen eh? Let's raise some wedge for START. Every little helps eh?

Back soon.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

The Virtual Independent Salford Beer Festival (#VISBF) : Where Do We Go From Here?

So. It started as a random suggestion. A hopeful thought. To raise at least some money for the festival charity.

About which I spun a Web of possibilities. But with each possibility, my negative impulses kicked in. The “what ifs” reared their ugly heads. “What can go wrong, will….. etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Well. It's not unprecedented as an idea. But I bet none have done it in the inimitable ISBF “DIY” style! (“You mean ‘winged it’” Ed)

So. What might this look like?

• Well. Firstly 3 “sessions”. On the evenings of Thursday 12th November through to Saturday 14th November. (Dates may change - see below*)

•  A “ticket” (thinking £45-£50ish inc delivery), pays for a mixed case of 12 random beers - in a range of styles - in bottle and can.

• If you want to avoid a certain style of beer, you can. But otherwise, random selection applies.

• Each session will feature live music.

• Maybe tasting events/discussions/whatever

• A specially curated Spotify Playlist for each session compiled by our dear friends Jo and Mike (for those who've been before)…

• Twitter chats etc… (with the likes of me - if you have sleep problems…. 😁)

These things are very fluid at the moment and may be subject to change / clarification. But not by much.

Remember, profits from #VISBF go to charity. Always have. Always will.

Beers.

For those who haven't been before, a cursory glance at any ISBF programme will tell you what we're about.

The “signature” of ISBF (since year 3) has been new beers. Launch beers. At the very least, new to the Manchester area.

This year, that may be a stretch. But I'm certainly going to try to obtain as close as I can to that ideal. For me, beer celebrations are about trying something different….. Something not readily available down the local. Am I weird? (Don't answer that!)

On draught, that has been completely achievable for 4 years. In this format, no guarantees. But boy's got to try, right?

Sponsorship.

Obviously, #ISBF7 would have been a different beast in this regard, with lots of opportunities to be involved.

However, this “interloping” event will be quite slimmed down, with half the number of breweries - or less - compared to the main event. As such, there are VERY LIMITED opportunities to sponsor stuff. But…. Here goes

Those generous souls who have already agreed to sponsor a Beer may find that concept “tweaked” (if they agree) Into sponsoring a Brewery. That donation / amount was £80. And would - at #ISBF7 - have attracted two guaranteed tickets, tokens, glassware etc.

This event redesign, will mean that each “sponsorship” will attract

• A ticket. A case of Beer, as said earlier.

• A prominent mention in the program, next to the brewery of choice and

• A big show of gratitude on the website (as well as the boundless thanks of our Charity. Start in Salford.

Remember, profits from #VISBF go to charity. Always have. Always will.

Glassware

Not decided on the idea of Glassware for the event. That depends on obtaining a sponsor (I'm on it!) and the potential for courier breakage. I’d hate them to be damaged on arrival.

But. If you want it….

Remember, profits from #VISBF go to charity. Always have. Always will.

Cider

One of the things that really succeeded last year was the Cider bar. Drinkers who love cider will not be neglected.

Because I'll never forget the drinkers from the South West that came for the beer.

And stayed close to that Cider bar….

Programme

There'll be a beautiful Booklet / Programme (sponsorship ideas and advert pages available!), because I love them and I think that - designed well - they add something. That intangible element.

And just one tiny, ever so tiny detail might change. Those dates.

*Because 12th November is my (Jim) Grandson's first birthday……. (You understand that, right?)

And. Most importantly. Remember, profits from #VISBF - ALL ISBFs - go to charity. Always have. Always will.

Back soon. Be kind to one another.

Jim

Plan A, B, C…. Easy as 1, 2, 3?

It has been over 3 months since the last webpost. Teasing of plans, things already organised, ISBF spreading its wings, doing things we'd never done before…. and then?

Just 3 months ago. It feels like an eternity, doesn't it?

Needless to say Covid-19 changes everything. My personal plans for 2020 being the least of it. Retirement? Pah!

Covid also makes other plans change too.

A brief scan of all available information back in late March/Early April made certain decisions inevitable

The decision was as easy as it was inevitable.

There can - unfortunately - be no ISBF at Hemsley House in 2020. Read that…. carefully.

I can see into the future. Call it my superpower if you like. And there is likely to be no scenario where gatherings of people of such size, in one venue, will be permissable. Or even desirable.

Once I'd got there, I took a few days. I was vulnerable. Open to suggestion. And the suggestion came from so far out of left field that it was out of the ball park. And from a close non-beer friend. One who knew that I still wanted to do…. something.

“Why not do something on the Internet? I'll sponsor it……”

Eh? What??? And more importantly, HOW?

BUT…. Then the cogs engaged. And started whirring in this feeble brain.

What if…….

Small pack.

Logistically, I like to keep things simple. And this looks complicated. And - within current restrictions - may not be possible. But the idea goes something like this….

3 sessions. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Same dates : 12 - 14 November) 6-11pm.

Ticketed. The ticket pays for a random case of 12 mixed beers from some of the UKs finest breweries. Cans & bottles.

Chat. Utilising Twitter, the FB page and - potentially - Zoom rooms.

The possibilities are many. And varied. There could be tasting sessions on Zoom, talks etc (I might even be able to pull off a super special one we had originally planned for Hemsley House this year), live music, specially curated Spotify Playlists…..

It might not work. And it most certainly depends on demand. But I wouldn't mind giving it a go.

Let's face it, what else am I going to do with my holidays this year?

It would be lovely to be able to raise some much needed money for START - given that Plan A was no event at all.

Whaddya think?

Back soon. Stay safe.

Jim

#ISBF7 Post 3 - This is Why We Do It

Just over a week ago, I received an email. With all the spam type stuff and notifications of various happenings etc, this one stood out.

It was from Bernadette Conlon. The Chief Executive of Start Inspiring Minds. It stood out, because it was succinct. And it moved me. It reminded me firmly as to why I spend my time. Why WE do what we do with ISBF.

And it isn't just about the beer.

I was introduced to Bernadette (and - by extension - Start Inspiring Minds) by Gerry. The same inspirational lady for whom I organised the first 4 ISBF events.

You see, Gerry isn't JUST a dear friend for the impact she has had on the lives of myself and my family. She is an avowed cheerleader for the City of Salford. And is magnificently well connected in this city.

A firm Localist. And once she's introduced me to Bernadette, the conversation hadn't gone on long when my mind was made up.

This charity felt like home.

They are small. Local (within 400 yards of Hemsley House). They can't afford to pay people to market for them for donations. They get by on limited donations and grant gifts.

The impact I witnessed on Bernadette when I told her the donation from #ISBF5 told me all I needed to know.

It mattered. Massively. It had a huge impact on what they were able to achieve.

And YOU did that. By drinking beer. By sponsoring stuff.

Doesn't this helping people stuff feel good?

Anyway. To Bernadette. And that email….

“I just wanted to say that we are very grateful for the work you have all done to raise the funds for START through your event, and this donation will make a big impact to our services and those vulnerable people we help.

Mental health/suicide is always a difficult topic and we need to engage people to chat and help raise funds as much as we can.  Statistics show 1 in 4 people will suffer from mental health issues and 200 lives are lost to suicide across the Greater Manchester Area every year.  The money raised goes towards the work we do to try and help reduce these figures and is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.

Kind Regards

Bernie”

To see those words on my phone one morning hit me like a brick. Anyone who knows my family's personal history will understand why.

Myself and a number of others give up a huge amount of our time. We give it willingly. We enjoy what we do. It gives me a huge warm feeling watching people with smiles on their faces. Consciously (and otherwise) enjoying the fruits of those efforts.

And this email - and all those looks and the lovely warm comments - are more than enough payback.

This is the impact that we all - ourselves and you, as sponsors and guests - have.

Good innit?

I love what we do.

Don't get me wrong. We have fun doing it. The brewdays, the interactions, the friendships old and new (many formed and nurtured at this event), introducing drinkers to the processes - and hard work - that brings that beer to the tap, it's been a total joy to see faces light up.

(Not to mention all the beery secrets I already have in my head. Oh my!!! We've got some exclusivity for you ALREADY!)

This year will be even more fun. We'll be doing things we've never done before both with beer and other stuff. This is the year where I (Jim) get to have MY most fun. And if I have fun…..

We're already WAY AHEAD of all other years with offers of sponsorship. But are ALWAYS open to offers!

