IMBC INDY MAN BEER CON MFDF AWARD MANCHESTER FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL

Vote for IMBC

Indy Man Beer Con has been nominated for an award by the Manchester Food and Drink Festival, in the ‘Foodie Event or Project of the Year’ category. Competition is stiff so we need your help to land this prestigious award.

The awards are the most sought-after in the North West, celebrating the innovative and high quality restaurants, bars and individuals who contribute to the hospitality industry in the area.

Owned and organised by the Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) the awards will be held at The Gorton Monastery on the 7th October, and are recognised by the industry and consumers alike as setting the standard for the food industry across the country.

IMBC has been officially nominated for an MFDF award by the judging panel that comprises the region’s leading food and drink critics and experts.

Voting closes on 26th September at midnight!

VOTE HERE

Posted on 24th September 2019

IMBC 19 Breweries

IMBC 19 BREWERY LIST

 
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ALL SESSIONS
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IMBC 19 ROOM GUARDIANS
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Room 1 – CLOUDWATER (Manchester)
Room 2 – BURNING SKY (Firle)
Room 3 – WYLAM (Newcastle)
Green Room – SIREN (Finchampstead)
Turkish Baths – DEYA (Cheltenham)
Pineapple Room – VERDANT (Falmouth)
Food Village 1 – LERVIG (Stavanger, Norway) x BEER MERCHANTS (Manchester)
Food Village 2 – FIERCE (Aberdeen)
 
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BUXTON (Buxton)
BY THE RIVER (Newcastle)
CASCADE (Portland, USA)
KERNEL (London)
LIQUID LIGHT (Nottingham)
NORTH (Leeds)
NORTHERN MONK (Leeds)
OMNIPOLLO (Stockholm, Sweden)
OTHER HALF (New York, USA)
THORNBRIDGE (Bakewell)
TRACK (Manchester)
WILD BEER CO (Shepton Mallet)
ZAPATO (Marsden)
THE THIRSTY GAMES | Cellar Boys (London)
THE THIRSTY GAMES | ÖL Brewery (Manchester)
THE THIRSTY GAMES | Vault City (Edinburgh)
 
CIDER
 
HOGAN’S CIDER (Alcester)
 
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THURSDAY & FRIDAY EXCLUSIVE BREWERIES
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AFFINITY (London)
BLACK IRIS (Nottingham)
BOUNDARY (Belfast)
BURNT MILL (Suffolk)
CHAPTER (Runcorn)
FUERST WIACEK (Berlin, Germany)
FYNE ALES (Cairndow)
HARBOUR (North Cornwall)
MAGNIFY (New Jersey, USA)
MANCHESTER UNION LAGER (Manchester)
MARBLE (Manchester)
ODYSSEY (Whitbourne)
OVERWORKS (Aberdeen)
PILOT (Leith)
PRESSURE DROP (London)
SIX DEGREES NORTH (Aberdeen)
SQUAWK (Manchester)
TWO TRIBES (London)
UNITY (Southampton)
VIBRANT FOREST (Southampton)
 
CIDER
 
PILTON CIDER (Shepton Mallet)
 
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SATURDAY & SUNDAY EXCLUSIVE BREWERIES
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ALMASTY (Newcastle)
THE BEAK (London)
BLACKJACK (Manchester)
BURNING SOUL (Birmingham)
COLLECTIVE ARTS (Hamilton, Canada)
CREATURE COMFORTS (Athens, USA)
DONZOKO (Hartlepool)
FINBACK (New York, USA)
GIBBERISH (Liverpool)
LEFT HANDED GIANT (Bristol)
LITTLE EARTH PROJECT (Suffolk)
PARTIZAN (London)
POMONA ISLAND (Salford)
POHJALA (Tallinn, Estonia)
REDWILLOW (Macclesfield)
RUNAWAY (Manchester)
SAINT MARS OF THE DESERT (Sheffield)
THIRST CLASS (Stockport)
WANDER BEYOND (Manchester)
YONDER (Somerset)
 
CIDER
ROSS-ON-WYE CIDER & PERRY CO (Ross-On-Wye)
 
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Did it hurt when you rose from hell yes?
 
Tickets available for Thursday and Sunday (just!) sessions: BUY EM HERE
 
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IMBC 19
3rd-6th October 2019
Victoria Baths, Manchester
Posted on 4th September 2019

Liquid Light | Thirsty Games 2018 Winners Q&A

As we near IMBC 19 and the reveal of The Thirsty Games 2019 brewery line up, we catch up with Liquid Light ~ the winners of The Thirsty Games 2018…

Congratulations on winning The Thirsty Games 2018! How was your experience pouring at the festival? 

Thank you! We had the most amazing time at the festival! We’ve been attending the festival for years now as punters so it was a real honour to be pouring our own beer!

