A quick festive shout out to wish all Crafty readers a wonderful festive period. Our first full year in operation (well, it’s almost over) has been a blast: manic and marvellous, beery and busy as hell. We’ve seen new breweries emerge, new festivals established, new beer styles created and new drinkers come into the craft beer fold in such numbers that perhaps we really do have a revolution of sorts after all. Admittedly, the Northern Territory’s got a way to go, but with WA and Victoria having led the way, there’s plenty going on everywhere else – even in Queensland, which has witnessed perhaps the most remarkable change of any state in the second half of the year.
So, a massive thanks to all of you for reading and responding to what we’re trying to achieve here. A massive thanks to the brewers without whom you’d be reading an empty page. And a massive thanks to the venues that are bringing these beers to us. After the biggest year in craft beer in Australia yet in 2011, here’s hoping 2012 continues the rapid upward trajectory. All the signs are there – let’s make sure it happens.
In the meantime, have a great Christmas. The Crafty Pint’s will be starting with a bottle of the new Saison from La Sirène, will feature Moon Dog’s Symbiotic Silopsism at some point, a flight of Red Hill Christmas Ales from ‘08 onwards (including the barrel-aged version) and end with one of the last bottles of Willie Simpson’s Seven Sheds Whisky Willie Warmer. Hope yours is as full of tasty Aussie beers!