Beer or Cider sponsorship gets you 2 guaranteed tickets to a session of your choice (per beer or Cider sponsored), 2 x glasses and 2 x £10 tokens. That “guaranteed tickets” thing being more important than ever, as we'll be having almost 20% fewer tickets than last year.

Fancy getting involved? Click the “contact” tab on the homepage.

More news in a month or so. Next weekend, the human wallpaper will be all over Edinburgh!

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBF7 Post 2 : Update No 1

I vowed to take 3 months off. But no one believed me. And rightly so. There's a fundamental need to scheme. Plan. Plot.

So I have schemed. Planned. And plotted.

To have the most fun I'VE (Jim) ever had with ISBF. And if I'M having fun…..

This year, there will (quite possibly) be more Collabs with some of our favourite breweries. The reasons for this being threefold.

1. Because we can.

2. Because I (Jim), if all things I expect come to pass, will be leaving the - current - day job. A mere 2 weeks prior to #ISBF7. And I want to have some fun. This is also linked to….

3. Because unless I (Jim) can manage to do something that I really struggle with. Delegate. Then it could well be the final ISBF. And (just in case it is) I intend to tick off some of my bucket list breweries. Those that I personally would really love to play with.

And I really WILL try to delegate. Because this event - and you, the guests - do really good stuff in helping some lovely causes. And I'd hate that to stop.

Several Collabs have already been agreed and I have been known to attract some strange looks on trains as I receive messages that have me giddy as a kipper!

Collabs with ISBF, Collabs between some of my very favourite Brewers and even our first Collab blending beer. Which - not content with “just” Blending - will be stored in a very special barrel. That one is likely to be the first Collab for this year in late spring. And I'm giggling with excitement..

My second favourite photo of #ISBF6!

In conjuction with a friend of ISBF, this year may see a “spreading of the wings” (in more than one manner of speaking)

Conversations on this are really positive. And - if it comes off - will require a passport application.

This also ties in with - again, if it comes off - a rather special event within #ISBF7.

Keep your fingers crossed. Mine are!

Sleeping on keykegs is seriously underrated….

A number of visible changes will be happening with #ISBF7, firstly - as mentioned elsewhere - less tickets will be available.

One of the things that has been remarked upon most years, is the relaxed feel of the event. This is down - mostly - to the lovely guests who pay to drink beer here.

But it's also down to the fact that we don't ram the place. That's deliberate.

We could fill the rooms to the absolute fire safety limit on the Friday evening and Saturday lunch session. But that would detract hugely.

This year, 200 per session. Maximum. When they are gone, they are gone. And with the numbers already pledged to sponsors, they really won't last long.

Ticketing.

Following on from some stuff that didn't work with #ISBF6 - and some meetings I've had in the subsequent weeks - we will have a new ticketing partner. Ticketweb.

I'm looking forward to my life being…… simpler! And simplicity means less stress.

Gotta love Sean and Al!

What won't change is the following

100 lines of beer from the best Brewers I can lay hands on…

The best modern, low intervention, Cider and Perry my dear friends Dick & Cath can source…

The finest local gins… courtesy of the lovely Charlie…

Fabulous tunes - courtesy of the lovely Jo & Mike…

Evolution. Not Revolution.

One of my favourite ladies in the industry described ISBF to me a couple of weeks ago as “niche”.

I'll take that as the compliment it was. I like niche.

And going back to sponsorship. There are still plenty of opportunities to pledge to sponsor beers or Ciders. And that's certainly the only way to guarantee tickets (unless you come to the - strictly limited - launch party).

To sponsor a beer or Cider / Perry costs £80. For which you get

1. 2 tickets to the session of your choice

2. 2 pretty glasses to drink from…

3. £20 beer tokens.

Come and join in helping us raise shedloads of cashola for our nominated charity Start Inspiring Minds.

Niche. I like niche.

Back soon with more teasing…..

Jx

#ISBF7 Post 1 - Sponsorship

It started with a tweet…. (There's a song in there somewhere….)

It was a bit…… previous. In that I hadn't really given any thought. In that I had no idea about WHAT could be sponsored. Nor “how much” stuff would cost to sponsor.

But, I want to be very clear. Sponsorship of “stuff” makes a huge difference to what we are able to do, with the event and - ultimately - what we can give to our nominated charity.

To example, last year (#ISBF6) we received DOUBLE the amount in sponsorship when compared to #ISBF5. Without THAT, you get an idea as to how much less would have gone to START Inspiring Minds.

The general approach to sourcing sponsorship for #ISBF7 won't change. By which I mean that what I/we like, is that the sponsors are individuals and small independent local businesses.

People for whom it's no small thing to be involved and to donate. It matters. And that's how we like it.

I've always wanted this event to be “human”. Not some corporate thing (we don't do “trade sessions for instance). And that's how it will stay.

So. With that in mind, I'm delighted to welcome Petersgate Tap as our Glassware Sponsors.

With a single exception (Torrside in Year 4), each of our glassware sponsors have been exceptional Micro Pubs. And The Petersgate Tap is no exception.

If you haven't been, you really should!

So. Back to that tweet.

Within 24 hours of pressing “send”, we had almost as much pledged as sponsorship as for the WHOLE of #ISBF5.

That took a while to sink in.

Messages were flying in to the account at a hellish rate of knots and I struggled to keep up. Because I'd changed some stuff.

Let me explain….

I like simplicity. And I failed at #ISBF6 on one detail. I (and it was my fault) gave away too many tokens with sponsorship by accident. So, for simplicity sake, I've bundled those in for #ISBF7.

So. To sponsor a beer or cider at #ISBF7 costs £80.

What you get for that is :

2 entry tickets. Guaranteed entry tickets. 2 glasses. And 2 sheets of £10 tokens.

There are other things that can be sponsored, such as posters, the programme etc. I'm happy to chat about these things too.

Each item sponsored comes with tickets etc as detailed above. Guaranteed tickets. And that's important.

Because, this year, there'll be less tickets available. 50 less per session. A maximum 200 tickets per session. To keep things relaxed. And comfortable. And that also matters.

So. That's that explained.

Come get involved. Have some fun and do some good while having it.

To get involved, click the “contact” tab and select from the drop down list.

Or contact by DM on Twitter @salfordbeerfest or email salfordbeerfest@yahoo.com.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Jim x

Moving On : #ISBF6 Pt 2

“Do you remember the bills you have to pay? Or even yesterday?”

Pic courtesy Niamh

At almost 4 weeks remove, you gain a sense of perspective. And priority.

I'm sure that in 11 months I'll have forgotten the almost extreme stress that this event puts me - and by extention, those closest to me - under. #ISBF6 wasn't planned to coincide with the birth of our first Grandchild, but hell, his arrival doesn't half lend that aforementioned perspective!

So much so, that the last 4 weeks have been about making some pretty bloody momentous decisions. This event has always evolved. “Evolution, not Revolution” has been a byword. This event is imperfect. Maybe that is part of its “charm”, part of what keeps people coming back. When I look for a moral for this event, I look to the song “We Can't Be Beat” by The Walkmen.

“…. I don't need perfection, I love the whole… ”

In truth, I don't “love” this event (as stated in the last Webpost, my relationship with this is somewhat “complicated”) but what I do “love” it's the love shown to it by so many of the people that come. Many of whom are unpaid and unsolicited “Ambassadors”.

And that's lovely.

Photo courtesy Bob.

Speaking of lovely.

I don't waste words. I say precisely what I mean to say. So please take these words at face value.

We simply have the loveliest, most wonderful, warm, friendly people who help during this event. Several of whom wouldn't know me personally from that alleged Rib donator, but that doesn't stop them feeling like family.

I can't call them “volunteers” any more. That word doesn't do them justice.

I can't name them all, that would lead to RSI. But they are simply the loveliest bunch. They deserve all the praise. All the love.

I adore the bones of them.

From Year 2. And all (bar one) still with us at #ISBF6.

What we do - certainly in terms of the end result - wouldn't be possible without selfless offers of sponsorship.

This year, I had a carrot dangled on front of me. The prospect of a major business - with a big charity pot - becoming involved. The mere thought of that made me question what I do with this event.

And it felt wrong.

Feeling - to me - is everything with this event. And I truly love that people sponsor things as individuals. And that the businesses that sponsor things here - and take advertisements in the programme - are small. Independent. Local.

And that matters hugely to us all. Keeping this human. And local.

And that won't change. The amount pledged this year - compared to last year - however, did change. It doubled. And by ‘eck that helps! Especially when you look to import beer from Australia….. And stuff needs to be paid for in advance…..

