News & Feature Stories
Postcards from the Edge No.3: Quarantinnied
It's amazing how fast things can happen when the pressure's on. The team at Carwyn Cellars has created a special Canvent featuring 24 Victorian brewers in just a couple of days so people can enjoy beers together apart.
Postcards From The Edge No.2: GoFeedMe
What do you do if you're one of the thousands of beer and hospo people forced out of work by the COVID-19 pandemic? In the case of Deb Lieu and James Balboni, you launch a mission to feed others in your position.
Postcards From The Edge No.1: Cherry Cheer
As the beer and hospitality industries adapt to the new reality, there are some inspiring examples around. We joined The Cherry Tree crew as they launched their home deliveries by bringing cheer to the streets of Richmond.
#keepinglocalalive Is Live!
The #keepinglocalalive campaign, designed to encourage people to support their local beer community and showcase how businesses are adapting is now live.
Australians Join Brewgooder's Global Gathering
Brewgooder is a Scottish brewing company that diverts all profits towards clean water projects in Africa. Last year, they invite breweries around the world to join them and this weekend sees a bunch of Aussies launch their beers.
Keeping Local Alive
The restrictions on social gatherings and movement imposed in the fight against COVID-19 will have serious impacts on the beer, hospitality and events industries, among others. We look at how we can try to help them survive.
GABS 2020 Postponed Until August
GABS has announced it is moving its 2020 Australian festivals to August and is working on a new date for Auckland due to measures being taken to halt the spread of Covid-19.
Going Green: switcH2
Breweries produce a lot of wastewater, so what if they could use it in beneficial ways, such as creating heat or power for their brewery? Sydney-based tech startup switcH2 aims to help them do just that.
20 Years Of Nail
Few brewing companies in Australia have been around 20 years, few have picked up as many major trophies, and none has a story like that of Nail and founder John Stallwood. Guy Southern took a trip down Memory Lane.
Good Beer Week 2020 Postponed
Anyone eager to celebrate the tenth Good Beer Week will have to wait a little longer after the organisers took the decision to postpone due to the Covid-19 outbreak. They're now looking at August or September.
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Crafty Crawls: Sydney's Northern Beaches
Whether you're going for a beach weekend or a beer weekend, Sydney's Northern Beaches has plenty to offer - you just need to know where to look.
My Bonny Lies Over In Fitzroy
The beer offering along Fitzroy's main strip of Brunswick Street continues to improve as Bonny joins Near & Far as a welcome new arrival. At its heart are some well known faces from the local booze scene and 27 taps.
Podcast People: Step Brewers
The Step Brewers Podcast brings banter, beers and brewing along with diversions into pop culture and plenty of laughs. We caught up with the Tasmanian trio ahead of their trip to host events at Brewsvegas 2020.
IBD Convention Postponed Due To COVID-19
The organisers of the IBD Convention due to take place in Perth next week – March 16 to 20 – have taken the decision to postpone this year's event due to escalating concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Resin Brewing Opening In The Illawarra
A quarter century after bumping into each other while surfing, Brendan Down and Steve House are set to open a brewery together. All being well, Resin Brewing in Bulli will be officially open from this week.
Sparkke To Fire Up In Melbourne
The female-led Sparkke Change will be bringing their unique brand of social activism through alcoholic drinks to Melbourne later in 2020. As they prepare to launch two new beers, we chatted about their grand vision.
Warrior Women
Ahead of International Women's Day 2020, many breweries across Australia have been celebrating the growing role of women in beer. Jakkii Musgrave spoke to some of them about the advances made and challenges that remain.
Latest News From The Crafty Cabal - March 2020
We know it's only three weeks since the last of these but we've been busy, not least in launching the long-mooted new look Crafty Cabal homepage. We've also added a stack of events and giveaways so high time for an update.
Drink Up – Bushfire Relief's Global Brew
Well over 200 breweries across the planet have brewed a version of the Australian Resilience Beer in support of bushfire relief. Judd Owen spoke to those involved here and overseas – while lending a hand with one of them too.
The Beer Professor
Sam Holloway has combined his passion for craft beer (which includes owning a brewery) with his academic career in business management and entrepreneurship to help advise small brewery owners on building sustainable businesses.
Moffat Beach Win Big In Queensland
Sunshine Coast-based Moffat Beach received a timely boost ahead of opening their second brewery and venue with a swag of trophies at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show Beer Awards
Downsizing: The Global Looking Local
The rise of the brewpub and taproom model is one of the most striking aspects of the changing beer landscape in Australia. And it's an area in which the world's biggest brewing companies and their brands are playing too.
Who Brews Sausage Queen Beers?
Killer snags, boss beers and mid-period Madonna... Judd Owen caught up with Chrissy Flanagan, the self-anointed Sausage Queen of Australia who also runs a brewing company of the same name (and a record label for good measure).
The Collaborators: Hopping Mad
You can't grow hops in Queensland. But two small operations are giving it a red hot go, with UV lights to extend the days, help from growers and researchers worldwide and goodwill aplenty.
Crafty Crawls: Abbotsford
In three years, the beer offering in Richmond and Abbotsford has changed so much we've split what was a combined Crafty Crawl into two. Here's our guide to the best breweries, bars and bottleshops in the home of CUB.
Hard Seltzer: The Alcopopalypse Cometh?
Hard seltzer has taken the US by storm in the past few years and early examples are starting to appear here. But what is it, why has it exploded Stateside, and will it have the same impact with Aussie drinkers?
