#ISBF8 - Here We Go.
The first thing that I need to say is - The Independent Salford Beer Festival exists (and always has) to support a good cause. This event is decidedly “Not For Profit”….
It was founded in early 2014 to provide much needed funds to support St Sebastian's Community Centre on Douglas Green in Salford. The Centre run by Gerry Stone, an inspirational lady without whom, my life (Jim) would be radically different.
Over four years - and through some tough times - the event helped to keep the Community Centre solvent. That place - and Gerry in particular - did fabulous work both with and within the local community.
Then, with Gerry no longer there, we looked for another cause.
A Crafting Room at START
That cause is START Inspiring Minds. A small Mental Health Charity dedicated to steering people away from the darkest of places. By access to Creative Arts. The work they do is amazing, Gerry, Christine, James & I have witnessed this first hand.
They are a small, local charity. They can't afford to employ fund raisers. They rely on grants and donations. And times - as we all know - are hard.
YOU. Coming to Hemsley House, to this event, make a difference. Of that, there can be no doubt.
To demonstrate : Since 2014, Volunteers, sponsors and attendees have helped to raise in excess of £100,000 for worthy causes. Just think about that….. It certainly blows MY feeble mind….
This event has grown, over the years, from a small cask (and decidedly Northern) event, into something different. It's simple. Focused on the “feels” rather than the look. It has grown via a group of friends who, every year since 2014, have come together to do good. The people who help here aren't volunteers. They're the #ISBFFamily.
Some other special people involved in ISBF are the sponsors. They make a HUGE difference to the amount of money that we (YOU) raise. The money raised from sponsorship at last year's event, equated to over 80% of the donation to START.
THIS year, advanced sponsorship has raised almost £1k MORE (as a cash figure) compared with 2022. A HUGE thank you to all our sponsors. In hard times, you make a MASSIVE difference.
From the start of the second or third event, I've thought of ISBF a place where you'll meet friends. Those you already know. And those you are yet to meet. Yes, the beer/brewery selection will be fabulous (that's my prime job!), but that - to me - seems almost secondary to the sense that the event should be relaxed. You can sit if you want. Stand if you want. This isn't a technical exercise.
Having said that, to some, ISBF is about getting to try new beers. Or, at least, new beers to Manchester. Something I started doing in 2016. And kept doing. (I was told - in 2016 - that I'd never be able to do that again. 7 years later, here we are….. 😁)
The thing with such a “policy”, is that you don't know, until almost up to the opening of the doors, what the actual beer line up will be.
What I can say is, it will be varied. From Small Beers to Big and Hoppy, from Mild to Imperial Stouts, Grisettes, Mixed Ferms, Sours, they'll all be here. The vast majority - if not all - will be new beers to the area.
To note.
Another way in which this event is a little different, is that - unless we have a delayed delivery (and yes, we have had beers delivered AFTER the event has started!) - ALL beers are on line on the first session on the Thursday. There are no reserves, no back ups. If you really MUST try a certain brewery, choose your session ticket accordingly.
That said, even though 90% of the beers are generally available at the start of the final session, we price that session cheaper BECAUSE not all the beers will still be on. That Saturday evening session is quite chilled - and my personal favourite. And it STILL has a fabulous selection of beers.
There will be a small, select, range of Gins (courtesy of the lovely Charlie)
There will be food, provided in-house.
There will be a select draught Cider/Perry bar (TBA).
We’ve got two guided tasting sessions too! (Entrance on the day)
The guys from Balance and the lovely James from Wilderness will take you through some beautiful Wild and Mixed-Ferm beers (session TBA)
We’ve got a tasting session of that most underrated of styles. West Coast. (It’s the Best Coast doncha know?). This will be with the mighty trio of Andy Paarker (Elusive), Sean Ayling (Tom’s Tap & Brewhouse) & Stuart Neilson (North Riding Brewery). 3 Breweries that have been banging out some of the Best WC Pales & IPAs in the UK. (Saturday Lunch Session)
There will be the loveliest band of brothers and sisters pouring your drinks - The #ISBFFamily.
There will be simply ace tunes. Provided courtesy Jo & Mike & their “Rebellious Jukebox”, with almost all tunes (across the whole 3 days) being requests!
We'll also have our friend - and guitar genius - George Fell playing Friday and Saturday evening. I'm am utter fanboy.
There will also be some beer. Beer from some of the UKs finest breweries. From the length & breadth of the country.
We've got a number of collaborations happening too! With a number of bucket list ticks, because, as this is likely the penultimate ISBF, I needed to get a shake on!
One more thing. Last year, I deliberately reduced ticket numbers, for comfort more than anything. In addition, once tickets are allocated to sponsors, this means that, for certain sessions, availability is extremely limited. (For instance, we're almost headed to 40% of tickets gone for the Saturday lunch session)
Please note. The VAST MAJORITY of the beers will still be available at the start of the final session. #JustSaying
Anyway, in order, first Cask, then Keg, subject to changes, here's the brewery list. It's what you really want to see, not my typographical waffling…….
Cask :
Blackjack
Blue Bee
Brass Castle
Brewsmith
Chin Chin
Durham
First Chop
Five Towns
Green Duck
Grizzly Grains
Horsforth
The Kernel
Kirkstall
Mallinsons
Marble
Neptune
North Riding
North Riding Brewpub
Pictish
Rat
Redwillow
Roosters
Torrside
Wishbone
Keg :
8 Arch
Abbeydale Funk
Ampersand
Anthology
Attic
Balance (Bottle tasting)
Brew York
Brewery of St Mars of the Desert
Campervan
Carnival
Chain House
Cloudwater
Crossover
Docks Beers
Dolphin
Double Barrelled
Earth
Elusive
Epochal
Fell Brewery
First & Last
Fixed Wheel
Holy Goat
Ideal Day Family Brewery
Indie Rabble
Kernel
Lakes
Little Earth
Lost & Grounded
Low Key Barrel Project
Marble
McColls
Neptune
Northern Alchemy
Northern Monk
Otherworld Brewing
Pastore
Pig & Porter
Pomona
Rigg & Furrow
Rivington
Runaway
Salt
Simple Things Fermentations
Siren
Squawk
Stardust
Sureshot
Temper Brewing
Thornbridge
Three Blind Mice
Toms
Torrside
Track
Turning Point
Two Towns Down
Two x Two
Unbarred
Vaux
Wander Beyond
Wander Beyond
Weird Beard
Wilderness
Wiper & True
Yonder
There may be the odd change come opening day, but, again, that's in the nature of the event.
Phew. Done.
Fancy joining us? Tickets here…..
I’m off for a beer!
Be kind to one another. Back soon with some Collab posts!
Jim x