News & Feature Stories

Who Brews As Lucha Brewing?

Long-time public servants Damien and Sandie Odger decided to have some fun, quitting their jobs and following their dream. We got in touch with the founders of Lucha Brewing in Brisbane's west to find out more.

Feral Boar Out. Slumdog In

Brewing is back at the former Feral brewpub in the Swan Valley. Feral co-founder Al Carragher has brought in former Feral brewer Will Irving to helped launch Slumdog Brewing at what will reopen as the Baskerville Tavern.

Who Brews Tinshed Beers?

Tinshed Brewery opened in the small NSW town of Dungog in 2016 in a main street where few shops were occupied. Six years on, not only has it become a community hub but the town's other businesses have whirred back to life too.

Australian International Beer Awards 2022 – The Winners

There was plenty of home state glory at the 2022 AIBAs as Hawkers, Stomping Ground and Dollar Bill took out three of the four Champion Australian Brewery titles. Moffat Beach completed the set, with a pastry sour winning Champion Beer.

James Atkinson's Ever-Evolving Drinks Adventures

James Atkinson has spent years covering the drinks industry for various publications and his Drinks Adventures podcast has seen him pick up multiple awards, including the Best Media trophy at last year's AIBA. Ahead of this year's awards, we caught up with the drinks writer to hear what the award means and where his focus lies.

Men, Men, Men, Men, Manly Men, Men, Men

A year on from craft beer's #MeToo reckoning, Pink Boots Society president and Beer Agents For Change co-founder Tiffany Waldron asks just how much things have changed. And if the local beer industry remains very much a boys' club.

Aussie Exports: Annette May

Three decades after moving to the US, Annette May has gone from someone who didn't drink beer to “that strange Australian woman with all that hair who knows a lot about beer” and now a Brewer's Association Mentor Of The Year.

Brew & A: Luke Cooper

One of the country's first alcohol-free brewing companies, the proudly indigenous-owned and led Sobah recently appointed their first head brewer, Wailwan man Luke Cooper. We caught up with the "bushtucker brewer".

Supporting Flood Victims With Beer And Cheer

Craft Beer Coopery has spent years encouraging men to talk about their mental wellbeing. Their latest initiative sees them send their conversation-starting craft beer crates to Lismore in support of those impacted by recent floods.

A Good Week Of Beer

Good Beer Week is taking a breather in 2022 but some of Victoria's breweries and venues are running their events as planned. We caught up with some of those going full steam ahead to find out more.

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Brew & A: Luigi Mensi

From mead-making in Italy via sweet potato-picking in Bundaberg to trialling souring bacteria in Marrickville, motorcycling metalhead Luigi Mensi has enjoyed a colourful path in life. We caught up with Batch's head brewer to find out more.

Pint of Origin – One Week To Go!

Pint of Origin returns to Melbourne for a tenth time on May 20. With no Good Beer Week this year, we decided to go solo and have added some sweet new features to the festival. Check them out and get ready for #PoO22!

From Backyard Brews To The Real Deal

The team at Margaret River Brewhouse launched their Backyard Brewing Tournament as a means of staying connected to their homebrewing roots. Little did they know it would help launch the brewing careers of others.

Who Brews Middle Island Beers?

Middle Island isn't as well known as some of Victoria's other coastal outposts but for Warrnambool locals, it holds a special place in their hearts. Middle Island Brewing Co is a new brewing company launched by a group of locals who want to put their island and region on the map for craft beer drinkers.

Philter: Five Years In Five Beers

Philter may only just turned five but somehow it feels like the brewing company has been part of the craft beer industry for longer. We caught up with two of the Sydney outfit's founders to walk us through their first five years in five beers.

Aussies Win Big At US Awards

It's been a big week for Australian brewers and designers, with many claiming awards at the World Beer Cup and the Craft Beer Marketing Awards. We spoke to some of those celebrating adding to their trophy cabinets.

