Words - Matthew Curtis
October is always one of my favourite times of year because it means that it's time for the Independent Manchester Beer Convention. IndyMan brings together some of the best beer and food from the UK and beyond in the glorious setting of the Victoria Baths. This magical combination creates one of the best party atmospheres I've experienced at a beer festival, especially at the evening sessions.
I'll be at IndyMan from Thursday 6th until Saturday 8th and as well as being there to enjoy myself I'll also be part of a debate panel and hosting a talk and tasting with a difference. Here's a run down of what I'll be up to.
Craft Beer UK. WTF Just Happened??? //
It's an honour to have been asked to be part of this debate panel, which takes place on the Thursday evening session. I'll be joined by several industry peers industry peers including Paul Jones (Cloudwater), Jenn Merrick (Beavertown), Claudia Asch (IMBC), Ian Garrett (CAMRA) and Sue Hayward (Waen). The six of us will try to make sense of the whirlwind that is the craft beer industry and how it's changed the landscape of beer over the past five years. Expect plenty of heated debate and opinion.
Live Beer Blogging with Fourpure Brewing //
At the Saturday afternoon session join me in the Green Room, this year hosted by the folks at Fourpure, where I'll be attempting to put together a beer blog in front of a live audience. If you've ever thought about starting a beer blog, you already have one and you want to learn more, or you simply fancy a good laugh at my expense, then this is the event for you.
I'll be attempting to put together a live beer review of the new collaboration brew between Fourpure and Cloudwater. The beer is a Belgian-Style Black IPA and for the moment I can tell you no more until it's released at the festival. I'll have just 45 minutes to put together a post, including photos and here's the twist - the audience will be contributing the content. I'll be there to write down your tasting notes and give you a little bit of insight into my own creative process. It'll also be a chance to learn a little about beer photography, which is something I get asked about a lot.
I'll also be around for the Friday sessions in a social capacity, so come say hello and let's grab a beer.