#ISBF8 - Just One Week Away : What Have We Got For You?

A little history lesson.

The Independent Salford Beer Festival was started in 2014 following Jim being ambushed by family into trying to pull one together. To raise funds for St Sebastian's Community Centre in Salford. A local hub run - at the time - by Gerry Stone, a woman who is one of the loveliest of humans.

Over 4 years, the event kept the Centre out of debt. Helping people - like Gerry - do amazing work for people in that area of Salford.

The event was - originally - Cask only and focused on beers exclusively from the North of England. From Liverpool to Scarbados, the best Independent Breweries supplied fabulous beer.

From Aberdeen to Brighton and all points in between, people travelled to an anonymous Community Centre, in the heart of Salford, to drink exceptional beer.

One of the things that I (Jim) am proudest of, are the friendships started at St Sebastian's. Friendships and relationships that have endured. Relationships that helped me and mine through pain and tragedy. We've helped each other through the pandemic. Some of us still meet on Zoom even now.

After 2017, I thought i’d had enough. And called it a day. Gerry no longer worked at the Centre, we were grieving still.

But - a few months later - I had an itch. I spoke with Gerry. She - being hugely connected within the City of Salford - contacted Paul Dennett (The Mayor no less!) who, through his staff, put me in contact with Stan Jackson. At Hemsley House.

The rest is……..

Having decided to continue with the event (and with the focus being resolutely to raise money for good causes), we needed something to support.

Which is where Gerry came in again. She knew a local Mental Health Charity (START Inspiring Minds) that could use some funds. Being survivors of bereavement by suicide, the work START did (and continue to do) resonated. They bring people from the darkness towards the light, by means of the creative arts and crafts. The facilities within the venue are amazing. But not as much as the people.

The staff and the people that run START (Bernadette and more recently Michelle) are just lovely humans. Doing amazing work. Work that needs and deserves support.

This is where YOU come in.

In the simple process of buying tickets and drinking some of the best beers that the best breweries in the UK make, YOU help make people's lives immeasurably better, helping START do their wonderful work.

YOU. DO. GOOD.

So much so, that since 2014, we've raised approximately £100k.

Thank you all.

Now then, that's the history lesson. Let's look to the future. To next Thursday.

What have we got for you.

Well. I believe we have the best beer selection in the North of England, if not the UK, for you next Thursday. Most - if not all - will be first pours in the Manchester area (a difficult ask in the current climate, but we try)

We have a small, select, range of exceptional Ciders.

There'll be a small, perfectly formed Gin selection. Locally made soft drinks.

Food will be available, provided by the venue.

Thursday Evening is all about the beer. In the keg room, Mike & Jo will play tunes - by request - from their Rebellion Jukebox. Each table will have the huge list of tunes to choose from, go chat with them. Make their evening!

Friday Lunch is the same. Great beer. Great Ciders. Great Tunes.

On Friday evening (around 7pm) we will have a guided tasting and chat with James Horrocks (of Manchester's own Balance Brewing and Blending) and James Godman (of Wilderness Brewing from Newtown in Powys). There will be a small fee for that of around £5 (tokens)

Following that, the hugely talented George Fell will be playing. The man is a guitar genius. If you've seen him, you'll know this as truth.

On Saturday's Lunch Session, at around 1pm, we'll host a guided tasting (and chat) of beers from The Best Coast. West Coast Pales & IPAs. With three Brewers who - IMHO - are some of the UKs finest Brewers of the style. Andy Parker (of Elusive Brewing of Finchampstead), Sean Ayling (of Tom's Tap of Crewe) and Stuart Neilson (North Riding Brewery of Scarborough). Again, a small charge of about £5 for this.

Saturday Evening will see the return of the heavenly guitar of George FELL at about 8pm.

All these events will be in “The Green Room” to the left of the main entrance.

But what you want to know is, the Beer & Cider List.

I'll shut up now for a bit…. First Cask. Then Keg. Then Cider.

Cask