#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.
Because we can.
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….
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
2 tickets to the session of your choice
2 pretty glasses to drink from…
£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
