News & Feature Stories
The Exploding Cost Of Brewing Beer
To gain a greater understanding of the challenges facing brewers, we broke down the cost of brewing Hawkers' trophy-winning West Coast IPA, and how those costs have exploded in recent years.
AMSAT: Adelaide's New, Locally-Focused Maltster
AMSAT Character Malts is a new malting company based in South Australia which has just launched a range of specialty malts for craft brewers and distillers. But it's also steeped in malting history.
Crafty Crawls: North Melbourne
North Melbourne has never been short of boozers, but it didn't offer as much for the craft beer drinker as many of the city's other inner 'burbs. That's all changed now – there's even a small brewery – as Will Ziebell discovered.
Who Brews Village Days Beers?
Given the rise in brewing hubs across the city, you'd be forgiven for all parts of Sydney were well covered for local beer. But Village Days found an area in need, opening in Gladesville and leaving North Shore locals glad they did.
Getting Blind With Crafty: Mexican Lagers
For our Mexican lager blind tasting, we veered a little from our usual approach and included some of the biggest names in the world alongside the Aussies. The big question: could a local hero claim the crown...?
Be Part Of Pint Of Origin 2024
The Crafty Pint's annual celebration of the wide world of beer, Pint of Origin, returns to Melbourne from May 10 to 19 next year. If you'd like your venue to be involved, we're currently taking expressions of interest.
The Hop Selectors: Harvest Time In The Pacific Northwest
Some of Australia and New Zealand's top brewers have been in the US, touring hop regions and selecting the hops they reckon will work best in their upcoming beers. We chatted to two of them on their return.
Parachilna Brew Project: Brewing In The Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges are among the most spectacular, magical and spiritual places in Australia. They're also pretty remote. Yet, thanks to the family who've run the Prairie Hotel for 32 years, the region now has its own brewery.
Flying High: Flamin Galah’s Soaring Success
At a time when breweries are closing or sliding into administration, one young NSW operation is soaring. We caught up with Flamin Galah founders Sam and Claire at their glamorous, pretty-in-pink reinvention of an old Chippo pub.
Su Legno: Something New From Something Old
As the craft beer industry develops, there can be a tendency to feel like too many breweries are following the same hoppy and hazy path. Su Legno are a new Adelaide outfit forging their own path with a passion for wood.
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Who Brews Great Hops Beers?
Great Hops' home in Armidale is an impressive dome shed on the outskirts of town filled with a bunch of "collected shit". It's popular with locals and a much-appreciated stop for anyone travelling through, as our weary writer discovered.
Keeping Live Music Alive
It's been a tough year for many indie breweries and the same can be said for grassroots live music venues. Combined with a rise in "indie washing", the situation has led The Wheaty and other SA venues to band together.
Sydney Beer Week To Return In 2024
Sydney Beer Week is to return in 2024, bringing to an end a six-year beer week drought for the city's beer lovers. We spoke to the duo behind its comeback about their plans to breathe fresh life into the city's beer scene next October.
Brew & A: Marcus Cox
Marcus Cox marks 20 years in brewing this year. We chatted to him about a career spanning the earliest days at 3 Ravens, launching breweries both sides of the Pacific, major trophies, and rescuing a brewery from floodwaters.
The Matchmakers: Pairing Food With Radlers
For the second entry in The Matchmakers series on beer and food pairing, the team at Molly Rose looks forward eagerly to summer, with a refreshing radler designed to go hand-in-hand with all-inclusive satay skewers.
Bad Shepherd Enter Voluntary Administration
Bad Shepherd have this week entered voluntary administration as they undertake a financial restructuring of the business. But the founders say it remains business as usual for customers and employees.
Chronically Crafty: Managing Health In The Beer Industry
Chronic medical conditions can be nonstop and balancing self-care with a passion that surrounds you with booze is a fine line to walk. Type one diabetic Will Ziebell speaks to people working in beer with chronic health conditions.
La Sirène's Reservoir Renaissance
Just 371 days on from opening Bar La Sirène in Alphington, Costa and Eva Nikias opened Bar La Sirène in Reservoir after a wild year of sudden closures, existential crises and, ultimately, a desire to keep the dream alive.
Behind Bars: Saccharomyces
It's like a German beer hall. Or a Belgian beer café. But it's mostly full of Aussie beer. But sometimes it's full of German or Belgian or American beer. It's Saccharomyces Beer Café, and there's not much like it.
WSET To Launch New Beer Qualifications In Australia
New beer courses are launching in Australia next year as global training organisation WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) add beer to their repertoire – and bringing Two Birds founder Jayne Lewis to their team.
Crafty Crawls: WA's South West Corridor
WA's South West is a popular holiday destination awash with wineries and breweries. These days, however, even the journey down to the region is paved with beer so here's a guide to the best beers along the South West Corridor.
Cerveza: Is The Next Big Thing In Beer ... Beer?
You've probably heard the word "cerveza" more than usual in recent weeks, and you'll hear it more in the coming months. But what exactly is it? And why are some brewers predicting a summer of cerveza?
Scholarships Made Beerable
Looking to learn more about the science of brewing? The founders of Science Made Beerable have launched a scholarship to give people eager to study a science-focused beer-related course a helping hand.
8 Wired's Wild Success
8 Wired beers have been found – and much-admired – across Australia for well over a decade now. After the brewery claimed both top trophies at the 2023 NZ Beer Awards, Michael Donaldson chatted to founder Søren Eriksen.
Currumbin Valley Brewing's Taproom Finally Opens
After seven years of brewing and a false start last year, Currumbin Valley Brewing have finally opened their taproom. We chatted to co-owner Smokey about their rustic, upcycled new space literally just around the corner from Balter.
