Crafty's Advent Calendar: Pia Poynton

December 13, 2019, by James Smith

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Crafty's Advent Calendar: Pia Poynton

The world of beer requires more than beer to become the community it is in Australia today. It requires more than the industry that produces and supplies it too, from those growing the raw ingredients to those that turn them into delicious liquid and those that get that liquid from breweries to venues and into the hands of people willing to pay for the pleasure of imbibing it.

It requires enthusiasts, educators, events and more. And Pia Poynton is someone who's played many roles within the WA beer world over the past decade. Her long-running Girl + Beer blog, which she published from 2012 to the end of last year, did as much, if not more, to document the state's beer scene and those who inhabit it than any other publication. 

In creating and running the site, Pia helped bring a little balance to a traditionally and overwhelmingly male world. Along with Kirrily Waldhorn (Beer Diva), she was one of the first female voices in the contemporary beer media, helping pave the way for those that have followed, many in high profile positions.

But her writing, which includes plenty of articles for this site too, is just one part of Pia's beer story. 

Her first contact with this world was at The Belgian Beer Café in Perth, which led to other bartending jobs before she started her first repping gig with Gage Roads, which was followed by a move to Little Creatures. I first met her when she was assistant venue manager at the now-closed Five Bar, one of the first venues in Perth to support local craft beer.

There was then what she describes as a "weird sidetrack" – managing a holiday park in Busselton – before a return to the rep life with Coca-Cola, then Nail Brewing and, most recently, on to her "fave job ever"; she's technically business development manager at Nowhereman, but it's a role that allows her to get involved in promotions, social media and more for the West Leederville brewery.

Those are the facts, however. Much of what Pia, a Certified Cicerone and WA coordinator for the Pink Boots Society too, brings to the beer scene is less tangible. She's one of those people who makes things better just by being around, someone who brings a little more joy to every occasion, the sort of person that helps make our craft beer community the special place it is.


Pia Poynton

Pia at this year's Pink Boots brew day at Nowhereman. Photo credit: Emma Pegrum Photography

 

What's been your highlight of the past decade?

My dog, Barley! But given this is The Crafty Pint I suspect you're looking for an answer of the beery kind. 

I can't pick just one, it's way too hard, so I'll go the cheesy route and say that it's the friends I've made and the countless great beers and big laughs we've shared that have been the absolute freakin' best.


What's surprised you the most about the Aussie beer scene?

I'm always surprised at the generosity of the beer scene. Whether it's shouting someone a beer or breweries helping other breweries behind the scenes, I've got countless examples and it's beautiful.

And, just to throw it out there because not all surprises are positive, I'm still genuinely surprised when stupid sexist crap still pops up in the industry.


What are your thoughts on the health of the beer industry as we approach the end of a remarkable decade?

There has been so much growth that it's hard to actually picture it coming to an end but I concede that could just be me and my tendency to see every pint as half full. I am not brave enough to try and predict the future of Australia's beer industry so I won't.


What's your number one goal for the coming decade?

Continued momentum – it's been a good year of finding balance in my world and working hard so I just want to keep that going.


And, if you had one Christmas wish for beer in Australia, what would it be?

For more great stories by great people because good beer almost always follows.


We're opening a door on Crafty's Advent Calendar every morning up until Christmas Day and you can find them all here.

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