Written by Jason Boardman
We have just got back from the UK’s finest Craft Beer showcase, Indy Man Beer Con in the stunning Victoria Baths in Manchester.
The event carefully curated by Jonny Heyes, Rivca Burns and their crack backroom team and buzzing volunteers consistently delivers.
The event keeps growing year on year with a mind boggling array of drinks to choose from. Indy Man showcase not only the finest brewers but also premium independent soft drinks and natural wines.
A carefully curated team of streetfood vendors complete the whole ensuring you never have to leave this temporary paradise, until the session finishes at least!
Ticketweb provided the operational support for all their ticketing needs, we were the folks out in all weathers scanning the lovely customers in the queue to make sure they got in as quickly as was humanly possible so they could enjoy the event to the max.
Local’s Ol Brewery were crowned the winner of The Thirsty Games the annual go to competition for new brewers beating stiff competition from Cellar Boys and Vault City, hats off to them all for delivering some high end brew action.
Alongside the better known UK independents, Cloudwater, Wylam, Northern Monk, Siren, Burning Sky and Verdant were a plethora of amazing international brewers, from Europe and beyond, with a very strong Scandinavian contingent, we were particularly taken with the pink carpet in the Lervig room.
It would be rude not to join in, so for research purposes only we decided to sample stellar collaborations between The Other Half and Hudson Valley Brewing from NY, take a bow High Brightness and Finback and Track’s – Look Both Ways, these were our favourite IPA’s of the weekend and mind blowingly delicious.
Finback also scored highly with their luxurious Chocolate And Vanilla Stout – Unoccupied Space, whilst Wander Beyonds – Dark Drift was big for us in the Dark Ale category.
The range of Sour’s available was unprecedented, showing how popular this style of brewing has become, Cascade Brewing totally delivered with their Flanders Red Ale.
With such a wide range of brewers and styles to choose from checking the IMBC App for updated beer lists and chatting with the friendly attendees for recommendations was de rigeur to make sure you didn’t miss any gems.
Though as these guys know the game inside out whichever beer you decided to choose it was inevitable that you would back a winner.
Hats off to IMBC for bringing it in fine style, we cant wait to see what 2020 will bring!
