By Neil Sowerby
TIME is running out if you want to squeeze into the IndyManBeerCon. The previous two years of Manchesters groundbreaking craft beer extravaganza have been sell-outs and organisers tell us there are just a few tickets left for the Thursday and Sunday sessions.
To whet your appetite IMBC have just released a day-by-day rosters of the beers on offer from the 80 taps spread across the stunning venue Grade II listed, architectural gem Victoria Baths between Thurs Oct 9 and Sun Oct 12. Download details via this link.
Tickets cost from £10. Grab them here. Delay and you may be too late to sample the delights of this world class beer showcase, run by the folk behind Port Street Beer House, The Beagle and Common.
Beers on offer include any number of one-offs brewed specially and in collaboration, from barrel-aged to sours, cask and keg plus pop-ups and masterclasses.
The Guardians Tony Naylor sums it all up nicely: At Indy Man Beer Con the stars of UK and international craft brewing (some idolised like rock gods) man their own bars and treat their followers to various one-off, experimental and rare examples of their work.
Im attending the trade session on Friday and among the collaborative delights awaiting me:
Tintern Abbey Berliner Weisse, 4.5% with wild yeast from Tintern Abbey, with Celt Experience.
Earl Phantom, 3.6%, Lemon Iced tea sour, with Beavertown.
Indy Girl, 9.7%, Double IPA with Lemon and Lime zest, with Arbor Ales.
Kiwi Saison, 5%, Saison, with Kiwi purée added in the FV, with The Grove pub, Huddersfield and with Northern Monk Brew Co.
The list of breweries exhibiting is mouthwatering: Against The Grain, Alechemy Brewing Co., Arbor, Beavertown, BlackJack Brewery, Brew By Numbers, BrewFist, Burning Sky, Buxton Brewery, Celt Experience, Cromarty Brewing Co., Evil Twin Brewing, First Chop, Hanging Bat Brewing Co, Harbour Brewing Co, Hawkshead, Hopcraft Brewing, Loverbeer, Mad Hatter Brewing Company, Magic Rock (pictured taking over the Turkish Baths last year), Moor Beer Company, Northern Monk Brew Co., Quantum Brewing Co., Real Cider Co, Red Willow, Redchurch Brewery, Rooie Dop, Siren Craft Brew, Squawk Brewing Co, Stillwater Artisanal, Summer Wine Brewery, The Kernel, Thistly Cross, Thornbridge, Tiny Rebel, To Øl, Toccalmatto, Weird Beard Brew Co., Wildbeer Co., Wiper and True.
In addition, there are beer-matched meals from Masterchef finalist Jackie Kearney aka The Hungry Gecko, specially curated live music from Hey! Manchester and Aficionado and a plethora of the best street food traders including Honest Crust pizza, burgers from Almost Famous, Diamond Dogs hotdogs, Indian street food from Chaat Cart, the Mexican flavours of Margo & Rita and mouthwatering pie from Great North Pie Company.
IndyManBeerCon, Thursday October 9- Sunday, October 12. Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester. http://www.indymanbeercon.co.uk. Keep up to date via @IndyManBeerCon on Twitter.