Anyway. Those lovely sponsors. We thank them HUGELY. They make a lot of what happens possible (and some of them tolerate my howlers! You know who you are….)

So. Enormous appreciation goes out to the following……

Claire & Scott at House of Hops in Swinton (Thank you SO MUCH for sponsoring our glassware)

Alan & Chris at The Petersgate Tap for sponsoring our lovely programme!

Andy Marsh

David Martin

Sean Campbell

Stephen Donaldson

Kate

Gavin & Chelsea McCloskey-Lambert

Rebecca Lomax

Nick Payne

Paul Flint

Ian Brown & Zoe Pearson

Colin & Sue Murphy

Rebecca Nicholl

Karkli

Chris Dixon

Pete Clark

Mowgli

Jock Joyce

GRUB (More later!)

James Stephens

Nina Colquhoun

Bob Preece

Paul Boardman

Martin Gunning

John ODonnell

Mark "The Gasman" Pursey

Plug & Taps

Andy Berk

Northern Type

Kath and Ian Robinson

Bob Longworth

Mike Jones

Nick Moss

Stephen Cafferty

Jo & Mike Dewsnip

Phil Kyte

Reich Group

Drink!

Dan at Beerstork

Scott Allen

Rebecca Pettman

Craft Brewtique

The Firkin Bar

Playhouse2

The Grapes

Simon & Sarah Gare

Colin Massey (Ali & Mark)

Beer Shed

1B Tap

Zac Bearshaw

Podiatry Clinics (Yorkshire) Ltd

Bernard Randall

Craft Beer Newcastle (Daisy)

Dave Griffiths

Jim Khor (Nasi Lemak)

Jordan Dewsnip

Mark Johnson

The Nook & Cranny

Colin Barker

Rob Shaw

Mark Smith-Magee

Gareth Willams

Otters Tears

Sarah Millington

Jon McQuillan

Station Hop, Levenshulme

Monton Tap

For all the beer sponsorship and the ads in the lovely programme….

HUGE shout outs to the following. Without whose genius, help and love this event couldn't even begin to……

Team Black Jack - Words fail me (yeah yeah, I know…..) Absolute ⭐s.

Malcolm. You know it. Here's to East West!

Andy Heggs and Drumbeat. For the design genius, the website and sponsorship of said thing of beauty.

Bailey & Jules - For the love, support and (again) helping us out with the lovely sound system!

Dave & Jen at The Northern Type for sponsoring our lovely posters (still got some!)

To the divine Charlie for her magnificent gin bar and the wonderful Gin makers who donated their lovely, lovely Gins!

Batch Brew

Brindle Distillery (Cuckoo Gin)

Caorunn Gin

Hidden Gem

Forest Gin

Manchester Gin

Turncoat

Tappers Gin

Not to forget the incredibly generous Fevertree for the tonics!

Big, big love to Jo & Mike Dewsnip. The Jukebox, The Playlist, The Joy. You know I love you both!

To the best beer friends - they are no longer “volunteers”, they're much more than that.

In Jeff's own delightful shorthand…. 😁

Jazzy, Karkli , Zoe, Mike & Jo, Jock, Chris D, Jeff, Linda, Pete, Dave R, TLO, Jerry, Sarah, Maxine, Shaun, Wok, Denis, Colin, Bevis, Mark & Alison, John & Caroline, Charlie & Simon, Rik, Mick, Mark A, Chris C, Andrew & Richard, Andrew 41, Otto & Margaret, Josh, Gavin, Chelsea, Matt A, Laurent, Rob C, Nick M, Nick C, Heather, Katherine & bro.

Thank you all. So very much. You make this event what it is.

Amongst all of the praise (and it's been truly humbling), not many picked up on the main thing that floats my boat. And compels me to do this. Year after year.

It's that people matter.

The ISBF family have been through the mill over the last few years. Mental health issues seem omnipresent. That's why I foresee that Mental Health charities will be the prime beneficiaries of our efforts.

On a financial level, we brought in more money than ever this year, with sponsorship being double that of last year.

You, the guests, spent more than ever too. And we thank you from the bottom of that chest muscle thing.

We also spent more. Airfreighting fresh beer from Australia doesn't come cheap. Believe that.

However, we've managed to make donations to two Mental Health charities.

£300 (as a pledge match) has gone to some friends of ISBF doing a sponsored run this weekend - in aid of Lancashire MIND - in the name of our son, Fionn.

In addition (and rather the point), I’ll be meeting the CEO of Start Inspiring Minds next Wednesday. Who will benefit from #ISBF6 to the tune of over £11,300 in total

You're not a bad bunch you lot.

Let's see if we can beat that for #ISBF7 eh? 😁 Let planning commence!

See you soon.

Jim x

Heart and Soul : #ISBF6 Pt 1

It's difficult to know where to start a post like this. My feelings about this event are complicated to say the least. But I suppose that it's safe to say that a lot of people enjoyed themselves last weekend.

Did you?

Gratuitous Five Towns Photobombing……

I seemed to have spent most of my time fending off compliments about the event, many of which go over my head. Especially about the beer.

Those compliments are best placed with the brewers themselves. It may sound arrogant (but it's truly not), but getting good beer is almost easy. You just need to know who makes it. And judging by the fact that almost 40% of the beers attracted votes from YOU the attendees (not an “expert panel”) that says something.

It tells me that I did my job right. That we had the best beer list we've ever had. And that's a compliment.

Getting great beer that is new to Manchester however, THAT'S a pain. But it's a worthwhile pain, judging by the commentary

It was lovely to receive great feedback about beers from breweries that rarely - if ever - get into the Manchester area on draught (note pedantic English spelling). From a beer perspective, that is one of my explicit aims. To get those breweries here.

And if we get to try their beer more frequently around here, then we all win.

For now, that's enough about beer.

So. What excited ME about this year?

Firstly, Cider.

I was thrilled with the feedback I heard about the Cider bar. From the Thursday evening to the end on Saturday, we've never sold so much, or heard such glowing commentary.

THAT is all down to Dick Withecombe and Cath Potter (my keyboard has those words now on predictive text!).

Some of the bottled Ciders and Perrys sold out quickly. And that's a complete testament both to the exceptional judgement of Dick & Cath AND to the Cidermakers themselves.

As I stated in the “Crossovers and Collaborations” talk / sampling on Thursday evening, all I said to Dick was “Get me the good shit…..”

And by whichever God you believe in, they certainly did that.

Speaking of which, I was thrilled to get the panel that we had for that event. Huge thanks to Albert Johnson (Ross Cider), Jim Rangeley (Abbeydale Funk Dungeon) and Matt Billing (Ascension Cider) for coming along and - most definitely - entertaining us. Especial thanks to Susanna Forbes for agreeing to come up and chair this. All three are really busy people and for an event like ISBF to attract such stars is very flattering.

It's a testament to that event that the tickets sold out in an hour.

The other “panel” event will live long in my (notoriously poor) memory.

And not just for being called “Hissy Man”.

Again, Massive thanks to Patrick Jones (Pilot Beer - all the way from bloody Leith!), Connor Murphy (Cloudwater) and Sean Clarke (Beer Central, Sheffield) and especially to Steph Shuttleworth (MASH Marketing) for hosting.

There were a number of occasions when I laughed so hard that I nearly choked!

In all seriousness, that event was conceived at a time when pubs, bars and breweries are experiencing quiet times and some are struggling. In times like these, publicising what you do is vital.

I think the event got that across.

The theme of that event has been an itch of mine for years. That some pubs and bars don't even do the basics where social media is concerned.

Music.

The decision to have the live music in the Walker Suite (aka “The Green Room”) worked.

Anyone who came to hear the magnificent George Fell play will get that. I don't bandy superlatives lightly, but George's guitar playing enraptured me. And a good few others too.

The man is a bit of a genius. And he'll be back next year.

Some things won't change. Some will.

Friends. They aren't volunteers, they are friends. The core of whom have been worth us since Year 1. That says something.

They are heroes (hence this year's ‘Hero’ t-shirt for them) of mine. They create and nurture the feeling of this event. They make it feel good. Like something you'll want to come back to.

They are the SOUL of this thing we've got. And I love them all.

I'll give more general thanks in the next post, but personal heroes of mine for their “above & beyond” efforts from Wednesday through to Monday were Jaz, Mike, Steve & Zoe. Seriously, I'd have imploded without them. Zoe felt like a big sister by the end of the event!

