Innovation
New ideas and technologies helping to drive beer forward.
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.
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.
That's Dope! The US Brewers On A High
The cannabis plant is a close relative of hops but we don't – legally – see them together in Australia. The situation is rather different in the US, as Will Ziebell discovered in conversation with some of those pioneering weed-beer hybrids.
Ferveo's New Form Of Yeast For Brewers
Ferveo is a yeast company that's been working with Adelaide brewers for some time before officially launching with an innovative range. Here, Tommaso Watson tells us about his journey from winemaking to wort-wrangling.
Infusion Malt: Belgian Innovation, Aussie Roots
Malt doesn't tend to elicit the same excitement in craft beer circles as hops or even yeast yet it sets the stage for all beer. A recent innovation looks set to boost excitement levels, however, and driving it is an Australian brewer.
CBCo Take Non-Alc Craft Beer To A New Low
CBCo have entered the alcohol-free space but the brewery's approach has seen them take a different path to most other breweries. We chatted to head brewer Ash Hazell about their new Alfa Laval De-Alc Module.
Phantasm: The Ghost Coming To Your Beer
Hops and their vibrant aromatics create much excitement among beer fans but a ghostly new flavour is attracting attention among brewers. That ghost is Phantasm, so we chatted to the man behind it and one of the first local brewers to try it.
Wild Yeast Zoo
Wild beers are the oldest form of brewing and still capture a certain romance. Stepping into that fray is Wild Yeast Zoo, a Newcastle-based venture that hopes to uncover new yeast strains of yeast and bring the public along for the journey.
The Keys To A Good Time – Yours From Today
The Keys Leisure Centre could well be Melbourne's most multifaceted venue, with the Preston haunt including a bowling alley, arcade, bistro, beer garden and three bars. As it opens, we chatted to one of the founders.
Jarrah Boy Brings Native Ingredients To The Fore
A new Sunshine Coast-based brewing company showcasing native ingredients is set to launch later this month. Jarrah Boy is the latest venture from Dale Vocale, an Indigenous chef, entrepreneur and proud Monero Ngarigo man.
Get more Crafty!
Sign up to our newsletters and get the latest craft beer news delivered free to your inbox. Choose from our Friday Roundup of the week, the quick-read, social feed-like Crafty Cuppa – or both!
The Collaborators: Deep Liquid's AI Recipe Designs
We live in an age of unlimited limiteds in which new releases are never-ending. Into this landscape steps Deep Liquid, an artificial intelligence program that aims to use customer feedback to help brewers design and brew better beer.
Want To Own A Bar For Free?
Want to own a bar for free? The founders of crafty Preston hangout Hard Rubbish are moving on and have decided the best way to find the right owners for their beloved Hardo is to give it away to the people with the best vision for its future.
Hops 'n' Robbers
It's not uncommon for brewpubs to have a stack of games for anyone looking to settle in but no there's a card game with breweries at its heart. We caught up with the creators of Hops ‘n’ Robbers to find out more.
The Perfect Pour: The Art Of The Side-Pull
It's a pretty good time to be a lover of lager but breweries and venues are finding ways to ensure such beers are perfectly poured. We chatted to the Australians dedicated to the fine art of the side-pull; a Czech traditional that's gaining ground locally.
Atomic Whip Their Way To The Top
In a sea of wacky beers, making waves isn't easy. But Atomic have managed to do it, with their flame-kissed Lemon Whip Sour taking out the People's Choice from all the festival beers at GABS 2022.
Carving Out A Niche: Small Festivals. Big Ideas
It's been a tough couple of years for beer festivals but events both large and small are roaring back. We chatted to the folks behind Juicy Fest, Rauchbier Festival and Lagerland to hear how breweries are carving out a niche in the festival space.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Want to know more?
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.
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.
24 Hour Barley People
They've brewed barleywines and plenty of double digit ABV beers before, but never anything like this. In what's likely to be an Aussie first, Rocky Ridge have created a 24-hour boil beer to see how far they can push a local farmer's pale malt.
Short Back And Sour, Please!
It's not uncommon to enjoy a free beer while getting a haircut but La Bodega is taking things further. We caught up with the people behind the barbershop-meets-beer bar for a chat about their plan to bring craft beer to Williamstown.
A Vision For Indie Beer
Late last year, Young Henrys co-founder Richard Adamson was elected chair of the Independent Brewers Association. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the industry, we chatted to him about his vision for indie beer.