How was the response – both from the public and industry – to you winning the competition?

Immense! The day after it was announced we had won, our stock was decimated! It definitely helped our exposure nationwide too, getting a win from such a highly regarded event as IMBC. From the general public, it was also great to get direct feedback from people trying and enjoying our beers at the festival. From an industry perspective, we met so many incredible people brewing outstanding beers over the weekend. We’re now lucky enough to call many of them friends and have taken part in some awesome collaborations over the past year.

Was there a particular beer that you brought to IMBC 18 that you feel brought the trophy home?

IMBC was one of the first showcases of our Blueberry Gose ‘Cosmik Debris’ which we are really proud of and sold very quickly over the course of the weekend! It has now become Grace’s favourite of all the beers we brew!


You recently collaborated with fellow Thirsty Games alumni Donzoko and Yonder – can you tell us about that beer and it was like sharing the Thirsty Games bar with those two in 2018? 

Meeting Reece from Donzoko and Stuart and Jasper from Yonder was great. At the festival, before the result was announced we all agreed that we should meet up for a collaboration brew. Doing a brew with them was a real melting pot of ideas as we all brew such different beer and all have our own specialities. In the end, we settled on a continental red ale using foraged gooseberries and pineapple weed, and fermented with a mix of saison and wine yeast. We’ve just released a small amount of the brew as a clean, unsoured version and will be putting the rest of the brew in red wine barrels! We can’t wait for you to try it!

OH…was there anything else interesting that happened at IMBC 18 that wasn’t strictly beer related? 

WE GOT ENGAGED! Even before we started brewing, IMBC was a trip we made together, so it seemed like the perfect setting to pop the question on the balcony overlooking Room 1.

What is your current brewing setup and what are your plans for the future?

We are still cuckoo brewing 10bbl batches at the moment but hope to have our own place and tap room in the not too distant future!

Tell us about your oil projections and how they compliment your beer

Our name and all of our artwork is based on the psychedelic liquid light projections which started appearing in the 1960s. We’ve always had a deep love of the music and artwork of the 60s and 70s so it was just the natural direction our branding went in. We use a unique blend of oils and dyes mixed with water, projected through vintage equipment. Photos of these projections then become the base for each design.


Where can we find Liquid Light beers?

Far and wide! Since IMBC we’ve exported, however closer to home we have great customers in most major cities. In our hometown, we even have some permanent lines installed in a few pubs!


How is the Nottingham beer scene? Where should visitors to the city head?

We love Nottingham and are so proud to call it our home! It also helps we have so many amazing breweries making delicious beers and everyone is so friendly. Our recommendations for anyone visiting the city centre would be the Canalhouse, Barley Twist, Junkyard & Brew Cavern to name just a few!


Thanks for taking the time, we look forward to seeing you at every session of IMBC 19!


Posted on 27th August 2019

Volunteer at IMBC 19

WE WANT YOU!

Be a huge part of this year’s Independent Manchester Beer Convention when you give your time as a volunteer in exchange for beer and other rewards. You could be pouring beer or helping out operationally with the running of the festival via a number of roles.

In exchange for your time and effort as a volunteer, you will be given…

Beer tokens!
Ticket to a session of your choice!
Free meal!
IMBC T-shirt!
A good time! 

Full information and application HERE to register your interest in volunteering at IMBC 19.

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IMBC 19
3rd-6th October 2019
Victoria Baths, Manchester

 

Posted on 12th July 2019

The Thirsty Games 2019

THE THIRSTY GAMES 2019

The Thirsty Games is IMBC’s competition to find the best small and upcoming breweries operating in the UK today.

From nationwide submissions we will pick the best three entrants to make up the Thirsty Games contenders at IMBC 19 (3rd – 6th October 2019, Victoria Baths). Each chosen brewery will pour their beers at every session of IMBC 19. You, the beerholder, will then vote on your favourite brewery across the length of the festival alongside our guest panel and the brewery with the most favour will be crowned the winner of The Thirsty Games 2019.

This is the fourth year of The Thirsty Games. Previous Thirsty Games winners are Liquid Light (2018), Burning Soul (2017), and Fivecloud Brew Co (2016).

CRITERIA

The entrants should be 10bbl single brew length or under in size, or a brewery operating on a cuckoo basis in the UK.

The entrants should have been producing beer for less than 24 months.

The entrants should have their beer on general sale and be duty paid.

TO ENTER

We want to sample your A-game beers. Send us your most interesting and creative samples.

Send a minimum of two cans / bottles per beer entered. Please send no more than three different beers.

The beer you send should feature at least one beer that you would pour at IMBC 19.

IF THE ABOVE APPLIES THEN FILL IN THIS FORM HERE, PLEASE. SORRY TO SHOUT BUT HERE IS WHERE YOU FILL IN THE FORM. CLICK CLICK. 

