News & Feature Stories
Matilda Bay's Founder To Return
The man credited with kick-starting a revolution in Australian beer is to return to the brewing company he founded. Phil Sexton is to open a Matilda Bay brewery venue in Healesville in partnership with CUB.
Who Brews Reckless Beers?
From homebrew in the bathtub to brewpubs in Portland then gypsy brewing in Sydney's Inner West, the story of Reckless Brewing is one of three friends who could have their own sitcom.
Crafty Crawls: Newcastle
Newcastle's history is one of hard working and hard drinking and today the coastal city boasts a plethora of excellent spots to enjoy good beer. The recently built light rail means it's easier than ever to get between them too.
Aussie Beerstagrammers: beerstagram_au
As users explore the possibilities within Instagram, beer-loving users are becoming ever more creative. A fine example is Sergio Montenegro, who has started bringing beer labels to vivid live at @beerstagram_au.
The Collaborators: White Labs
Chris White is a hero among brewers worldwide. His White Labs operation has been supplying a growing number of yeasts to brewers (and winemakers) for decades. We caught up with him when he was speaking at BrewCon.
Crafty Cabal Update - October 2019
Want to know what's going on with The Crafty Cabal, our beer lovers bonus scheme? In this update, there's more giveaways, more specials and info on an upcoming event too.
Who Brews Old Slang Beers?
Idioms and old sayings are a popular source for breweries seeking inspiration for beer names and that's where new Victorian operation Old Slang have gone too. We caught up with the man behind the beers to find out more.
The Booze World's Crowdfunding Barassi Line
Since it became an option in Australia late last year, a number of breweries have launched equity crowdfunding campaigns. But none of them have been in WA or SA and, according to crowdfunding platform Birchal, that's because they can't.
Aussie Exports: Brent Soutar
In this Aussie Exports, we chat with globetrotter Brent Soutar about his brewing journey, and peek voyeuristically behind the curtain at his current employer, the world renowned Firestone Walker.
Building Moon Dog's World
Melbourne's Moon Dog have helped shape the local beer industry over the past eight years. As they prepare to open their outrageous new brewery venue, Moon Dog World, we joined the founders for a trip down Memory Lane.
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Crafty Crawls: Chapel Street & Beyond
It's been a few years since we first ran a guide to the best spots to find good beer along and around Melbourne's Chapel Street and much has changed. So, here's a new one to help you navigate the busy strip.
Supermarket Success At The World Beer Awards
One of Coles' beer brands has picked up a trophy in the World Beer Awards in London. Tinnies Pale Ale was one of two Aussie category winners, with Sydney's Redoak collecting the other for their Chateau Sour.
Pirate Life Sail West
Pirate Life are to return to their home state, announcing plans to open a vast brewpub in East Perth in 2020. Guy Southern caught up with co-founder Red Proudfoot to find out more.
Tasting Notes: Music For Your Mouth
Sonic seasoning is an experimental concept that uses sound to affect perception of flavour. Sydney Brewery joined music artist Hylander in combining a Galaxy-forward beer and spacey soundscape to create music for your mouth.
Wolf of the Willows To Open A Brewery In 2020
Melbourne-based brewing company Wolf of the Willows are to open their own brewery and taproom in Mordialloc. They hope to open their new operation early in 2020.
Three Cheers For Shepparton
Shepparton is a regional Victorian city that hasn't had its own brewery for a hundred years. So what will it look like now three new breweries are set to come to town within 12 months of each other?
Beeries Winners 2019
Brisbane's beer community gathered at the Showgrounds last night for the third annual Beeries. The celebration of the local beer scene was just that: a celebration.
Karma Kegs For The Climate
Ahead of the Global Climate Strike, the Good Beer Co have announced they’ll be bringing people together over beer to help raise money for the Great Barrier Reef. Will Ziebell spoke to brewing company founder James Grugeon.
Aussie Exports: Pat Keeble
Stone & Wood have made an impression in the UK like few other genuinely Aussie brands in recent years. Much of that is down to one man, their London jack of all trades, Pat Keeble. Will Ziebell joined him for a Pac Ale in Fitzrovia.
The Blackhearts Family Story
The success of local producers is regularly lauded on these pages and elsewhere. But the achievements of Paul and Jess Ghaie in the world of good booze retail are as worthy of recognition as any indie brewer or winemaker.
No Beer On A Dead Planet
On September 20, people across the planet will join young campaigners for #ClimateStrike. The Crafty Pint will be one of the local beer businesses taking part and hope more people in the Aussie beer world will join us.
Alive And Swell In McLaren Vale
He was supposed to join his dad at DogRidge making wine, but an epic 18-month surf trip changed everything. Alexis Buxton-Collins joined Dan Wright at the Swell brewery venue to trace his journey from grape to grain.
Cancer Dads Come Together For Bear Beer
A group of WA cancer dads have started working with Whitelakes Brewing to create Bear Beer, an annual release that raises awareness and funds for families whose kids have cancer. We chatted to the man behind it.
Brisbane's Lithuanian Baker Boys
Kveik might be hogging the headlines for many but one Brisbane brewing team has taken inspiration from another Northern European beer style – one that involves baking the mash first: Lithuanian keptinis.
Ghosting Back To His Roots
Five Barrel founder Phil O'Shea started out as a homebrewer and remains connected to the local brewing community in Wollongong, even creating a unique series of beers with a homebrewer and their own sour culture.