Not to forget the divine Charlie and her magnificently compiled Gin bar. A Mancunian legend. (And that bar will be slightly relocated next year….)

What also won't change is the venue. Hemsley House is lovely. And we're still only just getting used to it.

It's pretty. It fits us like a glove.

Music.

Mike had an ACE time! He and Jo compiled the “Rebellious Jukebox” playlist and I think he played nothing but requests from 18:45 on Thursday!!!

I witnessed a number of people furiously scribbling their requests over the weekend.

The whole request thing was completely their idea. It worked magnificently.

Why change a good thing?

And a special mention to some people who - to put it mildly - dug me out of a massive beer hole on Saturday morning.

Jan & Slawek at Marble, Connor at Cloudwater, Chris at Torrside, Emma from Distant Hills and the absolute hero Kieran at Black Jack (who left his watching the Rugby World Cup Final, came to and opened up the brewery and let me raid their warehouse).

We won't mention me waking up Ben (Rivington) whilst on an Amsterdam break!

Manchester Beer played a blinder. And that is something I'll never forget.

Who said that #BeerPeopleAreGoodPeople?

That Saturday morning was all the evidence I need.

Thank you all.

So. What WILL change.

Firstly, the dates. More later, but you can't compete on a Saturday evening with the monstrous confluence of Halloween and/or Bonfire Night.

It REALLY hits numbers. We covered all the beer bases this time - following those panic buys - so there was loads of choice, but Saturday evening merits the dates being moved

What else?

Numbers. There will be less tickets available. A maximum of 200 per session.

The event is relaxed. But just needs a little tweak.

Same beer numbers, less people. Because you're a thirsty lot.

There are one or two other visible things I'll look to change and - if they come to pass - you'll be made aware if /when I do.

Beer Of the Festival.

Approximately 40% of the beers received votes. This speaks volumes for the quality and variety of the beers secured.

Breweries from Aberdeen to New Zealand received votes.

But some - obviously - received more than others.

So. From a stellar line up….

Joint Second

Five Towns - “DJ”; North Riding x Northern Monk - “Don't Mess With ‘Udders’; Tom's Tap - “White Stout”

First (and only just!)

Marble - “Damaged Cubbio” (Phil will take a YEAR to come down from this!)

4 bloody delicious beers.

Cider of the Festival

Ross Cider - Polytheism. One bloody lovely Cider too!

My hat is tipped.

What I, personally, am most proud of, is the number of friendships made - and renewed - annually at ISBF.

The fact that people come from as far apart as Aberdeen and Brighton and have done for five years. That speaks volumes for the feel of this event. Something that will never change.

But finally. I bid you Farewell with the final change.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Persistence & Reward : An #ISBF6 Brewday With Marble

Some people. They just never give up. And it's an old, old phrase, but “If you don't ask, you don't get…”

It doesn't always apply. But then Phil isn't just anyone. He's a smitten devotee. Of West Coast IPAs. But one in particular.

There were a few of us here at this brewday, but this is Phil's story. And a bit of a realised beer dream. Over to him…

“Social media. It has its pros and cons. We’ve all seen the allegations of Russian interference in the US election and the furore surrounding Cambridge Analytica.

Rank amateurs the lot of them.

After a carefully co-ordinated grass roots guerilla campaign, I found myself in deepest, darkest Salford having safely navigated passport control at the Yorkshire/Lancashire border and arrived safely at @marblebrewers new brewery & tap.

To say this was an honour is a massive understatement. Not only do I think Marble are the best brewery in the UK, but I was there to revisit and re-imagine an iconic beer as a one off for #ISBF6.

Marble Brewery's Biggest Fan. With Phil.

I arrived a little late to find my fellow “brewers”, @beersmanchester, @beerfindergen, @jockjoyce and @leggywolf fully immersed in the brewing process, aka trying to work out how to work the filter coffee machine. Having made sure we’d got that bit right, it was then time to watch @marble_slawek do all the work.

I never got to see the old brewery but the new kit looks amazing and to my untutored eye everything seems to run so smoothly. From crushing their own malt, which feeds straight into the mash tun, and the rows of shiny FVs and conditioning tanks the whole place just oozes class and a big step forward for @jan_marble and the team.

Having watched Slawek mash in we were all quite tired, so it was time for breakfast butties and more coffee. [6 coffees later] It was then time to, y’know, actually do something…cue grabbing a trusty orange shovel and embarking on digging out 1.4 tonnes of malt. There’s a reason Slawek has the muscles he has but between us we managed to get it all out. I must confess to quite liking the smell of warm grain, but that paled into insignificance compared to what was to come.

It was then time to add the hops. All 21kg of them. Citra, Simcoe & Amarillo. The smell, oh the smell…. For 3 days afterwards, all I could smell was lemony Simcoe and that’s no bad thing.

A little aromatherapy. Just a fraction of the dry hop…..

After an embarrassingly easy brew day (for us) there was nothing more for it but to have a beer. Jan had arranged a WCIPA taste off (spoiler alert – none are as good as the beer you’ll be getting at ISBF) around lunch which was interesting. We were then left in the semi-responsible hands of Carl which resulted in us having to sample Cross Collar straight from the conditioning tanks. Wow. Incredibly, we even managed to leave some to be canned later on in the week.

The only thing missing from the day was the chance to meet (head brewer) Joe and to thank him in person for agreeing to do this as he was, thankfully safely, on his way home from Japan.

As for the beer we brewed? If all turns out well, it’ll be a 7.1% WCIPA. Correction, THE 7.1% WCIPA. Roll on ISBF…..”

(Well. If THIS doesn't put you off….. Ed 🤣🤣🤣)

This beer will be a personal highlight for Phil. That “guerrilla campaign” was real. Almost Twitter trolling its intensity.

But it paid off. (Literally) in spades.

Come along to #ISBF6 and grab a first taste on #ThirstChanceThursday!

Well. That's it. The final brewday for me. And the final brewday write up. All there is left to say is “Come and join us”. Have a beer, have some fun.

Still tickets available for Thursday and Saturday evening sessiond.

See you next weekend.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Upping The Apples and Pears : Life is Full of Surprises - #RethinkCider

“I am not in love… But I'm open to persuasion”

I (Jim) love beer. I wouldn't put myself through the wringer of doing this event if I didn't. Over the last few years I have had some simply lovely beer - because of an inbuilt mental filter, it's rare that I have a bad one.

I can enthuse about excellence. The breweries that I invite to ISBF have - to me - displayed that excellence. I wouldn't invite them otherwise.

But it has been a while since I've been genuinely excited about beer.

But this year, those things up there have got me. Got my pulse beating just that little bit faster.

Apples and Pears. Cider and Perry.

And that's all down to two lovely people. Dick Withecombe and Cath Potter. And a completely chance meeting with them at Torrside last December.

My Cider experiences had been based around cheap “scrumpy” in the 80s. Waking up (as a teenager) after 4 pints, with a record jumping for Christ KNOWS how many hours.

It was a pathway to oblivion. And inexpensive.

What Dick & Cath have taught me - if anything - is that it is time to #RethinkCider.

Just GO to The Yew Tree at Peterstow. You won't regret a moment.

These two enthusiasts started to drip honeyed words in my ear. In such circumstances, the words of Joan Armatrading (above) come into play.

They talked of (in my words) reimagining the Cider bar at ISBF. They talked of events, possibilities. Stars of this brave new world, coming to Hemsley House. I was a little gobsmacked.

To us? Really? But - and if you know me, you can imagine - they had my complete and undivided attention!

So. I told them. (And it's a repeated phrase), if you can do this, I’m ALL over it.

So they did. And I am. WE are.

So. On the Thursday evening, at this “little” humble do in Salford, we have one of the leading lights of Modern small-batch Cider and Perry coming to talk. Susanna Forbes, drinks writer, author and owner of little Pomona. With a bunch of enthusiasts. And the lovely Jim Rangeley of the exceptional Abbeydale Funk Dungeon & Matt Billing of Ascension Cider.

There'll be tastings, talk about where Cider and Beer meet. All sorts of stuff.

That ticketed audience are privileged. And I'm one of them.

Do you REALLY think I'd miss this?

