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