DEADLINES

All samples must reach Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port St, Manchester M1 2EQ by 12th August 2018.

The chosen three Thirsty Games finalists will be announced shortly afterwards.

WHAT YOU WIN

The victorious brewery of The Thirsty Games 2018 will win…

A featured brewery pitch at IMBC 20 pouring their beers at each and every session rubbing shoulders with some of the best breweries in the world.

Plus more prizes to be announced.

Posted on 10th July 2019

IMBC 19 Tickets on sale Tuesday 4th June 2019

INDY MAN BEER CON 2019
Tickets go on general sale Tuesday 4th June 2019 at 8pm
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We’re back with four-day celebration of beers from here, there and everywhere at Victoria Baths, Manchester, Thursday 3rd – Sunday 6th October 2019.

Pick up your tickets HERE.
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EARLY BIRD IMBC 19 TICKETS
For your exclusive chance to pick up LIMITED PRE-SALE TICKETS head to Port Street Beer House or The Beagle on Tuesday 4th June at 6pm to pick up EARLY BIRD TICKETS two hours before their general release at 8pm.

Both Port Street Beer House and The Beagle will be launching TWO IMBC 19 COLLABORATION BEERS with WYLAM as well hosting IMBC 19 brewery sponsors on their taps.

IMBC 19 artwork by Kate Prior.

#IMBC19

Independent Manchester Beer Convention 2019
3rd – 6th October 2019
Victoria Baths, Manchester
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IMBC 19 SESSION TIMES
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Thursday 3rd October: 17.30-22.30 | £10 + booking fee

Friday 4th October Day Session: 11.00-16.00 | £10 + booking fee

Friday 4th October Evening Session: 17.30-22.30 | £15 + booking fee

Saturday 5th October Day Session: 11.00-16.00 | £15 + booking fee

Saturday 5th October Evening Session: 17.30-22.30 | £15 + booking fee

Sunday 6th October: 13.00-18.00 | £10 + booking fee
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Tickets on general sale at 8pm Tuesday 4th June 2019 via indymanbeercon.co.uk/tickets

Posted on 21st May 2019

IMBC 18 Thanks

Hello!

It has been two weeks since we opened the doors on IMBC 2018 and we just wanted to reach out to you to say a HUGE thank you for coming along and helping to make it one of the best yet. Seeing your pictures across social media and your faces whilst you enjoy and talk about incredible beers from across the globe make all the hard-work worth it. Beer, as ever, was the real hero but we would also like to extend big thanks to the brewers thereof, our wonderful volunteers, Victoria Baths and the wonderful team there, IMBC food vendors, festival supporters and sponsors, everyone who helped out in the production, and again – YOU! We’d just be an empty Swimming Baths full of loads of beer without you. It’d be weird. 

The dates for IMBC 2019 are set; Thursday 3rd October – Sunday 6th October 2019.
The venue remains the same; Victoria Baths, our one true love.

More details about our ticket on sale date will follow in May 2019 so keep an eye on our social mediums and sign up to our newsletter for further information.

We would like to individually thank our IMBC 18 sponsors for helping to make this year such a good festival. The room sponsors did a great job of making Victoria Baths their own – Burning Sky, Buxton, Cloudwater, Lervig, Beer Merchants, Stone Brewing, Verdant, Wild Beer and Wylam. We hope you’ll agree that their spaces were a joy to visit.


We’d also like to thank our IMBC 18 supporters. This year’s glass was perhaps one of our finest vessels yet and was brought to you with the help of Magic Rock and Beer Merchants.

Simply Hops took care of the brewers at IMBC 18 as brewery supporter, official keg supporters Kegstar performed stainless steel keg heroics as usual, and The Brewer’s Eye spread the good word of their forthcoming app aimed at beer lovers and brewers alike – follow The Brewer’s Eye for updates on when you can get your hands on the app.

Telcom boosted the WiFi at Victoria Baths and enabled us all to tweet and ‘gram faster, thank you! Our friends iZettle supported contactless payments across IMBC 18 and have a few words for you,

“Wow, that was epic! iZettle are extremely proud to have been involved with Indyman 2018. It was fantastic to meet so many thriving independent businesses and witness the support that you guys have for them.

Whats next for iZettle in Manchester?

November 2018 will see iZettle bring “Social Media For The Independents” to your City. A free event to swot up on social, meet influencers and have a drink on us! The event has limited spaces, be sure to register for your tickets HERE. 

Perhaps the unsung hero at IMBC’18 was the return of the IMBC pencil – a big thank you to Simpson’s Malt for making that one possible! Lallemand once again backed The Thirsty Games for the third year since its very inception – supporting the best small UK breweries. Awesome Merch made our swag dreams come true by printing all of this year’s IMBC 18 merchandise – please do use them for all your print (and beyond) needs!