Beer On The Blockchain
Blockchains. Crypto. The metaverse. They're terms we hear about a lot these days but do they have much common ground with the world of beer? We spoke to two Australian brewing companies embracing digital currencies to find out.
Australia's First Gluten-Free Bottlo
Gluten-free beer has come a long way in Australia in recent years and one new retailer has committed to stocking the widest variety anyone can find. We spoke to David Lilley about his decision to launch the online Gluten Free Beer Shop.
Wild Life Get Wilder
Shepparton-based Wild Life Brewing recently took their pilot kit away from home to spend a day in the elements. We caught up with co-founder Jack Thomson to find out about the adventure and plans for their own brewery.
Now Tapped To Cease Operating
Free tap list app Now Tapped is to cease operating. Founder Angus Bremner, who launched the app in 2014 as a " bit of a hobby" says Untappd have cut off his access to their data without warning, forcing his hand.
Step Inside The Virtual Bottleshop
How'd you fancy climbing a tree to find a rare bottle of Cantillon? It might sound wild, but if a new venture featuring Purvis Beer, a Melbourne-based software developer, and Oculus Quest comes off, it could become your virtual reality.
The Collaborators: Vertek Innovations
Is that decal really moving or is it time to head home? If you're in a bar featuring decals from Perth's Vertek Innovations, don't worry: they really are moving. We chatted to the couple bringing beer brands to life on the bar.
Wildflower – Back From The Brink
A rogue element appeared in Wildflower's house culture recently, plunging the brewery team into despair. But, thanks to the kindness of friends in the food and drinks community, they're back from the brink.
The Dark & Disgusting Minds of The Scratch
No one's ever accused the folk at The Scratch of being normal. Their festivals have cult followings, and the videos they make to promote them can be downright disgusting. We sat down with manager Becca King to find out more.
Sailors Grave To Create Multimillion Dollar Dunetown
Sailors Grave are set to realise the long-held dream for a farmhouse style brewery, securing a $2.35m grant that will go towards the creation of Dunetown on the East Gippsland coast.
Brunswick's Booze-Free Bar
Alcohol-free alternatives to beer, wine and spirits have come a long way in recent times and soon Melburnians will have a dedicated space to try those offerings in. We got in touch with the Brunswick Aces team to find out more.
Putting The Micro In Microbrewing
Use of the term has dropped away somewhat in recent years, but there's really one way one to describe Edward Kerr's research into barley protein at the University of Queensland: microbrewing.
BrewBox: Making Homebrewing Simpler
A pair of 4 Pines brewers have launched a new business designed to ease people into the world of craft brewing at home. We chatted to Henry and Dylan about their hopes for BrewBox.
Little Bang To Release 12,000 Hazy IPAs
Need more hazy IPA in your life? Then you're in luck as Adelaide's Little Bang are releasing 12,000 of them this December. We chatted to the lunatic behind the venture.
Postcards from the Edge No.30: Exit Through The Bottleshop
Mixed brewery packs appeared in an instant as the shutdown hit and have kept on coming – in diverse arrangements too. But, with restrictions starting to ease across Australia, will they have post-pandemic staying power?
On The Frontline Of Online
Since venues shut down, there's been a flurry of new startups looking to offer new marketplace solutions. Will Ziebell spoke to three businesses – one that was already in the works – about their plans for the pandemic.
The Growler Renaissance
People have come up with many new concepts as they attempt to navigate the COVID-19 crisis. But it's a rather older one that's been helping keep many businesses afloat and our drains free of delicious draught beer.
Postcards from the Edge No.18: From Menulog To Menudog
If you live around Carlton North you may have seen an unusual form of home delivery service in recent weeks. The Great Northern team have been sending beer and food out via their security dog and barman on skateboard...
Postcards from the Edge No.10: Can Together
The craft beer industry has always been one fired by the spirit of collaboration, something which has come to the fore during the COVID-19 crisis. We spoke to two brewers helping get their peers beers into punters' hands.
Postcards from the Edge No.8: Sanitation For The Nation
Brewers and distillers across the country have been switching production in recent weeks to help meet the country's need for more hand sanitiser.
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.
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.
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.
All Aboard The Beer Quality Motorhome
In recent months, Lallemand Brewing's technical manager Dan McCulloch has been taking a motorhome around Australia visiting breweries. Will Ziebell jumped on board to find out what he was doing and, more importantly, ask why.
