#ISBFHeroes11 - Thirsting For More
When I started out blogging, back in 2011, the beer space was a completely different place. Enthusiasts, with a love of something different from the - then - normal brown dreck. Brewing their own, tasting, sharing, comparing with other enthusiasts. It's difficult to overstate QUITE how fertile the amateur brewing scene in Manchester was.
The one place where everyone gathered, where ideas were exchanged, new heroes greeted (from breweries that have long moved on) and breeze just generally shot, was Port Street Beer House
Port Street was the place - back then - where lovers of modern beer congregated. Several of the brewers that feature at ISBF (even a few from these Heroes Events) I met there. Including our guest on #ISBFHeroes11.
There was also a single pivotal event in the development of the Independent Manchester Beer scene. It took place at Brew Dog bar on Peter Street. It was a “competition”, hosted - I think - by Steve Dunkley (of Beer Nouveau). Present - and competing - at that event were amateur brewers who would go on to form Torrside, become Lead Brewer at Track and, tonight's guest.
The competition was FIERCE. The individual competitors would creep up trying to check scores. As a judge, I can tell you, it was bloody intimidating. The standard was - quite simply - exceptional.
Tonight's guest's first brew, released commercially, was a collaboration with (and he'll correct me if I'm wrong) Jay Krause, back in his Quantum days.
And I'm delighted to say that Tonight's guest still brews that beer commercially.
Elephant Hawk IPA. An exceptional beer.
Yes. I'm talking about the lovely fella that is Richard Conway of Thirst Class.
And I'm chuffed that Elephant Hawk is in Tonight's case. By no design of mine.
Richard has been a staunch supporter of ISBF from the start. And has always been one of the first breweries on the Spreadsheet of Earthly Delights.
For my part, Richard co-brewed one of my absolute favourite ISBF beers. With Stuart Neilson of North Riding.
War of The Raspberries. Take Richard's Stocky Oatmeal Stout, ramp up the abv
And bang in kilo after kilo of fresh Yorkshire raspberries. Simply Sublime. And was tasting magnificent, from bottle, over two years later.
Stocky Oatmeal Stout, American Brown, Mosaic Pale, Farmhouse In Your Soul….. All absolutely banging beers. Hell, they've even brewed a beer with Sorachi Ace in that I've enjoyed (Kiss My Ace)!
Simply put, beautiful beers. From a brewery that should be far more “in the conversation”. Because they're THAT good.
Anyway. If you've done a Heroes event before, you know the drill. For those who haven't….
What you can expect
12. Delicious. Beers.
An MTB style event on Zoom with the Brewer - wouldn't be an MTB otherwise eh?
And exclusive access to a specially compiled Spotify playlist compiled by our dear friends Mike & Jo (always a highlight)
And £5 from each case sold goes into the ISBF pot to be ultimately passed to our partner charity START Inspiring Minds. So….
When - Zoom Friday 13th May at 19:30
Why - Charity
What - The beer list is below.
Cost - A mere £50 (INCLUDING delivery and charity donation!)
How - Click here!
Come and join us on the 13th May. Doing good, whilst drinking FABULOUS beer. Not a bad way to be eh?
Those beers?
I Don't Want To Change The World **NEW** - NEIPA - - 5.3%
I'm Not Looking For A New England **NEW** - West Coast IPA - 5.3%
Green Bullet - Pale Ale - 4.8%
Born Slippy - Lager - 4.6%
Dwayne Dubbely (Torrside Collab) - Dubbel - 6.3%
All 2 x 440ml cans.
Elephant Hawk - IPA - 6.5%
Imperial American Brown - American Brown - 9.0%
1 x 440ml can of each