Festival supporters Beer Adventures keep things rocking with their interactive city beer guide app – have a look to see how you can get involved with their progress HERE. Last but not least, KeyKeg were a great help as Keg Management Supporter with the recycling of their kegs that you guys helped empty!

Phew, thirsty for next year now. Until 2019 stay safe, keep experimenting by trying plenty of different and new beers and keep supporting the independent. We’d love to hear any feedback about this year’s event. Please do drop us a line with any thoughts – you can email us HERE. 

Thank YOU,
Team IMBC

Posted on 19th October 2018

Food Village | IMBC 18

THE FOOD VILLAGE powered by iZettle

Indy Man Beer Con has chosen iZettle to be the exclusive payment provider for IndyMan 2018, this means you will have the option to pay using contactless at all token booths and across our Food Village. Less time in the queue and more time enjoying beer!

iZettle is a one-stop shop for independent businesses, helping you to sell more, work smarter and grow your business.

If you are curious to know more, please visit the iZettle website.

IMBC 18 FOOD VILLAGE
Located outside between the Lervig x Beer Merchants and Wild Beer tents

Tried food once, it wasn’t for me. I mean, it’s just a bunch of people stood around eating stuff. Where’s the fun in that?

NOT!

We love food *almost* as much as the next guy. Here are your sustenance options at IMBC 18. Would pair well with all the beers…

HONEST CRUST

Name a better sourdough wood fired pizza…I’ll wait. An absolute must-have at IMBC. Honest Crust can be found bossing it daily at Altrincham Market and Mackie Mayor.


DÖNER SUMMER

Name a better vegan Berlin style döner kebab…I’ll wait. Pleased as punch to welcome Döner Summer to Victoria Baths for their IMBC debut. Head their way for a great seitan and salad offering.


GREAT NORTH PIE

Name a better pie…I’ll wait. Suddenly Seeking Susan! These pies are good! You know the drill…pastry casing, hot inner, gravy optional, mash encouraged. Wilmslow’s best, Great North Pie return to IMBC once more and reader, my wooden fork is primed.


DIAMOND DOGS

Name a better hot dog…I’ll wait. The sausage-centric Diamond Dogs return to IMBC to dish up the latest in handheld edible technology. Frankfurter in a bun? Life has only just begun!


DIM SUM SU

Name a better local Chinese and Cantonese street food vendor…I’ll wait. Dim Sum Su return to bao chikka wow wow effect at IMBC 18. Salt and pepper fries everywhere. Always.


VASO KITCHEN

Name a better Keema Fries enabler…I’ll wait. Indian street food hits from the kitchen of Vaso. Head this way for a picante treat that’s nice to eat.


COTTONOPOLIS

Name a rarer outing than Cottonopolis‘ mobile burger grill at IMBC 18…I’ll wait. Northern Quarter bar Cottonopolis, famed for their hi-grade sushi and Asian-inspired dishes are YOUR burger go-tos at Victoria Baths and lo, are we excited.

AL PASTOR PAUL

Name a more niche-ly named burrito and taco vendor…I’ll wait. A portmanteau of Al Pastor Pork and Manchester DJ Pasta Paul, Al Pastor Paul return to IMBC 18 to cover all your things-in-tortilla needs.


THE OTTOMEN 

Name a more emphatic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean inspired spread…I’ll wait. The Ottomen cometh to IMBC with the best in falafel-forward fare and pita perfect meze situations. If you want me I’ll be thinking about those long green chillies…gimme!

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IMBC 18 SNACK SHELF
Room 1, Victoria Baths

HOLY CRAB

Name a more iconic seafood duo…I’ll wait. Lou and Hannah Holy Crab return to IMBC with oysters on ice (Bloody Mary hot sauce, yessir!) and the legend of crab balls. If you know you know. If you don’t, find out!


BEEHIVE FOOD

Name a better concept than the scotch egg…I’ll wait. Beehive bring their special brand of pies and freshly fried scotch eggs to IMBC. They’ve got a breakfast scotch egg thats got beans in the walls…BEANS IN THE WALLS. Go visit them for soft boiled gains and crimped pastry realness.


BLAWD x IDLE HANDS

Name a better doughnut and coffee power couple…I’ll wait. Blawd and Idle Hands is where you’ll find all the plain clothed undercover policemen hanging out and munching on pillowy soft doughnuts and expertly extracted java. The finest exports from two of the brightest young things on the Manchester cafe scene, Idle Hands and Siop Shop.


SOFFLE’S

Name a better bag of Pitta Chips…I’ll wait. Soffle’s Pitta Chips bring the opposite of pain to Victoria Baths with their perfectly formed chips of pitta. Would pair well with you guessed it! (Beer).

 

 

Posted on 28th September 2018