To start the Presentation, there will be samples of Polytheism. The very special blend especially created by US, with the lovely Ross Cider, for #ISBF6 (Cue my drooling - Ed)

1. Abbeydale Brewery - Laid to Rest – BA Apple Saison 6.5%

    In collaboration with Fyne Ales Origins Project, with oak aged mixed fermentation pale brewed with malted barley grown locally to Fyne in west Scotland. Conditioned on dried apples for two months in freshly emptied Speyside whisky butts for a rounded yet tart beer full of orchard notes, with a pleasing wood character and a dry finish.

2. Austria – Blakstoc Cider - Wild Tree Hoppy Cider - 4.5%

   Orchard apples from the Styrian hills, fermented with English Ale yeast. Then they added a generous twist of American West Coast Chinook and Centennial hops.

    Top notes of bright citrus and tropical fruits are followed by a refreshing full taste and well balanced bitterness.tannins.

3. Burning Sky / Ascension Cider - Cider Apple Saison 6.7%

   Working with Matt, Burning Sky selected milled Dabinett and Harry Masters Jersey apple varieties to age their Saison Provision on. Farmhouse funk with apple and grapefruit acidity, this blurs the boundaries between mixed fermentation beer and low intervention cider.

4. Combined Harvest – Brick Brewery / Hawkes Cider Collab Graff

   This is a Graff of 50% soft and silky Braeburn juice, pressed fresh at Hawkes’ Bermondsey-based Cidery, blended together with Brick’s beautifully pale Brut wort while both makers’ wildly different yeast imprint their individual personalities in fermentation.

   This Graff starts with a bouquet of apple aroma, but sips like a smooth pale ale. It flirts with funk as the brut base drys out your mouth and the signature sharpness of a cider kicks back in. Some people say it tastes like cider, some people say it tastes like beer, and that’s exactly the reaction we want.

5. Mills Brewing / Tom Oliver Cider - Lambinett – Lambic Dabinett 8.2%

    Lambinett was made by co-fermenting a strong red wort with bittersweet Dabinett juice and cider lees in old oak whisky casks for 15 months. I have a case in my stock, and I think Jim also has a case?

The single best drink I've had this year.

I'm not somebody's hype man. Anyone who knows me knows that what I say is my truth. My belief. A belief that I hold both fiercely and dear. I won't lie. I won't “polish a turd”. I don't believe in wasting words like that. Life is too short for such BS.

But - I kid you not - that bottle above is the single best thing that I've drunk this year.

THAT is a Cider created and fermented 8 years ago. In an Ardbeg whisky cask. By Ross Cider. And it simply messed with my preconceptions of what Cider is. Dry, tannic, fruity, a light smoke and with just THE finest carbonation.

I thank Mike Johnson HUGELY for letting me taste this. Myself & the Arch Nemesis counted ourselves very fortunate.

I'm not THAT self-deprecating that I won't say that I know what good beer looks like.

But this cider list has got that little shrivelled chest muscle ticking just a little quicker.

If you enjoy the tart side of beer, take a walk on the wild (fermented) side. You won't regret that decision.

So what’s is on the Cider Bar?

Well we handed the bar over the people behind #RethinkCider – so it’s a completely modern expression of some of the best ciders you can get your hands on.

There are cider influenced beers - hopped Ciders – and cutting edge wild ferment Natural Ciders – a lot of Single Varieties – some ground breaking keg conditioned ciders - ….and centre stage is a special blend…. a blend of more than ten apple varieties…. an #ISBF6 blend by Jim, Jaz and the team at Ross Cider … made with love and with a commitment to raising funds for charity – the more you buy and drink, the more will be donated to our chosen charity this year

Cider List

Draught

#ISBF6 Charity Blend – Polytheism 7.8% Dry In life there are many godly things, cider is just one of them. To make great cider you need great apples, this uses many of them.

A handcrafted collaborative blend of five different barrels, utilising over 12 varieties: Harry Masters Jersey (25%), oak cask Kingston Black (20%), oak cask Tremletts Bitter (10%), oak cask Sweet Coppin (10%), Mixed Sharps (15%), Mixed Old Orchard Apples (20%).

Complex, pure wild fermented juice madness. Oak cask fermentations, expressions of varieties, melded together by #ISBF Jim and Jaz's cunning tongues and Ross Cider excitement. Cider without compromise.

Little Pomona – Root and Branch 8.4% Keg Conditioned Dry

A blend of bittersweets and Foxwhelp bittersharp, Root & Branch is a wild fermented, part bourbon barrel keg conditioned cider. Big, bold and beautiful.

Ross On Wye Cider - Dabinett SV 7.8% Keg Conditioned Dry

New keg conditioned single variety Dabinett from Ross Cider. Natural Wild Ferment Cider - no sugar – unpasteurised. Pure full juice Dabinett which means spicy vanilla fruit.

Nightingale Cider – Nightbird 4.9% Medium

Nightbird is made from Dessert Apples and is light and fruity cider.

Fermented with Wild Yeast it offers character and complexity in just the right way to keep things interested but not to be challenging.

On other bars:

Mills Brewing /Tom Oliver - Saison Cider Cask 7%

A bitter wort; using barley, oat, and rye malts like traditional saison brewing; was fermented for 11 months in large oak cider casks from Tom Oliver Cider. These were blended and dry hopped with Motueka and Celeia.

Dollar Bill, Australia - Cider Barrel Aged Baltic Porter

Bottles / Cans

Mills Brewing / Tom Oliver Cider - Foxbic 2 6.6%

Foxwhelp Lambic - Foxbic 2 was made using the turbid mash method in the style of traditional lambic producers. The wort was fermented with bittersharp Foxwhelp juice and cider lees in old oak barrels for 16 mths.

Mills Brewing / Tom Oliver Cider - Lambinett 8.2%

Lambic Dabinett - Lambinett was made by co-fermenting a strong red wort with bittersweet Dabinett juice and cider lees in old oak whisky casks for 15 mths.

Burning Sky / Ascension Cider - Cider Apple Saison 6.7%

Working with Matt Billing of Ascension Cider, Burning Sky selected milled Dabinett and Harry Masters Jersey apple varieties to age their Saison Provision on.

Franklin Brewing / Ascension Cider - Glow Up Berlinergraff 5.0%

A traditionally brewed berliner weisse with apple juice and cinnamon added to the boil and FV to create a sour beer with a comforting Autumnal feeling.

Abbeydale Brewery - Laid to Rest – BA Apple Saison 6.5%

Oak aged mixed fermentation pale brewed with malted barley. Conditioned on dried apples for two months in freshly emptied Speyside whisky butts for a rounded yet tart beer full of orchard notes, with a pleasing wood character and a dry finish.

Combined Harvest – Brick Brewery / Hawkes Cider Collab Graff

 This is a Graff. 50% Braeburn juice, pressed fresh at Hawkes’ Bermondsey-based Cidery, blended together with Brick’s pale Brut wort while both makers’ wildly different yeast imprint their individual personalities in fermentation.

INTERNATIONAL BOTTLED CIDER

Austria – Blakstoc Cider

Wild Tree Hoppy Cider - 4.5%

Apples from the Styrian hills, fermented with English Ale yeast. Then they added a generous twist of American West Coast Chinook and Centennial hops for flavours of bright citrus and tropical fruits with a refreshing full taste and well balanced bitterness.

Lazy Day Cucumber Cider – 4.5%

This hopped cider is infused with blossoms of elder, fermented cucumber juice and a twist of Lemon Drop hops; which adds notes of green tea, citrus, mint and melon.

Quincy Cassis and Hops Cider – 4.5%

Hopped cider with black currant/cassis with a dash of fresh quince.

 Ireland – Longueville House

Dabinett and Michelin - 5.5%

A medium-dry cider

Mór -  the Gaelic word for ‘Big’ - 8%

The Cider is fermented and aged for 1 year in Apple Brandy casks. Big taste and depth, well rounded and balanced - a unique cider.

Ross on Wye Cider & Perry - BOTTLED CIDER AND PERRY  

Elite Range of ciders from the winners of the BBC Food and Farming, Drinks Producer 2019 Award

Raison D’Etre – Browns and Brown Snout – Two Belly Blend – Harry Masters Jersey – Dabinett blend Pet Nat – Gin and Blakeney Red Perry – Flakey Bark Perry – Blakeney, Bartestree and Barland Perry

Make your own blend! Mix bittersweet with bittersharp:

Bittersweet – Harry Masters Jersey SV – 5.5% - Dry

A bittersweet apple which makes a crisp, fine cider with soft astringent tannins.

Bittersharp - Reinette d’Obry SV – 6.5% - Dry

A mild sharp apple. Light, juicy, fruity, acid driven and less 1.