Who Brews Project Beers?
A visit to Watts River Brewing on opening day proved the catalyst for Braden and Caitlin Beggs to launch their own brewery. Today, Project Brewing brings locally-brewed beer to the people of Rowville in Melbourne's south-east.
All Hands Changes Hands
All Hands Brewing House claimed the Champion Brewpub title at the 2019 Indies. And now it's become the latest brewery to change hands with Signature adding it to a portfolio that includes TGI Fridays and Foresters in Brisbane.
Crafty Crawls: Richmond
When we first ran a Crafty Crawl guide to Richmond it was paired with Abbotsford. Such has been the growth of crafty offerings in both, we've now split them into two. Here's Richmond, with Abbotsford to follow.
There's A New Fox In Town
The sale of Hobart brewery Fox Friday went under the radar for most, but the hazy IPAs the new owners are producing are starting to create a stir. Dorian Broomhall caught up with the American brewer keeping hopheads happy.
Sprocket Dock
It's seven years since Sean and Andrea Ryan launched their first beers as Killer Sprocket. Now, after one lengthy gestation period, they're set to officially open their own brewery in Melbourne's east.
Stepping Out From InCider
The Beer InCider Experience combined killer band lineups with scores of breweries (and ping pong) to become one of the country's biggest festivals. George Levi sat down with founder Marty Keetels to find out why he's moving on.
The Matchmaker Of Deliciousness
It's rare to come across a chef eager to praise beer's qualities over wine, let alone one operating at the level of Rob Kabboord, now back in Melbourne at the pop-up Lekker! after four years helming Quay in Sydney.
Brew & A: Sow & Piglets
It's named after an iconic tourist spot, is found in a hostel, and the Sow & Piglets team are already working on a new brewery venture in regional Victoria. We sat down with the German brewer behind their traditionally-minded beers.
Crafty Crawls: South West WA Part I
The South West of WA is increasingly fertile ground for beer lovers. With so many breweries and good beer venues to explore, we took a weekend break to put together an extended Crafty Crawl featuring much of the best the region has to offer.
Crafty Crawls: South West WA Part II
In part two of our guide to the beer-soaked delights of the South West of WA, we head into the heart of the Margaret River region. There, amid the natural beauty, you find a wealth of small breweries and a passion for supporting local.
Latest News from The Crafty Cabal - February 2020
More than $5,000 in festival tickets, $1,500 worth of beer, one very cool event (with more to be confirmed soon) and more deals taking the total to 150 across Australia... There's new benefits aplenty for Crafty Cabalistas this month.
Golden Recovery
The efforts of the Australian beer community to support those affected by bushfires continue apace, with two fundraising beers released by brewers in Victoria and New South Wales this weekend.
Back To The Future - The Rise Of Small Festivals
There's a new breed of beer festival on the rise, one that combines elements of those from craft beer's earlier days with a more tightly-curated program of beers and brewers.
Who Brews Cooks River Beers?
The duo behind Cooks River were the second winners of Frenchies' Brewers Got Talent competition, which has enabled them to launch their brand. We caught up with Ben and Nathan to find out more.
Hawkers To Build A Brewery Bar
As they prepare to turn five, Hawkers are setting out to build a bar at their Reservoir home. The intention is to use the proposed 170-capacity venue to showcase more experimental releases.
Craft Beer Heroes: Doug Donelan
From fermenting pumpkins at home and homebrewing with his brother via Malt Shovel to heading up New Zealand Hops, Doug Donelan has lived his life in beer. We sat down with him as he starts looking forward to retirement.
Australia's First Airport Brewery Takes Off
The Stomping Ground brewpub at Melbourne Airport – Australia's first airport brewery – is up and running, with the first beer to go through the brewery their version of the Resilience Beer for bushfire relief.
From Oskar Blues To The Blue Mountains
He started brewing at Oskar Blues in Colorado before helping launch Modus Operandi as the Northern Beaches' brewery's first head brewer. Now you'll find DJ McCready and wife Harriet winning over locals in the Blue Mountains.
Founders First Take FogHorn To The Hunter
Founders First's rapid rise to prominence within the Australian beer industry continues this week with the purchase of Potters Brewery and Brasserie in the Hunter Valley, set to become a second home for FogHorn.
Who Brews Boekamp Biers?
It can be tough to stand out in today's busy beer landscape but the duo behind Boekamp Bier in Hobart are offering something different. They're eschewing contemporary trends to focus on Bavarian lagers and wheat beers.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers Of 2019: The Interviews
While Garage Project and Panhead continue to fight it out for top spot, Jono Galuszka looked elsewhere for stories amid the 2019 results. Here, he chats to the folks behind Deep Creek, Duncan's and Maiden Brewing.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers Of 2019: Results & Analysis
Garage Project and Panhead continue their hold over the top spots in the GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers, with the latter's Supercharger moving back to top spot as their Wellington peers claim second and third.
Beer Travel: South Gippsland
It might be best known for its pinot noir, dairy industry and stunning coastlines but head to South Gippsland these days and you'll never be too far from a local brewery eager to share their wares.
Dusty Miner: Slayer Of Beers
He learned the art of brewing as a homebrewer alongside the Newcastle Uni students now at the helm of FogHorn and Hunter Beer Co. Since 2015, Stuart Duff has been brewing commercially too as Dusty Miner.