The Collaborators: Mogwai Labs

Wollongong and surrounds already have a vibrant local beer scene; now adding to its crafty credentials is a new liquid yeast manufacturer, Mogwai Labs. We spoke to founder Josh Allen about foraging yeast and his plans for the business.

The GABSiest GABS Yet?

With the GABS 2022 season mere days away, we spoke to main man Mike about pulling it all together, then attempted to navigate our way through what must be the zaniest festival beer lineup to date.

Melbourne To Gain An Alcohol-Free Taproom

We've regularly covered the rise of non-alc beer, and while Monceau Co's main focus is kombucha their story mirrors that of many craft breweries. As they announce a Brunswick taproom, we spoke to the owners about their plans.

Molly Rose's Grand Designs

Molly Rose are working on plans that will allow them to take their collaborations with winemakers and chefs to a new level. We caught up with founder Nic Sandery to hear what he's been cooking up at his Collingwood home.

Who Brews Merino Beers?

Merino Brewery clearly take great pride in their region, putting its pioneering role in the Australian wool industry at the forefront of their business since opening in February. We caught up with them to find out Who Brews Merino beers?

GABS: Making A Stand

Brewery stalls at festivals have gone from spill-spattered trestle tables to interactive experiences as brewers look to cut through the noise. Ahead of the first GABS of 2022, we asked 2021's Best in Show winners how they made a stand.

The Disposable Hero Of Hopocrisy

He's been working in beer and hospo for more than three decades, has sold more beer than most Australians, and now finally has one of his own. We caught up with one of Melbourne's best known faces in beer to find out more.

Find All The Good Beer With Crafty!

With travel on the cards again and venues getting back somewhere close to normality, we’ve been creating the most comprehensive guide to good beer in Australia. Now we're calling on you to make sure there's nothing we've missed.

Young Henrys: Ten Lessons From Ten Years

Young Henrys have brewed so many collaborations, sponsored so many events, and sold beer at so many gigs you'd be forgiven for thinking they're older than ten. As they mark that milestone, they share some of the lessons learned.

Craft Beer & Blood: Meet Deathmatch Downunder

Fluorescent lights exploding on people's heads. Chairs wrapped in barbed wire being thrashed across blood-flecked backs. And a sweaty man in not a lot of lycra drinking a lager from The Albert Brewery. Meet Deathmatch Downunder.

Watch The High County Hop Technical Symposium

Once the party was done and dusted on the Saturday of The High Country Hop, industry figures gathered for the Bintani Technical Symposium at Beechworth Town Hall. Now you can catch up on the presentations.

Who Brews at Principle Brewing?

How do you focus on both quality of your beer and the local community? How do you both fit in with other breweries and stand out from the crowd? You follow your principles. Meet the team at Principle Brewing in another Who Brews...?

Follow The Brightstar

After years spent working overseas and soaking up the beer cultures of Germany and New England, Gareth and Megan Parker have opened their dream brewery. We called in to check out the shiny new Brightstar in Adelaide.

Capital Claim Carbon First As Aussies Brew A Greener Future

A number of Australian brewers are leading the way when it comes to sustainability, with Capital becoming the first Climate Active certified carbon neutral brewery, Rocky Ridge and Big Shed winning sustainability awards, and others going carbon neutral too.

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Who Brews Brew Mountains Beers?

Watching his grandad brew fired a lifelong fascination with brewing for Craig Talbot, so he quit the commuting life to launch Brew Mountains. We invited him to take part in our long-running Who Brews...? series to find out more.

The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre Is Democracy Manifest

Hawke's Brewing have opened their brewery venue in Marrickville. Or to be more accurate, they've opened The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, a place that's less taproom, more a time capsule of not just of another era but another mindset.

Australians Brew For Ukraine

As war in Ukraine continues, local brewers are rallying in support. Prancing Pony, Barossa Valley Brewing and Route 9 Distillery brewed a collab this week, while Dangerous Ales are releasing their Ukrainian Imperial Stout today.