The Cider bar, this year, is a perfect foil for those beers tending to tart, the Goses, Saisons, Sours, Mixed Fermentations. Come and have a try. Chat to our friends behind the bar. You might just learn something.

And fall for the real juice. Like I have.

Back soon. Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Brewing With Friends : An ISBF Brewday with Runaway

From the (semi legendary) first tweet, Mark & Sam Welsby have been here, on the ISBF Love Train right from the start. I (Jim) am not a Fanboy of any brewery, but Runaway are probably about as close as it gets.

Mark may not be actually FROM Manchester, but the adoption papers were served long ago and he is as much a son of this city as anyone and the DNA of this city is his DNA.

Self-deprecating yet fiercely held of opinion. Heart on sleeve, a worker bee, quietly buzzing away in his own personal hive, making something exceptional. Exceptionally Mancunian.

There are a handful of people I personally would drop everything for.

And this man is one. Over to the Mancunian beer legend that is Jeff. This day belonged to him and the lovely Max. Go Jeff….

Brewery from the (exceptional) Taproom

As it gets closer to ISBF each year Jim invites a few of us the chance to participate in a brew day. It’s a great day and an opportunity to learn more about this magical nectar we all love so much. So a couple of weeks ago on a very wet Friday morning, Maxine & I travelled up the A6 on the mythical 192 into town for a trip to Runaway. Those who’ve not been should as their tap room is open every Saturday from 12-8 ( Unit 4, Millgate Dantzic St, M4 4JW) about ten mins walk from Victoria Station but for us on this Friday morning it was the longer & wet route from Piccadilly.

So we arrived at the brewery as pre arranged for 9am, today was going to be a short brew as it was to rest over the weekend with the final ingredients to be added on the Monday. The head brewer Mark was leaving in the capable hands of Oli & Josh today who we both know anyway. The lads were already setting up when we arrived getting the water up to temp (66 degrees) & shifting the sacks of malt closer to the tank. A quick greeting & the kettle was soon on whilst we got ourselves dried off & got some wellies on.

We had a chat about the day’s plans & Oli gave us an overview of the whole process. Plenty of helpful sharing of knowledge, patiently answering our questions. We took notes hoping that we could add that to this piece but as I have little technical knowledge ( aka none) I’m sure I would just highlight that more by getting it all confused.

(“Jeff's” idea of cleaning the mash tun…. Max. Ed…. 😂)

We got stuck in as & when we could, which means adding the malt ( pale Maris Otter) to the mash tun & stirring it before the transfer. We had a mug of the lovely liquid as it passes to the transfer tank which we all agreed tasted like Ovaltine (SUCH a good call! Ed….)

More music chat followed whilst the sparging is going on. This beer will stay in the copper over the weekend with the hops & special ingredient of canton berry & hibiscus will be added on the Monday.

Cleaning the mash tun was done between myself & Max, shovelling into the wheelbarrow & then tipping into the bins (which are collected by a local farmer, nothing gets wasted here).

I’d not looked at my watch as I’d been enjoying myself too much but my stomach was starting to tell me it must be lunchtime. Sam appeared as if by magic & offered to go & get us all something from Popup Bikes café just down the road. We got cleaned up & went upstairs into the tap room to share lunch together & of course we had a few beers too. Our work here was almost done but not until we had helped with the final sweeping & tidying . A great day with lovely people. But you’re asking what’s the beer going to be? It’s a dry, lightly spiced, tart, pink & seasonally fruited Berliner. I do hope you’ll all enjoy.

See you at the festival, we’re most likely 2 of the first people you’ll see as we generally hanging around the entrance checking tickets & giving you beer tokens.

Cheers Max (for the hard work), Jeff (pics and words 😂). Don't let them undersell themselves, they do way more than lurk in doorways!

Runaway simply can't do wrong. This is one of those beers I will be making a (worker) bee-line for come QC time on Thursday afternoon - the things I put myself through for you lot eh?

Come get some. Get some tickets. Come join our little slice of heaven. And put some money into our Charity's coffers. It's all for you. And them.

Doing good things by drinking great beer. Altruism. Right there!

See you next week.

Back soon. Be kind to one another.

Jim x

#ISBF6 - Where The Teasing Stops : Maybe.....

Hello again! Did you miss me? Must have been all of 24 hours since I last posted……

So. Here we are. Just over one week away from opening the doors to Hemsley House. Those who came last year know what to expect, building wise, beer wise etc that I almost need not bother.

But. Hemsley House is a beautiful building and is a perfect match and fit for an event comfortable in its own skin. One that has no desire to grow. One that has reached its limits. I/we love it. And are very grateful to Stan Jackson and his team that we are able to base ourselves here and show you a little slice of beautiful Salford.

What also hasn't changed (and won't - ever) is that ALL profits from this event go to charity. A locally based charity. Localism matters to us at ISBF.

This years charity is START in Salford (same as last year). This year, members of Bernadette's team will be on site at some sessions to talk about what they do. Come chat, they do a great job in the local community.

We also have some stuff happening during the event.

All timings are approximate….

Thursday evening (7pm ish) we have a conversation entitled “When Cider Meets Beer”. Hosted by Cider maker and renowned author / writer Susanna Forbes (Owner Little Pomona Cider) in conversation with Jim Rangeley of Abbeydale Brewery.

Cider and the Funkier side of beer are where my excitement levels have been this year and what these two don't know probably isn't worth knowing.

Tickets for this sold out on the day of issue. So I won't tease. But the tasting element has got me drooling.

On Friday Lunch (approx 1pm) we'll be having an MTB type event with the twisted genius that is Steve Saldana of Bexar County Brewery. Steve is a Texan, settled in Peterborough and brews some seriously mind boggling stuff.

He's also bloody good at it.

Ask him about The Stoneworks! There might be some tasting stuff too. This isn't ticketed.

Friday evening (approx 7:30) will see a conversation “thing” slash panel around the subject of Beer and Social Media. Panelists include Patrick Jones (Pilot Beer), Sean Clarke (Beer Central - Sheffield), Steph Shuttleworth (MASH Marketing - and SO much else) and Connor Murphy (Cloudwater Brewing and erstwhile Manchester Beer Week maestro)

It's a hobby horse of mine and one where ALL sectors of the industry could improve. Maybe these lovely people can explain how…..

Music.

Live, we have - on each of the Friday and Saturday evening sessions, music from the genius that is George Fell. Those who have heard him know what I say to be true.

His playing is beautiful. And I want people to be able to hear that. That is why he will be playing in what I call “The Green Room” (the one on the left as you enter)

Tunes will be played throughout the event - in the main room - by our dear friends Mike and Jo and their Rebellious Jukebox. A thing of utter joy. Come see the jukebox and make a request.

But not Africa by Toto. I’ll eject you personally. With extreme prejudice. 😁

We have an exceptional Cider list. Small, yet perfectly formed. By Dick & Cath. We (#ISBF6) even went to blend one especially for the event! Lots of real apples were “harmed” to make this happen.

This will be - because it deserves it - subject to a further post.

Along with the tasting list for the Thursday event.

We will have a small - yet perfectly formed - Gin bar, curated by Manchester's favourite gin Queen Charlie (The Gin Fuelled Bluestocking herself no less!)

There will be food, of the simple and filling and homely variety, think stews and Chili etc.

This will - in all likelihood - be served in the Cask room.

But - and I'm not naive - the reason you're reading this is for the beer list.

The aim of ISBF - from the beer perspective - is giving you something new. To give you the widest possible choice of “new”.

The aim is for each beer to be new. If not to the UK, then new to Manchester. As at 6pm on Halloween. If one or two appear in the area beforehand, don't shoot me!

Here you go…..

Oops. Yes. 3 more things. Payments for tokens will be accepted by card or cash. We will have two Square payment readers on the front desk. This event won't go “card only”, but I understand those places that do.

Security is all, as far as I am concerned. And taking cash is one of those risks in any business or event. Just to say, you don't need to rush around getting cash if you'd rather not.

Second. It's Halloween. Fancy dress is positively encouraged. Let's have some fun!

3rd. Serving of beer. If your beer in the cask room is slightly warm, politely ask for a repour. And our friends behind the bar will oblige with a smile. But - and this bit is really important - please don't get angry and / or abuse our friends. I (Jim) have no tolerance for such behaviour. Our friends give us their time to serve and enjoy the event. Not to be abused.

