“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….
Go get some. Come and join us between 12th to 14th November.
See you soon
Jim x