On Thursday 7th March, Matt Curtis was launching an exhibition of photos from his book, Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars, at Balance Brewing and Blending. I have interacted with Matt a few times on Twitter, but I hadn’t actually met him before. Whenever, I’ve seen him at festivals he has always been very busy chatting to other people, and I haven’t wanted to be intrusive.
On arrival Ruth and I got a drink and found a corner to sit in. Again Matt had plenty of people to talk to, but I decided to take the plunge when it was time to go back to the bar. Nervously, I approached him with my copies of his two books and my business card and said, “Hi, I’m not sure whether I’m being a fan boy or a brewing professional!”
Happily, Matt recognised the Bríd’s Cross logo, kindly signed the books and we had a good chat. In fact, he joined Ruth and me at our table, pulled up a chair and we enjoyed a couple of glasses of Saison de Maison Blend 5. He also introduced us to Simon from Steelfish Brewing and I’m looking forward to arranging a visit to his brewery soon.
In these early days of my brewing career, I don’t mind admitting to sometimes suffering from imposter syndrome. However, interactions like these certainly help me to feel that I am being accepted as a peer by people who I have looked up to for some time.
On Friday evening we were launching our International Women’s Day beer – a golden ale called Andraste’s Hare – at Our Gracie’s here in Rochdale. Ruth enjoyed pulling her first ever pint and being the centre of attention. The beer was going down very well with lots of customers, and it was good to see fellow Rochdale brewer Ant, from Wakey Wakey, and to meet the Bearded Biker on the Beer, a north-west beer blogger.
Saturday saw us getting up early to go to the Stockport Maker’s Market. Despite a slow start, it was another successful day’s trading. Matt Curtis dropped in on us to pick up some samples and have a short chat. As usual, we were offering samples to customers. One customer commented that Ash & Elm was his favourite saying it was, “… a bit like Beavertown (I assume he means Neck Oil), but better…” At the end of the day we popped into the Arden Arms, a lovely pub with a great cask beer from Robinson’s and a lively buzz, where Ruth enjoyed a pint of Old Tom.
From there we went to meet some friends at the Red Lion in Littleborough. I had dropped off some beer there on Wednesday. The casks of Dead Moon, Black Shuck and Andraste’s Hare were still settling in the cellar. However, the keg of Ash and Elm had already been and gone by the time we got there. Our friends had had the last couple of pints and said that they really enjoyed their first taste of Bríd’s Cross beer. Three more kegs have already been delivered and I’m hopeful that this Good Beer Guide pub will become a regular customer.