I will personally ask anyone who abuses our friends to leave. Simply hate being negative, but this has happened once. In 5 years. Let it be the only occasion. Beer is fun. Not something to get angry about.

Let's have some fun.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Brewery                   Beer                                                   Style                                      abv

Abbeydale Funk     Vic Secret Brett                               Saison                                   3.8

Affinity            Belgian Pale                                      Belgian Golden Ale            5.2

Ampersand              Four's Company                               Gooseberry &

Elderflower Grisette          4

Beatnikz                   Cortado                                             Coffee Porter                     4.7

Bexar County         Son of Papa Steve                            Belgian Imperial Stout      9

Bexar County         Papa Steve                                        Imperial Stout                     9

Bexar County         Son of Papa Steve's Son                  Stout                                    4.5

Blackened Sun

Brew Co                  Awakening                                        Belgian IPA                        5.7

Black Iris                 TBC                                                   NE IPA                                TBC

Boutilliers               Hope & Patience                             Gooseberry

& Pomegranate Grisette   3.5

Brew York               Barghest                                           US Stout                              6.5

Brewery of St

Mars of the Desert Ubaldo                                            Brown Ale                            5.6

Chain House          Bob Loblaw                                      Hazy Pale                           5

Cloudwater            To What Shall I Compare

This World      Fruited Mixed Ferm Sour        7.5

Distant Hills x Salted Caramel &

Nomadic  Loose Nut                                     Hazelnut Stout                     5.6 

Double Barreled    Waifs & Strays                             Sour Cherry Gose            6.2

Elusive x 5 Towns  Charlie Big Potatoes                   Baby BIPA                            3.1

Fierce                     TBC                                               Coconut Barley Wine         TBC

Fyne                       Sour Friends On The Beach      Orange, Peach and

Cranberry Sour                    4.5

Glen Affric           Takes 2                                           Mango Milkshake IPA        4.2

Howling Hops      St Clements                                 Orange & Lemon IPA         7.2

Imaginary Friends Liquid Architect                        Apricot Sour IPA                 5.4

Kernel                    Wheat Ale                                   Wheat Beer                          4.5

Korupted x                                                                  Rhubarb Mixed Ferm         TBC

White Faced Bear Blend It Like Beckham            & Rye Blended Saison

Left Handed Giant Double Dot Matrix                Black Cherry & Choc Stout 8.3

Little Earth             Bretted Belgian Blond           Bretted Belgian Blond           7.4

Lost & Grounded The Parrot Lounge                 Imperial Stout                          8

x Cloudwater                    

Mallinsons               Honeydew Brew                    Fruit Flavoured Pale               3.9

Marble                 The Damaged Cubbio           West Coast IPA                      7.2

Marble                     Imperial Chocolate        Bretted Imperial Choc

Bourbon BA Orange Stout                           11

Mills                        Saison Cider Cask                 Sour   6        

Neon Raptor         Turbo Elephant                      NEIPA                                      6.2       

Neptune x Elusive Devils Hole                           Blackberry Red Ale                 5.1

North Brewing     Come in No 51                      West Coast DIPA                    TBC

North Riding x

Northern Monk  Don't Mess With 'Udders      Nut Milk Stout                        6             

Northern Alchemy Farmhouse Session IPA    Farmhouse Session IPA         4.2

Northern Monk   TBC                                         TBC                                           TBC       

Cassells & Sons (NZ) Pale Ale (Nelson Sauvin) Pale Ale                                4.9

Cassells & Sons (NZ) Southern Cross Pale Pale (Motueka, Nelson) 4.5

Funk Estate (NZ) Afrogato                               Coffee, Vanilla, Almond Stout 7

Funk Estate (NZ) Parlayer                                Pilsner                                         5

North End (NZ) Saison du Nectar                Peach & Mango Farmhouse    4.5

Quiet Deeds x

Rocky Ridge         Collusion                              DDH Wheatwine                      10

Quiet Deeds        Galaxy DDH Pale               Pale                                              4.6

Quiet Deeds        Cosmic Gateway                Hibiscus Saison                           5.8

Quiet Deeds x

Tallboy & Moose  All Work No Play               Hazy DIPA                                 8.5

Hop Nation         Red Rabbit                         BA Sour Red Ale w/Cherries   6.5

Dollar Bill             Cider Barrel Aged Porter Porter                                          8.8

Moon Dog           David Boysenbowie            Boysenberry Sour                    4.5

Tallboy & Moose Sunray XPA                        Oz Extra Pale Ale                     4.8

Pig & Porter        Sturmfrei                             Sour Cherry Dunkelweizen    5.8

Pilot                      Lime & Pepper                   Gose                                            5.1

Polly's Brew Co   Galaxy Mosaic                    IPA                                             6.5

Pomona               Destroy & Exit                   Chocolate Coffee Stout          7

Ride Brewing     Lightly Hopped Saisonish Saison(ish)                                 5.5

Rivington           Measure Twice                     Little Hoppy Pale                    3.2

Rivington x Path Of Most Resistance Gooseberry &

Thirst Class                                 Peppercorn Saison                   5.4

Runaway           Hibiscus & Berry Sour       Berlinerweiss                             TBC

Solvay Society Rye Wild Ale (BA)             Rye Wild Ale (BA)                    6

Three Blind Mice Berlinda Rouge              Speyside BA Cherry Sour         5

Tom's Tap   White Stout                        White Stout                                 7.2

Tom's Tap x Imperial Blackcurrant Stout Imperial Stout         8.7

Rivington   

Torrside            Dogs of War :

Battalion Bull Terrier        Rum BA Belgian Rye Tripel      9.5

Track x             Gooseberry Gose               Gose                                             3.5

Broaden & Build               

Turning Point  Thousands of Evils             Blended Imperial Stout            8.5

Twisted Barrel Hope Bound Heart           DDH Pale                                  3.8

Vibrant Forest Leyana                               Citra/Summit Pale                    4.5

Wander Beyond Sakura Twilight 2019    Red Wine BA Stout                  11

Weird Beard      Narcissister                     Wheat Wine                               10

Wilderness        Haro                                 Red Wine BA Ale                      6.5

Yonder               Plum Gose                      Plum & Sea Salt Gose               4

6DegN              TBC                                 TBC                                             TBC       

Cask

Brewery              Beer                               Beer Style                                    Abv

Anarchy             Imenso                           Imperial Stout                              11

Bad Seed         Dig Lazarus Dig            Orange Amarillo Pale                 4.5

Beer Nouveau Time May Change Me Mild                                               6.2

Black Jack        TBC                                 Red Ale                                         5.5 Blue Bee          Citra and Enigma IPA   IPA                                                5.5

Box Social       Concealing Fate             DDH IPA                                      6

Brass Castle   Here Be Dragons           American Brown                          5.8

Brewsmith x Strata   NZ IPA                            IPA                                                  6

Cheshire Brewhouse  I Feel Disco                  Pale (Amarillo, Comet, Citra)   4.4

Chin Chin    Two Fingered Salute      Pale (Enigma, Ekuanot,

Centennial)                                    5

Cwrw Ial      La Petite Bombe            Nano IPA (Kazbek, Cardinal,

Amarillo)                                        3.7

Five Towns DJ (I am What I Play)    Chocolate Cherry Stout               8

Five Towns Panic in Detroit              American Brown                             7

Briggs          Techno Techno Techno  DH Amber                                      4

Neptune     BA Medusa's Gaze         Bourbon BA Stout                          9

Nomadic    Draug                               Strong Bitter                                   5.3

North Riding Brewpub Barioth     Pale Ale (Mosaic / HBC431)         4.1

North Riding x

Northern Monk Don't Mess With 'Udders  Nut Milk Stout                    6

Northern Monkey  Bit Of A Rum Un....    Rum & Raisin Stout                         6.8

Pictish (C)               Trinacria                         Session Pale                                       4.1

Redwillow                XXX Mild                       Heritage Mild                                    9.2

Roosters                  Birdman                         Chinook Pale                                     4.3

Squawk                    TBC                                NE Pale                                                5

Strata                       Fram                               Kveik Pale                                          4.8

Team Toxic              Everybody's Happy Nowadays Small NEIPA                       4.2

Thirst Class            Atmospheric Obscuration Hazy Pale                                     5.6

Tigertops               Billy Bock                         Bock                                                   6.6

Torrside (C)          Autonomy                        Red Rye IPA                                     6.5

Wishbone (C)      Whimsy                            Session IPA (Kolsch yeast)            4.7

De Ranke             Hop Harvest 2019         Belgian Pale                                       5.5

De Molen             Bommen & Granaten (Wood Cask) Barley Wine                 11.9

The Final Brewday : Pictish Brewery - Session Pale Ale Masters

Some breweries never get the credit they deserve. Yes, people in the industry may wax lyrical, but some breweries just don't get the column inches.

