It’s amazing what can happen when passionate beer people get the bit between their teeth. Across Australia in recent years, there are many examples of beer lovers making a difference within their community, none more so than Corey Crooks and the team at The Albion Hotel in Newcastle.

Since taking over what was then a mainstream pub doing what every other pub was doing in Newcastle, the former backyard brewer with two decades experience in the hotel game has led a move to turn it into the city’s craft beer venue of choice. What’s more, inspired by his success at The Albion, he also joined forces with the team at the nearby Warners at the Bay bottleshop to create Newcastle Craft Beer Week, a fantastically successful week of craft beer-themed events that took place for the first time in November 2011.

As for The Albion, it’s earned its craft beer stripes fast, lining the bar with ever-rotating taps featuring some of the best Aussie and international brews (as a matter of fact they featured 106 different beers on tap in 2011) and cramming every inch of fridge space with many more. The customers have been more than willing to come along for the ride too – where once Toohey’s New made up 85 per cent of all draught sales, by the end of 2011 it made up just 12 per cent. It’s not just beer that has led to the pub’s growing popularity, however. The Albion was Newcastle’s first gastropub and has picked up numerous gongs for its food – modern Australian with a touch of Asian influence – as well as winning praise in the Good Pub Food Guide. With a quality wine list and plenty of support from the local brewing community – always on hand to help with beer dinners and tastings – it’s a great example of what a craft beer pub can be.