Fixation, 3 Ravens & Dainton Top 2019's Indies
Dainton took out their second Champion Beer trophy in three years at The Indies 2019. Fixation also celebrated a second major trophy in three years, claiming Champion Large Brewery, with 3 Ravens and All Hands also winning big.
Indie Beer's Family Ties
Breweries are just diversifying their offering when it comes to beers and venues. There's a number of independent operations with multiple brands under their umbrella, both bought and birthed.
Ownership Infographic – September 2019
As one industry commentator put it to us recently, keeping this infographic up to date is something of a Sisyphean task. But, given recent moves, we figured we should at least attempt to put together a snapshot of who owns whom.
The Big Issue: Beer Quality
As the craft industry grows and consumer knowledge increases in step, ensuring you're consistently releasing quality beer has arguably never been more important. In this Big Issue feature, we look at why – and how it can be done.
Indie Beer Gets Its Own National Day
October 26, 2019, is to become the inaugural Indie Beer Day, with supporters of independent Aussie beer encouraged to raise a glass in support of the local industry.
Ballistic Beer To Open Springfield Brewpub
Ballistic Beer will soon open their third venue in three years: a brewpub in Brisbane's western suburb of Springfield Central in addition to their Salisbury brewery and West End Alehouse & Kitchen.
Who Brews As Two Rupees?
Childhood friends Danny Perera and Amila Mendis fell in love with Melbourne's craft beer scene after moving from Sri Lanka. They started homebrewing together and have now opened Two Rupees, a brewpub in Clayton.
The Big Issue: Cracking The Code
A number of well publicised cases has brought the role of ABAC in setting the standards for alcohol advertising to the fore. We speak to ABAC's chair and industry figures to find out how businesses can avoid running into trouble.
Beer 'n' Spice & All Things Nice
No beer lovers trip to Bendigo is complete without a stop at Flight Bar for some spicy food and a restock of hot sauce. Now the owners have a burger joint too we caught up with them – and nicked their hot sauce recipe.
Who Brews BrewiColo Beers?
Ocean Grove is a relaxed coastal town, but BrewiColo are keen to take things even further, encouraging people to slow down and enjoy a taste of island life. Find out more as part of our Who Brews...? series.
The Great British Beer Writer
Pete Brown started out in beer marketing before becoming one of Britain's best-loved writers on beer and wider booze and pub culture. We caught up with him in London ahead of his keynote address at BrewCon.
A Sour Taste In Their Mouths
Sour beers have really taken off in Australia in the past couple of years, but what are they? Ahead of Blobfish, a festival dedicated to sour, wild and funky beers, we chatted to four Australian and Kiwi breweries who love them.
Green Beacon Bought By Asahi
Asahi's shopping spree continues apace with today's news that they've acquired Green Beacon. The move comes shortly after last month's announcement they plan to purchase CUB, 4 Pines and Pirate Life from AB InBev.
One Year. Five Beers. Nine Fingers
His entry into commercial brewing was unusual – the prize for winning a homebrew competition was to brew a 2,000 litre batch and receive 12 months of mentorship. A year on, we caught up with David of Nine Fingers.
Staves & Wayward Top Sydney Royal Beer Awards
Tiny Glebe brewpub Staves took out Best NSW Beer for their Pale as well as Champion Draught Beer at the 2019 Sydney Royal Beer Awards, with Wayward claiming Champion Packaged Beer for their Raspberry Berliner Weisse.
Gimme Shelter
The buzzing beer scene in South West WA is to gain another new brewery, with construction work beginning this week on Shelter. We caught up with director and head brewer Jason Credaro to find out more.
Crafty Cabal Update – August 2019
Want to know what's new with The Crafty Cabal, our beer lovers bonus scheme? In short, plenty! We've got festival giveaways, exclusive events, new offers and more!
Behind Bars: Copper & Oak
The brothers behind Copper & Oak have been selling booze to the people of Perth for more than 15 years. Guy Southern called in for a chat to see what they make of the fast-changing beer scene that surrounds them.
Who Brews Frexi Beers?
They hail from France and Mexico, met in London and embarked on a trip through Europe and South East Asia sampling beers before landing in Melbourne. Now they've launched their first beers as Frexi Brewing, we got in touch.
The Besk Comes To Those Who Wait
It's taken rather longer than planned to get here and is a different beast to that originally envisaged by the founders, but ambitious Perth venue Besk is finally open. Guy Southern caught up with the team to find out more.
Crafty Dozen – August 2019
So, once again, it turns out we can't count as we've added thirteen more listings to the directory side of the site since our last roundup. Ah well, the beer world is expanding fast. Anyway, here's a bunch of beery businesses.
Crafty Crawls: Adelaide
Two years on from its original publication, we've updated our Crafty Crawl guide to Adelaide's pubs and bigger bars. We'll be updating our guide to the city's small bars soon too.
Going Green: Ocean Friendly Brews
What would it take for breweries to go plastic free in their tap rooms? Not much, apparently. We spoke to Surfrider to see how they've helped some of Australia's biggest craft brewers say no to single-use plastic.
Hawking No More
In less than five years, Hawkers and the brewery's CEO Mazen Hajjar have made quite the impact on the local beer industry. As they close one chapter of their story and start another, we caught up with him for a chat.
Our Man In NZ: The Yeast Starters
They've been mates since they were 12 and have brewed together for years. Now Simon Cooke and Ryan Carville are looking to change the NZ brewing industry via Froth Technologies.
