A staple of IMBC, we’re today pleased to announce our list of tastings and – new for this year – Pellicle Podcast talks, with tickets on sale right now for each.
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Tickets for each tasting are £9 (a price freeze on last year) and include all your drinks in that tasting (typically, three pretty special drops – but this will vary depending on the tasting), and are only valid if you’re already attending that session. That point also goes for Pellicle Podcast recordings – attendance for those are free, but tickets are available for those who want to guarantee their space: there will also be walk-up space available for the Pellicle talks.
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Below is your schedule, including ticket links –
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Thursday
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Pellicle Podcast – HOW DOES THE BEER INDUSTRY NAVIGATE A COST OF LIVING CRISIS?
Host: Jonny Hamiliton Guests: Philip Sisson (Simple Things Fermentations), Toby McKenzie (Redwillow), Julie O’Grady (Neptune)
4pm, trade sessioners only, underneath the Turkish baths, Free entry
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/thursday-pellicle-podcast-beer-cost-of-living-crisis-trade-only-tickets-XJHKC9
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Beer is often framed as a “drink of the people” — an affordable, accessible product that’s easy to be enjoyed by many. The reality is that with the increasing cost of beer, often driven by the cost of raw materials, equipment, staffing costs, and not to mention some of the highest tax rates in the world, beer in the UK is getting less accessible. How egalitarian is beer, really, when those who make and sell it can afford to enjoy the latest, and most exciting beer releases for themselves?
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In this session, hosted by Pellicle co-founder Jonathan Hamilton, we will look to explore the drivers behind the increasing cost of beer, and how this is potentially creating a barrier in terms of accessibility. How do we ensure that price doesn’t become an obstacle in the way of making beer more open and inclusive, as the industry collectively tries to figure out how to ensure that beer is there for all of those who wish to enjoy it?
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Cloudwater tasting
7pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/thursday-cloudwater-tasting-tickets-YJ8SBL
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A tasting event run by our friends and Manchester legends Cloudwater – details on exact beers & styles to be confirmed, but expect some bangers.
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De La Senne tasting
8pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/thursday-de-la-senne-tasting-tickets-SRGV3M
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One of this year’s international brewers, we’re making the most of having De La Senne on board for 2023. Known for innovating and playing within Belgian beer heritage, this tasting will reflect their unique place within the industry, and is not to be missed.
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Friday Day
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Pellicle Podcast – AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN BEER
Host: Katie Mather Guests: Jonny Heyes (IMBC), Ben Stubbs (Rivington), +TBC
1pm, underneath the Turkish baths, Free entry
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/friday-day-pellicle-podcast-sustainability-in-beer-tickets-7GF1Y8
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How sustainable is making beer, really? We’re often presented with marketing and press releases that tell us how good for the planet certain beers are. They could be brewed with leftover bread, or the brewery could be offsetting their carbon footprint by planting trees. Some breweries are even accredited by organisations such as B Corp, or the Soil Association, reinforcing their green credentials. Surely, beer, and the production of, doesn’t have that much of an impact on the planet?
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It’s time to have an honest conversation about sustainability in beer. As a product reliant on industrially farmed products such as wheat, barley and hops — some of which are shipped thousands of miles before they’re used in brewing — beer has a long way to go before it can truly be considered sustainable. In this discussion we’ll discuss what beer, and its drinkers, can do to be more environmentally responsible. We’ll also look at some key future trends that could impact this, such as regenerative agriculture, and bottle/can deposit return schemes.
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Cloudwater tasting
1pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/friday-day-cloudwater-tasting-tickets-4J5Y3S
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A tasting event run by our friends and Manchester legends Cloudwater – details on exact beers & styles to be confirmed, but expect some bangers.
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Farm Yard tasting
2pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/friday-day-farm-yard-tasting-tickets-4JTZQG
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Producing a wide variety of beers, from traditional to juiced up progressive stuff, Farm Yard will be leading us through their best and brightest in this session.
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Friday Evening
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Balance Brewing & Blending tasting
7pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/friday-evening-balance-brewing-blending-tasting-tickets-6P250Q
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Balance Brewing & Blending specializes in crafting mixed-culture, barrel-fermented beer in the vibrant city of Manchester. The brewery’s primary objective is to highlight the exceptional quality of British ingredients by reimagining beloved historical brewing styles and techniques in a contemporary context. They’ll be pouring some of their favourites and special bottles in this tasting.
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De La Senne tasting
8pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/friday-evening-de-la-senne-tasting-tickets-ZJQM5V
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One of this year’s international brewers, we’re making the most of having De La Senne on board for 2023. Known for innovating and playing within Belgian beer heritage, this tasting will reflect their unique place within the industry, and is not to be missed.
