East West Fest 04 - 06/05/2023 : isbf kinship

Way back in early 2014, when - in panic mode - I sent my first tweet stating that I was going to “run” a beer festival, one of the first people to get in contact was Malcolm Bastow. Of Five Towns Brewery. We didn't know each other really. I'd “reviewed” some of his beers, thoroughly enjoyed them. But we'd never met at that point.

We met at that first St Sebastian's event - on the Saturday lunch session I think - his beer “Raven King” Porter won Beer of the Festival. And we just “got on”. Thoughts being aligned on beer, music, politics, a meeting of minds with a thoroughly decent human. (Someone who has helped me & mine through some dark times)

Skip forward a few months. Malcolm messaged me about an idea he had - inspired by that first ISBF - of having a beer event (for charity), featuring beers from Lancashire & Yorkshire.

East v West. A beery War of the Roses.

I was hooked.

And I have been ever since.

Many of my fondest memories involving beer have been formed within the walls of Wakefield Labour Club.

From the off, myself and my mentor - the mighty Jaz - have been each and every year. It's just…… it's hard to describe when something is just embedded in your very soul.

From that first approach to the door on the very first day and hearing something I've never forgotten “THE MANCS ARE HERE” in Bob's lilting Tyke tones, to last year's watching St Pauli play the final Bundesliga game of the season, with the Yorkshire chapter of their fan club.

Just the best memories. With the loveliest people.

Mark coming from Glastonbury.

Drunken videos, mocking my inability to open a key safe.

People coming from over the Pennines. On my recommendation. And getting ‘it’. It gets me incredibly emotional just bringing back these memories.

Quite simply. It's my favourite beer event. It lifts my spirits like no other.

Nothing comes remotely close.

And I don't say that lightly.

The event is - without a shadow of doubt - about the people. It's entire profits go to local charities. The kinship with ISBF is strong. The bond between the two events is just…… In an event sense, East West Fest is a member of the #ISBFFamily.

This event is such, that my friends and I booked our hotels in November.

And I've not even mentioned the beer list yet! Something that is guaranteed to be….. slightly bonkers when it comes to the abv!

That List is always quite magnificent. But again, this is about the feeling, the people, not just the beer.

But…… I digress.

The event starts on Thursday. I'll be stood at the bar at 6pm.

Come and join us. Say hello.