To say we got a little bit excited when the folks behind the Independent Manchester Beer Convention (IMBC) asked if we wanted to host live podcasts at this year's event would be something of an understatement.

Believe us when we say we are thrilled to be hosting our patented brand of panel discussions at this year's IMBC, an event we consider to be among the most excellent beer festivals in the country. This is especially so now that our co-founder Matthew has made Manchester his home city (he’s looking forward to getting the bus to the Baths this year). We’ll be hosting these discussions and interviews every day (excluding evening sessions) in the basement, below the Thornbridge room.

What makes these events special is YOU, our audience, and we recommend you come curious, and ready to listen (and maybe even ask questions, should you wish.) Each talk will be free to attend, but you’ll need to sign up for a ticket here as capacity is limited. They will all take place in the same location, down the stairs to the left of the Thornbridge Room. You might spot the team nearby ushering people downstairs before the talks so keep an eye out for them.

The full line up, plus our confirmed speakers are listed below. Please note some of the times have changed to what was earlier advertised. We look forward to you joining us in our little cellar beneath the baths, asking questions about our favourite subjects: beer and pubs.

Tickets are capped at 30 per session, but there will be limited space for walk-ins, so please walk-in!

4PM, THURSDAY OCT 5TH — 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) TICKETS HERE

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?

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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1PM, FRIDAY OCT 6TH — AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN BEER

Host: Katie Mather Guests: Jonny Heyes (IMBC), Ben Stubbs (Rivington), Chris Drummond (Allkin) TICKETS HERE

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?

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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1PM, SATURDAY OCT 7TH — INTERVIEW AND Q&A WITH DAVID JESUDASON, AUTHOR OF DESI PUBS

Host: Matthew Curtis TICKETS HERE

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.

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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2PM, SUNDAY OCT 8TH — THE GREAT CRAFT BEER DEBATE 2023

Host: Matthew Curtis Guests: Cath Potter (CAMRA), James Campbell (Sureshot), Lauren Soderberg (Port Street Beer House) TICKETS HERE

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.

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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Want to know a little more about IMBC and why it’s such a brilliant festival? Read our profile of them, written by David Morgan and photographed by Ross Cummins, right here.