Like Pictish.

It surprised me not one jot to be asked for Paul Wesley's contact details, to ask could he supply a beer to the “Friends & Family” event run by Cloudwater earlier this year. That's how highly Pictish are regarded by people in the industry.

Paul just makes excellent beer. Brew after brew. To me, he brews some of the best session Pales in the UK.

#ISBF6 takes a lot out of me. So much so that I was gutted to have to miss this brewday - I've got almost zero holidays left.

So. For this brewday, I was so pleased that one of two of my favourite people agreed to help.

Unfortunately, they couldn't make it. So over to Jock & Steve……

“Well for Independent Salford Beer Festival’s final brew day of 2019 we were to visit a long-time supporter, Pictish Brewery Rochdale. For me (Jock) a pleasure in many ways…happy to do another brew day to help Salford Beer festival, only 15 minutes’ drive from my house and always a pleasure to spend time with Pictish’ owner and Brewer Paul Wesley.

A bonus today was that Steve Lane another Rochdale area ‘local’ was joining us. Steve was resplendent in a year 3 Salford Beer fest T-Shirt.

A late start for Paul, at 6.30am he was being kind to us. Lots of pale malt went into the mash and a small amount of wheat just for body and mouthfeel. A relatively small amount of hops for bitterness, more were to be added later.

We were away, time for the first of many brews, the tea and coffee kind.

Paul was charging around like a Whirling dervish as usual; Steve and I did as we were told/asked, including the obligatory nip out for bacon sarnies to keep us going. We kept our eye on the temperature gauge and tried to catch Paul not in perpetual motion to avoid blurry photos.

The dig out of the Mash tun was made easier as Steve and I shared the duty. Paul rescued us from the hardest work of climbing in and forensically cleaning ready for the next brew.

We were asked to get the hops ready to be added later in the brewing process, weighing out exactly the right quantity required for this beer (as prescribed by Paul) what a joyous task! 3 different hops, 3 different amazing aromas, Comet, Cascade and Brewers Gold.

Paul had recently been on one of his 175-mile cycle trips, up and down dales, so having missed a brew day, today was easier for Paul and us, no cask washing and no changing of the pump as Paul had to do mid-brew last year!

Paul was going to add Comet as dry hops even later in the process, should bring out the flavour nicely.

Obligatory Jock Digging Shot eh? Ed…..

Amongst the ‘hard’ work, the 3 of us had great chat about every subject under the sun, music, football (or lack of it at Old Trafford!) and beer, to the backdrop of Planet Rock.

A happy day making tasty, hoppy beer, called Trinacria, one of the first I will try at Salford on Thursday 31st October. A good day for a good cause (START in Salford) and the best beer festival around…I’ll say that as Jim is too modest!

See you there Paul and Steve, they already have tickets, do you?

Thanks, Jock.”

Cheers Jock & Steve for having all the fun.

Session Pale Ales are my favourite style. And Pictish are masters of the style. I see a Pictish clip and everything else gets overlooked. I’m a fan. And can't wait to try this a week on Thursday.

If you haven't got tickets, you'd better be quick….. Click here. Still a few left.

Back soon.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x

Music To My Ears : #ISBF6 Brewday No 2 at Five Towns

“I've got a girl out there, I suppose
I think she's dancing
Feel like Dan Dare lies down
I think she's dancing, what do I know?”

One of the things that I've attempted to do with the ISBF brewdays - in the last couple of years at least - is to introduce new people to Brewing, in particular to breweries whose beer that they love.

It's always gratifying when they get that appreciation of how that delicious liquid in the glass is made, how each brewery works, how - in the case of ISBF at least - these aren't factories we're dealing with, but small, often tiny places with a soul all of their own.

Today's friends have been “friends of mine” (the music references start here) for almost *coughs* years and are two of the loveliest, most fun, generous people I know.

They are also music obsessives. With the music of David Bowie a particular obsession. Mike & Jo are the custodians of the tunes at #ISBF6, go say hi, they don't bite…..

With Malcolm being a huge Bowie fan also, can you guess where we're going here……

Over to Mike & Jo….

“When we were asked by Jim @BeersManchester if we would like to take part in a brew day we were flattered and excited to say YES!

And then when Jim asked who our preferred choice of brewer would be there was only one choice for us and that would be Malcolm at Five Towns in Wakefield.

Malcolm has become legendary at the ISBF winning beer of the festival 4 out of 5 years but for us there is a more intrinsic link and that is our love of music and more specifically a shared passion of all things David Bowie.

The date was set for the 28th Sept and at 5.30am we set off to Wakefield (collecting Jim on the way) with six cooked sausages to sustain us on our journey as we had been on a low carb diet for a couple of weeks (and the last time we saw Jim he had turned our heads with delicious carb loaded goodies …. Not this time Mr Cullen)

Jim had asked us a couple of weeks before what beer we would like to brew and we decided on a Cherry and Chocolate stout and Malcolm was very receptive to the idea.

While on the M62 Jim had asked us both to steer Malcolm away from adding Lactose to the stout and we agreed even though I thought it was a little unfair as it was Jim who nicknamed Malcolm “Captain Lactose” (and my favourite dessert is a black forest gateaux)

When we arrived Malcolm was already prepared for us and within minutes he and Jim were having a “Lactose Off” but keeping to our word we agreed that it should be lactose free so people like Jock Joyce (Don't you mean Rex? Ed….) can drink it.

We were then shown some of the ingredients we will be using today :- Barley , Bramling Cross Hops (quite apt as we live in a place called Bromley Cross) , Morello cherries and farm made organic cacao powder.

The water must be pretty special in this part of Yorkshire as Malcolm brings us stunning beer after stunning beer.

Once the water was up to strike temperature we made a beautiful porridgelike wort (don’t forget we have been carb free for a couple of weeks and it was very very tempting to dive in with a spoon each)

We all had a go at mashing but you could soon tell who the novices were as they had wort splashed all over them (Yep that will be us)

Next up was a quick music chat while we discussed Chrissie Hynde’s new covers album and we played 2 cover versions that will be played at isbf6 … Sweet Like Chocolate by Hollie Cook and Come As You Are by Little Roy.

Once the brew was up to the requisite temperature for the correct amount of time we added the aromatic Bramling Cross Hops (to complement the Cherry flavour)

While we left the hops to infuse we had a break with the lovely Beverley and a hot brew of our own.

And then for the first (but not last) time that day we broke our no carb rule and had a delicious breakfast sandwich (I wouldn’t normally call it a sandwich but a bacon/sausage barm cake but I am sure it would be called a bread cake or some such in Wakefield)

When we returned to the shed of wonder we added the cacao powder and mixed it in slowly.

As this dark liquid transferred to the fermentor (American spellings? To the SEA with you! Pedantic Ed….) we added the final ingredient (we were away with the fairies when Malcolm added the yeast) and this was lots and lots of morello cherries.

(An over enthusiastic cherry puree addition. Not murder in the fermentation vessel. Honest. Ed…..)

After cleaning as much as Malcolm would allow us, having an excellent time digging out the mash and draining off the excess water via the high tech drainage system, we all had had a quick freshen up and jumped in the car to head to the Calderdale beer and cider festival in Halifax.

Unsurprisingly two of the first beers to sell out were Five Towns Beers (they are not daft them people on the other side of the Pennines)

So, what is the beer called and where can we sample it?

To be honest it HAD to be a Bowie beer and as we do the music for ISBF and we decided to name it after a Bowie single from 1979 off the Lodger album and called it “D.J. I Am What I Play”.

And for 5 sessions starting on 31/10/2019 (or Halloween…. Ed….) you can taste it at #ISBF6

www.salfordbeerfest.com

Love on Ya

Mike and Jo Dewsnip”

Always a pleasure doing this. Like Mike & Jo said, Malcolm is a bit of an ISBF legend, what with his beers winning the popular vote at ISBF 4 years out of 5. And with our beer line up, that takes some doing!

If you haven't yet got one, there are still a limited number of tickets available for the Thursday evening, Friday lunch and Saturday evening sessions. (Click the tickets tab…..)

The beer line up is almost complete. Oh my…..

Back soon.

Be kind to one another.

Jim x