Biotransformation: Where Hops & Yeast Meet

Many fans of hoppy beers will have enjoyed the fruits of Sam Bethune's labour from his days at Fixation. These days, he's with ingredients supplier Bintani where he's been experimenting ahead of the 2022 High Country Hop.

Who Brews Welcome Swallow Beers?

Welcome Swallow brew in the heart of Tasmania's hop country – the realisation of a long-held dream of a local farmer and his mate. With the hop harvest underway, we invited them to take part in our long-running Who Brews? series.

One Drop Look To Clean Up

One Drop are a brewery that frequently experiment with beer ingredients and styles but it's their latest process that has the Sydney outfit most excited. They've been trialling a process they call Clean Fusion, which they say not only gets the most out of their hops but solves a number of technical issues too.

Grassy Knoll Become The New Seekers

A new brewery is set to open in the Gong this weekend, except it's not quite new. Seeker Brewing sees Grassy Knoll founder Jeff Argent take over the space that previously housed Bulli Brewing for a new joint venture.

Who Brews At Broulee Brewhouse?

The need for a community space in Broulee was brought to a head by the Black Saturday fires of 2019/20. So, over a few games of tennis, two couples decided to make it happen and, late last year, Broulee Brewhouse was born.

Fundraiser Launched For Wags' Family

A GoFundMe has been launched to support the family of Mark "Wags" Wagthorne, the much-loved beer world character who passed away from cancer at the age of just 44 last week.

Bionic Beer Builds Bionic Arms

At its core, brewing is a manufacturing process but Ocean Reach's Bionic IPA shows how local breweries can change lives for the better. The brewers have partnered with Free 3D Hands to help develop bionic arms at an affordable price.

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Tributes have been pouring in following the sad news that one of the most popular figures in the local beer world, Mark "Wags" Waghorne, has passed away after a years-long battle with cancer. We spoke to some of those who worked with and knew him.

Fourteen Years Of Fresh Hop Beers

The hop harvest is underway in Australia, which means fresh hop beers are on their way. One brewery has been brewing them longer than most: Bridge Road Brewers, so we chatted to co-owner Ben Kraus about 14 years of harvest ales.

Who Brews Txoko Beers?

From a small takeaway pizza joint to a farm-brewery with an eye on a future filled with organic ingredients and wild ales, family-run Txoko has come a long way since homebrewing son started sharing his beers with his dad.

BecauseWeCAN Vol.6: Sour Power

There's little in beer as divisive as sours: often people love ‘em or can’t bloody stand ‘em in any way, shape or form. So, for the sixth edition of BecauseWeCAN we tackle three of the kookier offerings to hit stores over summer.

Two Mates Launch Fundraiser Following Devastating Floods

Lismore's Two Mates have been heavily impacted by NSW's devastating floods. To help them rebuild, they've set up a GoFundMe. We spoke to co-founder Andrew Newtown to find out about the last week and their determination to move forward.

Tassie's T-Bone Take A Big Bite

T-Bone built their brewpub largely to focus on keg beer but the success of their cans has seen them struggle to meet demand. That's set to change in the near future, however, with work underway on a new production facility.

Jan Bruckner: A Life In Brewing

For three decades, Last Drop Brewery has been serving traditional beers to WA's beer lovers and for the vast majority of that time, Jan Bruckner has been at the helm. As he marks 30 years in Australia, we reflect on a life in beer.

Breaking The Bias

The theme of International Women's Day 2022 is #breakthebias. In this article, MC Jarratt speaks to some of the people doing just that in the beer industry about their experiences and how others can follow suit.

Who Brews As The Boys?

From embarking on a project to stay sane during COVID to dreams of brewing with Shaq, we get the lowdown on The Boys and Scott Wyatt and Tim French's brewing journey in this instalment of Who Brews...?

Matilda Bay Roll Out The Rejects

By the time Matilda Bay released their first new beer following the return of founder Phil Sexton, they'd tipped 27 trial batches down the drain. Now they're offering drinkers a chance to try four of the beers that didn't quite make the grade.