A Fantastic Voyage - The final ISBF Brewday at Five Towns Brewery
Malcolm Bastow and The Independent Salford Beer Festival go together like Rhubarb & Custard. Cognac & Raisins. Oranges & Lemons. (No prizes for the references….)
For me, Five Towns is as much a fixture of this event as myself. FOUR TIME winner of Best Beer at the event. Those who've been to the event would know that that is no easy thing (Raven King. Art Decade. Always Crashing In The Same Car. Candidate. 4 exceptional beers - All brewed in “The Shed of Wonder”.)
I suppose that the easiest way to describe his impact on the event, is the number of people who want to be involved in each ISBF Brewday at said Shed…
And it's nothing to do with the legendary Sunday Lunch (Stu) . Or the magnificent (Tony's) chippy next door (the rest of us).
It's himself. His self-effacing nature. Modesty. And his bonkers attitude to beer making.
He has become a dear friend. Helping me & and The Boss through the lowest of lows. Being a full part of the highest of highs. Not just one of the nicest people in beer, but just a lovely human.
Picking The Boss up and giving her a hug. When she most needed. Inviting my friends and I to a number of parties. (Surprisingly, Jock still gets invited….. 😉).
And if you've not got half hammered in the pub in his cellar……..
Some of us have known of his intentions for some time. To spend more time with family. Being a Grandad is a lovely thing. Family first.
We just didn't know when.
Then the bat signal was beamed into the night sky. The Final Brewday.
For his sins, Malcolm has always loved ISBF. And wanted his final brewday to be of a beer for Hemsley House.
Christ that's a gesture.
He's a good man. (For a Fake Tyke)
He was also signing off with a TTO. At Harry's Bar. All 8 cask lines.
We booked our hotels for the night.
Stu drove down from Scarbados. Chris, Jock & I came over from the right side of “The Hill”. To stir a bit. Dig a bit. Talk a lot. Eat Fish & Chips. Share memories.
Got to admit. I shed a tear or two. Both in laughter and because of the moment.
When it came to the beer, because of the tiny size of Malcolm's kit (2.5bbl or 400L), this was a “double Mash” day. The Mash Tun will only output 10 casks from a single Mash if the beer is up to about 5% abv. Therefore - for this beer to get close to 10 - a double Mash was called for.
Malcolm had already done the first by the time we'd got there.
We were there for the second.
The malt bill was big and dark. The Mash Tun almost overflowed.
And it was dark. Chocolate Malts, bit of roast, there's nothing like the smell of chocolate porridge in the morning. Beats napalm anyday.
Transfer to the copper, this thing is DARK! Tarmac black. But smelling absolutely gorgeous. Roasty. Chocolate. Plenty of dark sugary stuff for that yeast to munch on.
Some hops chucked in (Perle, I think, for bittering) the boil was on and the Shed (Malcolm says “Garage”, but really?!? 🤣) was smelling quite fabulous. Next in was the cacao, my moment in the….. er…… sun. It WAS Wakefield after all…..
I did so some digging. But made a mess and was swiftly pushed aside…..
Anyone who has taken part in a brewday, knows. It's lots of standing about. Punctuated by periods of actual work. Digging. Stirring. Avoiding getting scalded (Malcolm survived. Despite my worst efforts).
This was about chatting. Reminiscing. Mostly about “The Old Man”. And the fun we've had over the years.
Transfer done, we said “Bye” to Stu. Then decamped. Checking in to the hotel. And the short walk to Harry's.
A whole afternoon and evening chatting with friends. With some really pleasant surprises. Zoe & Ian had heard Malcolm was retiring and came over the hill to pay regards. John & Caroline (just before their hundredth Millie Manders gig of the year). James and his responsible adult @BeerHounderGen. Andrew & Rick. It was a joy.
Malcolm received a “Lifetime Achievement” type award from his local CAMRA branch. Deserved. And slightly emotional. We all were at some point.
Being Malcolm, 2 of the 8 beers clocked in at 9%. Both were delicious. There was a Belgian IPA at 7 2. He even pulled out a personal favourite. Guero. His “Table” Beer.
The pub was rammed. As was the large outside area. The beers sold out. I left Harry's at 1am. Breakfast was “fun”.
Other than this beer we just brewed, I've had my last Five Towns beer in Cask.
And that simple statement brings a lump to my throat.
We've got the memories. Magnificent memories.
We'll make some more. Five Towns will be the final #ISBFHeroes event in September (he's brewing with friends)
We've got a 9 gallon cask of Fantastic Voyage. At #ISBF7.
And - on Thursday 17th November - I'm going to enjoy every last drop.
Hemsley House will be the only place - West of the Pennines - you'll get this beer on draught.
See you soon my dear Fake Tyke. The Ultimate ISBF Hero.