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Saturday Day
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Pellicle Podcast – INTERVIEW AND Q&A WITH DAVID JESUDASON, AUTHOR OF DESI PUBS
Host: Matthew Curtis
1pm, underneath the Turkish baths, Free entry
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/saturday-day-pellicle-podcast-qa-w-david-jesudason-author-desi-pubs-tickets-DB1C9G
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Released to critical acclaim in May 2023, Desi Pubs is a guide to the British-Indian pubs that have sprung up throughout the UK since the 1960s. It’s author, David Jesudason, spent months travelling the length and breadth of the country, not only to visit as many of these pubs as possible, but to also unpack the idea of the British pub as an institution, and how Desi Pubs have built on this, as various communities have sought to create safe, inclusive spaces for themselves.
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At this session David will join Pellicle co-founder Matthew Curtis for an in depth chat about the book, as well as some deeper topics, from inclusivity and accessibility in beer and pub culture, plus some lighter ones, such as where to find the best mixed grills! David will be available for a Q&A after the interview, and will be selling and signing books too.
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De La Senne tasting
2pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/saturday-day-de-la-senne-tasting-tickets-4Y658S
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Recent stars of the scene, Mills Brewing are known for brewing and blending naturally fermented beers with minimum modern intervention. Using spontaneous fermentation and locally collected cultures, they’ll be showcasing their fine work in this tasting
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Mills Brewing tasting
3pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/saturday-day-mills-brewing-tasting-tickets-V6XYSL
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One of this year’s international brewers, we’re making the most of having De La Senne on board for 2023. Known for innovating and playing within Belgian beer heritage, this tasting will reflect their unique place within the industry, and is not to be missed.
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Saturday Evening
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Cloudwater tasting
7pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/saturday-evening-cloudwater-tasting-tickets-BX87ZD
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A tasting event run by our friends and Manchester legends Cloudwater – details on exact beers & styles to be confirmed, but expect some bangers.
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Mills Brewing tasting
8pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/saturday-evening-mills-brewing-tasting-tickets-3L51VN
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Recent stars of the scene, Mills Brewing are known for brewing and blending naturally fermented beers with minimum modern intervention. Using spontaneous fermentation and locally collected cultures, they’ll be showcasing their fine work in this tasting
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Sunday
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Pellicle Podcast – THE GREAT CRAFT BEER DEBATE 2023
Host: Matthew Curtis Guests: Cath Potter (CAMRA), James Campbell (Sureshot), Lauren Soderberg (Port Street Beer House)
2pm, underneath the Turkish baths, Free entry
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/sunday-pellicle-podcast-the-great-craft-beer-debate-2023-tickets-60WKLQ
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“An IMBC staple returns, this time helmed by Pellice Magazine’s co-founder, and author of Modern British Beer and the forthcoming guide Manchester’s Best Beer, Pubs & Bars, Matthew Curtis. A decade ago, ‘craft beer’ was the most exciting thing since sparkled pints. Inspired by a brewing revolution that occurred in the United States, it fundamentally changed brewing in the UK, with thousands of new entrants eager to take part in this exciting category.
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Or did it? What if the very idea of craft was, in fact, rooted in what long time beer enthusiasts have known all along: that good beer is exciting, delicious, and a thing to be cherished. In this years IMBC Great Craft Beer Debate we’ll ask if it’s finally time to drop the C-word forever, and instead focus on the fact that all beer, weather its made by a brewery that’s 200 years, or 2 months old, deserves to be cherished and celebrated for what it is: the delicious, social glue, that binds so much of British communities and culture together.”
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Mills Brewing tasting
2pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/sunday-mills-brewing-tasting-tickets-BWK24J
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Recent stars of the scene, Mills Brewing are known for brewing and blending naturally fermented beers with minimum modern intervention. Using spontaneous fermentation and locally collected cultures, they’ll be showcasing their fine work in this tasting
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BEAK tasting
3pm, Warehouse, £9 entry, 30 tickets
Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/sunday-balance-brewing-blending-tasting-tickets-BCX2V1
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Beak began life as a nomadic project run by food and drink writer Daniel Tapper, who spent several years honing his recipes with friends at some of the UK’s greatest breweries, including North Brew Co, Burning Sky and Northern Monk. The project has since laid roots in the East Sussex town of Lewes where it also runs an award-winning taproom and street-food canteen. Though best known for its hop-forward IPAs, the brewery has established a small but growing mixed-fermentation project, showcasing seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding South Downs National Park.