New Issue: Brewed on Mann (IOM)

It seems I have been reviewing a lot of new issues for the Isle of Man recently. I have checked and it looks like this is the fifteenth new issue this year, and there will be another one next week! Is Isle of Man Stamps & Coins trying to compete with Royal Mail? Do they need this many commemorative stamps?

This set was released on 10th October and the theme is "Brewed on Mann". The Isle of Man Stamps & Coins website tells us more about these stamps: "Brewed on Mann captures the fascinating history of brewing on the Isle of Man through eight beautifully designed stamps. The collection explores the Island’s distinctive brewing heritage, from early household and monastery brewing to the commercialisation of beer in the 18th and 19th centuries. Central to this story is the Pure Beer Act, first introduced in 1827 and updated in 1874, which set strict standards to ensure beer was brewed using only water, malt, hops and yeast - legislation still enforced today.

"The stamps also highlight key figures and breweries that have shaped Manx brewing. Dr William Okell, a visionary brewer, established the Falcon Brewery and championed the Pure Beer Act, laying foundations for 175 years of brewing excellence. Bushy’s Brewery, celebrating 40 years in 2025, brought fresh energy to the Island’s beer scene, supporting local barley production and drawing enthusiasts from around the world.

"Other stamps depict iconic sites such as the Mitre Pub in Kirk Michael, historic bottles from breweries no longer trading, and the evolution of packaging from earthenware to modern cans." I don't think I need to add anything else to that explanation, but as usual I will add my own opinions in a review.

Design Quality - A good design overall, keeping the basic layout pretty simple and using both new photographs and older images. I like that each value has a different colour bar underneath the main picture. Typeface is easy to read. 8/10

Theme and Subject Choice - I don't know much about brewing, but it's obviously a big part of the Isle of man's history and has been important to Manx people for centuries. The stamps tell a story and I think it is an interesting one. 9/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - I have already said that I think the Isle of Man creates too many issues, but what is good about many of their stamps is that they focus on local history. This is another one. They make me want to learn more about the island's history and that has to be a good thing? 10/10

Innovation and Creativity - The stamps have an effective design and there's some good photography. The mixture of new and old images works very well I think. They're not perhaps as innovative as they could be and maybe the set would have worked better if they were set out as a panoramic set with a visual timeline from early brewing to the modern world? However, overall I think this is reasonably creative. 7/10

Collectability - The mixture of local history and beer will make them quite collectable. 7/10

Personal appeal - I like these more than I thought I might. The stamps take you on a historical journey. 9/10

Overall score - 50/60