Beer Compurgation

Dear Beer Con Whilst attending your festival there was some confusion in the queue that led to my hair getting wet. On arrival I wasn’t presented with numerous free tokens. Do you know who I am?. It’s a disgrace. It is no secret that the beer industry can be a pugnacious space. Fuelled by the natural negativity of social media, there are more arguments and squabbles in this vacuous void than ever before. The unrelenting antagonism became a little too much for me last year until a visit to Salford beer festival tore me from the doldrums of despair. The positivity of this particular festival space acted as a personal patronus against the beer Dementors that were slowly sucking the joy from anything to do with this hobby In the ensuing 10 months though the joy began to fade once more. Expense, repetitiveness, FOMO, guilds, Facebook forums and the constant fight for power by the networkers all brought me back within the group of silent, aimless, beer Hattifatte...

Snap from IMBC 2012 - when my picture taking was particularly poor The nights roll in and the wind turns colder to remind us that it is time for the most important beer event month on the calendar. Its time to willingly spend your weekend inside a grade-II listed bath house. The Independent Manchester Beer Convention enters its fifth year and continues its proud march to establish itself as the beer event's Glastonbury. Tickets are scarce and people are willing to travel.  As I've been every year I consider myself to be Indy Man's most valued patron (not yet verified by the organisers.) It seems everyone I know and love on social media has a ticket or has at least fought for one, so I have drawn up a quick guide in the form of a 'Dos and Don'ts' list for first time attendees and returning visitors alike. Follow this simple guide to make your Indy Man Beer Con 2016 the highlight of your year.  DO - eat a hearty breakfast in Manchester.  Don...