The Beer Gear of Tmorrow
Band and brewery t-shirts have much in common; now thanks to a Sydney-based business, they're becoming more sustainable too. Learn how Tmorrow are turning clothing waste and plastic bottles into excellent tees.
Crafty Crawls: Milton & Paddington
Milton and Paddington have evolved as venues have come and gone and grown over the years. So it makes sense this Crafty Crawl has evolved too. As spring 2023 unfurls, here's an updated guide to the good beer found there.
Local Brewing Co Lay Waste To Waste
Over the last few years, Local Brewing have been working closely with Coles Liquor and local farmers to turn excess fruit into beer. As they prepare to launch the fourth Surplus Series release, we chatted to the brewery and retailer about how it all works.
The Matchmakers: Pairing Food With Dark Ales
Drink good beer? Enjoy good food? Then you're going to love The Matchmakers, our new monthly series exploring beer and food pairing in the expert company of Nic Sandery and Ittichai Ngamtrairai at Molly Rose.
BinaryBeer Make Waves In Europe
Wollongong-based BinaryBeer has been building an international presence for several years and has just announced their smart keg tech has been picked up by Asahi in Europe.
Sobah Launch Australia's First Non-Alc Brewery
Sobah's brewery features the stainless you'll find in any Australian brewery yet the Gold Coast operation remains entirely unique. We visited Australia's first non-alc brewery to chat with founders Clinton and Lozen Schultz.
Alice Springs Brewing Co: Five Years In Five Beers
As he and his team prepare to embark on a multi-day fifth birthday celebration, we chatted to Alice Springs Brewing Co founder Kyle Pearson about a half decade in which "a bit of a hobby" has become an NT destination.
Temple Top GABS 2023 Can Design Awards
The winners of the GABS Craft Beer Can Design Awards have been revealed, with Temple Brewing's Hello, My Name Is Amber taking out top spot and joined on the podium by Brick Lane and Aether Brewing.
Who Brews Smiley Beers?
Pakenham welcomed its very first brewery in the shape of Smiley's Brewing following a multi-year journey that involved COVID, planning objections and, ultimately, a lot of local support. Find out more in this Who Brews...?
Crafty Sprawl: Sunshine Coast Venues & Bottleshops
To wrap up our guide to the best of beer on the Sunshine Coast, we ducked into the bars, restaurants and bottleshops dedicated to showcasing good beer. Spoiler: it was at a lot of places.
Beer Basics: Milling & Mashing
We've covered the key ingredients in beer – water, malt, hops and yeast – so now it's time to take our Beer Basics series to the next stage and get stuck into the brewing process. First up: milling and mashing.
Burnout And Beer: A View From The States
Craft beer is an industry driven by passion but, if that fades, where can workers turn? Katie Muggli took an industry-wide moment of self reflection and decided to build a resource to support those working in American craft beer.
As Beer's Bleak Winter Ends, Is Optimism Starting To Take Root?
Winter is over, which feels like as good a time as any to pause and reflect – and to attempt encapsulate the hundreds of conversations we've had with people across Australia on the present and future of craft beer.
Craft Beer's Consolidation Continues As Otherside & Nowhereman Become One
Consolidation within the local beer world continues apace with the news today that WA breweries Otherside and Nowhereman are to become one. We spoke to the key players about the decision to share more than values.
Carwyn Cellars Bought By Fox Friday
Two of the best-loved names in Australian craft beer have agreed to join forces, with the team behind the fast-growing Fox Friday Craft Brewery buying pioneering retailer and venue Carwyn Cellars.
Marvel-ous Moon Dog To Open Vast Docklands Brewpub
It turns out Moon Dog’s plans for Franco Cozzo’s Footscray site and Frankston are just part of their grand vision. The fun-loving drinks producers are also set to open a vast brewpub next to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne’s Docklands.
Dollar Bill Bling It At The Indies With Their Gold Teeth
Tiny Ballarat-based brewery Dollar Bill completed a remarkable double, claiming Champion Australian Independent Beer at the Indies just months after winning Champion Australian Beer at the Australian International Beer Awards.
WA Brewery Running With Thieves Goes Into Administration
Western Australian brewery Running With Thieves, which operates as a brewery, distillery and venue in South Freo, has gone into administration but the brewery says they continue to trade as normal.
The Kegmaster Mini Brings Draught Beer Home
It's always been easy to drink beer at home but pouring a draught beer has often alluded drinkers - particularly if they're tight on space. The Kegmaster Mini aims to bring the bar experience into even small homes.
Who Owns Your Beer? Updated
Ahead of the return of BrewCon on the Gold Coast, we've updated our guide to the ownership of craft beer brands in Australia. Much has changed in the past year or so, notably in the space we christened Indie Families in 2019.
Creating A Winning Brewery Experience
Breweries have transformed warehouses into social spaces and created new kinds of hospitality experiences. But what makes a good brewery venue and what do founders think about before they start building?
Beer Basics: Yeast Part II – Time To Get Funky
Having looked at the world of common brewer's yeasts and what they do to beer in Part I of this Beer Basics feature, here Nic Sandery of Molly Rose helps us get funky.
Dexter-ity – Crafting A Greener, Leaner, Local Malt
The rise of craft beer has changed the landscape in many ways, and the launch of Dexter Malt today highlights many of those. It's a project involving collaboration, innovation, sustainability, provenance and, of course, beer.
Who Brews Yellow Matter Beers?
Their name is taken from a Beatles classic, their idiosyncratic venue will transport you to another era, and their beers are designed to be super comfy and approachable. Meet the team behind Adelaide brewpub Yellow Matter.
The Local Taphouse To Open At Melbourne Airport
The team behind trailblazing craft beer venue The Local Taphouse are set to open a bar at Melbourne Airport. It's their second joint venture there, following the launch of a Stomping Ground venue in early 2020.
