#VISBF2 - In the rear view mirror…
“…… So I turned to Jim and this is what I said….
Jimmy gets a round and pays, raises a pint and proudly says ‘You always come to where you're meant to be…. ” “Where You're Meant To Be” - Aidan Moffat
“Come. Sit down. Let me get you a beer…… What do you fancy?”
Words I longed to hear - all too frequently - during the last 18 months. But we're a resilient bunch. Making the best of the hands we're dealt. Hence #VISBF2. Making the best we can out of a bad job.
A real world ISBF could never have worked. The financial risks were too great, but, with a kind of template from last year, we ploughed on, heedless of risk or foolishness. I hope that you enjoyed it if you came.
Firstly, the beer. From some of the UKs finest exponents of the malt and hoppy arts. I haven't had them all yet myself, but I've enjoyed every one that I've had.
Many of you were trying some of the breweries for the very first time. Of that I'm glad. There's a compulsion - always has been with this event - to give you something different. Be it casks from The Netherlands, #EvilKegFilth airfreighted especially from Australia, or even a beer brewed with fresh yeast from Brasserie Orval…. I tried and those of us involved hoped that you enjoyed them.
Thursday - Virtual East West Fest. With an average abv of almost 7% - at one point, it was going to be 8.35%! - it was a true representation of the Red Shed madness.
The beers were beautiful. And finishing off on two outstanding beers at 9 (Marble x Five Towns x NRB) & 11.5% (who else but Torrside?) just seemed SUCH a Red Shed thing.
That beer was so bloody lovely!
Huge gratitude to Malcolm, Josh from Blue Bee, Carl from Marble & Peter from Torrside for being sports and joining us for chats and a little fun insight into the beers
Friday. It's always a bit humbling when one of your Beer Heroines agrees to help out with a bit of casual hosting!
Melissa Cole. Predictive text says it all. Boundless of knowledge, with taste buds to die for, I still can't believe she joined us! She had her choice of sessions, fancied bitterness. And had a blast.
From the Nelson like gooseberry tartness of a beautiful Godiva from Mallinsons, through the rather special English hopped IPA from Redwillow, Melissa's own English hopped IPL collab with Andy & Elusive to the Tropical Pale from Tom's Tap and a full throttle WC IPA from North Riding & Horsforth.
As I would expect from Melissa, the scheduling of the beers was perfect, with Toby Mckenzie, Andy Parker & Sean Ayling being incredibly generous with their time again giving some insight into the brewing of their beers. As with each night, the feedback on the beers was heartwarming for the brewers and myself.
Huge thanks to all for giving time to join in and chat. And massive hugs to Melissa for pulling it all together with wit, warmth and no little expertise. A great night.
The Saturday session (Bring The Funk) was another belter. Back with yours truly and James (Manchester's under the radar Chat Show King), the beers we tasted were quite exceptional and sequenced just about right. With a light, refreshing blended Saison from Wilderness with James Godman joining us to chat about not just the beer, but his local ethos. A recent piece by Matt Curtis shows the attention the James and his beers are getting.
Jim & Laura Rangeley joined us to chat about their Glory Glory collab with Queer Brewing & Out & About in Sheffield, a tart, refreshingly lovely thing (Bloody stunning artwork too!) Delighted to have them join us, being old friends of the event from back in St Sebastian's days.
I was thrilled to introduce a new brewery to almost everyone, in Dolphin from Reading. Andy Barnes joined us from Reading to chat about both the beer (the Stunningly lovely Megastar (Raspberry & Ginger Gose), his journey and the ups and downs of being a tiny brewery.
I was just over the moon to get his beers up for this event.
Paul Gibson from Campervan joined us to talk all things Campervan, from the stunning Bourbon Sour Red they supplied, to the ideas behind the brewery, the Lost in Leith range of beers and their rather lovely Lost in Leith bar.
Again, huge thanks to all five lovely people for joining us. Another great night, with exceptional beer, showcasing - for me - one of the great exciting areas of UK beer at the moment.
Cider Sunday. Hosted by Blair Cote of Little Pomona (all the way from Canada!)
This was my kick back and relax night. Enjoying exceptional Cider & Perry, in great Virtual company, James & Susanna Forbes from the Cidery, James's sister Samantha (design guru), Blair's artist friend Ariana Sauder all discussing the entire artistic process from milling apples to the packaging, labelling and beautiful artwork. And the thinking behind each level of the process.
The event sang to my passions for presentation and everything around imagery and sales
All the Ciders were lovely, but the Pet Nat Poire? Oh my. I think I'm a Perry fan!
Huge thanks to all of the team at Little Pomona for their fabulous event. Especial thanks to the two people without whom, my love of Cider might never have happened. And without whom, Manchester might just be devoid of great natural Cider and Perry.
Cath Potter & Dick Withecombe. I'll say no more. I don't want to embarrass them.
Time for some Thank Yous.
To our lovely beer and Cider Sponsors. They make a huge difference. They enabled me to be much more relaxed about having money to pay upfront for the things we needed to. Go get each beer and Cider sponsored was mind blowing. See here for the sponsor list. I thank them all from the bottom of my tiny blood pump.
Immense gratitude to Craig & Jimmy at The Nook & Cranny for their generous Glassware Sponsorship. It's a great feeling to me to have a truly excellent local bar get involved in such a way.
The bar in Bromley Cross is quite special (and only 5 minutes walk away from the train station!) but they've also decided to open a new bar in Harwood, Bolton. I wish them every success. They do the right things bloody well. And are more than worth a visit.
Thank you also to the gorgeous - and ever so slightly talented Mr Andy Heggs. For his simply sublime design work. And his toleration of my incessant mithering.
To Mike & Jo Dewsnip. For the magnificent playlists. They've kept me in exceptional ear candy for months.
(and for not putting that criminal record on the playlist. Despite external pressure…..)
To James. Thank you. You're not bad you you know! (You know my thoughts)
Jock, Steve, Rob & John for helping pack the beers and Ciders. We'd have been lost without you.
To Black Jack. I simply haven't got enough words to thank them.
To Joe & team Marble for bailing us out with bubble wrap!
And to the following breweries. The ISBF Heroes, without whom, we wouldn't have achieved what we did…. Take a bow
Runaway, Redwillow, Marble, North Riding, Neptune, Mallinsons, Torrside & Five Towns. The difference you made was huge. Events that brought smiles in the depths of Lockdowns.
If I've missed anyone, I'm sorry. There are so, so many people to thank.
Thanks to all the above and you, the case buyers. Without whom I wouldn't be able to pop over to Salford next week. To see Bernadette Conlon of START.
To donate £10,500.
Back soon.
Love you all.
Jx