Articles by Nick Oscilowski
Postcard from NZ: Good George
Pubs and bars in New Zealand open for the first time since March today. Nick Oscilowski spoke to Brian Watson of Good George about surviving the lockdown and hopes for the future of beer and hospo across the Tasman.
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.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers Of 2018
The results of the GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers Of 2018 are in and it's another show of dominance by Garage Project, with Behemoth not far behind. Hazy IPAs are on the rise as formerly independent brands fall away.
The Best Of The Crafty Pint In 2018
For a final reflection on 2018, here's a look back at the year through the eyes of The Crafty Pint writers who spent their time covering the biggest year yet for Australian beer – as well as some of our coverage from beyond these shores.
Best New NSW Beers Of 2018
In his last Best New Beers roundup before he heads back to New Zealand, Nick Oscilowski commandeers the votes of many to land upon a list that flits from barrels to peat to the rainforest and back – and even includes a humble pilsner.
The Incubators: Batch Brewing
As they prepare to turn five, we look at how Batch has acted as an incubator for so much talent in and around the Sydney beer scene through the eyes of its founders and those who've worked there over the years.
Solid Philosophy
As the number of breweries dotted along the South Coast of New South Wales starts to swell, the splendid little seaside town of Gerringong is the latest to get one of its own following the opening of Stoic Brewing.
Sydney Brewery Returns To Sydney
Five years after it brewed its last beer in the city, the Sydney Brewery has returned to its roots with the opening of a new brewery in Surry Hills.
Who Brews With Nine Fingers?
The loss of a finger may have damaged his prospects as a bass player but, years later, it's given David Anderson the name for his brewing company. We find out more about Nine Fingers, launched on the back of a win at the Fresh Harvest Beer Festival.
Indies Winners 2018
Mismatch, Modus Operandi, Boatrocker and Moffat Beach were the big winners at the 2018 Indies awards in Sydney, taking out the champion trophies at Paddington Town Hall.
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Winds Of Change At Akasha
The Akasha Brewing Company announced publicly today that it has undergone a change in ownership – with employees among the new owners.
The Educators: Being Better At Beer
As the beer world becomes ever more diverse – not to mention competitive – there's an ever greater need for education throughout the industry. Nick Oscilowski speaks to those involved in providing education plus a brewery that's reaped the rewards of education.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers of 2017: Analysis
Is the "Craft Beer Capital" baton passing from Wellington to Auckland? Why are there so few beers from South Island brewers? Which styles dominated? And more as we cast an eye over the results in the second GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers poll.
Best New NSW Beers Of 2017
With more new releases to try than ever before, we invited contributors from across the state to sift through the buyouts and the startups, the hops and the haze to come up with a list of the ten (or so) best new beers to come out of New South Wales in 2017.
A Day In The Life Of A Barrel Room: Goose Island
From one of the largest barrel programs in the Southern Hemisphere to one 50 times its size... Here we step inside Goose Island's Barrel House in Chicago, home to 15,000 barrels and the legendary Bourbon County Stout.
Roads To Royalty
At last night's awards dinner the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show handed out a record number of gold medals with Gage Roads, Bridge Road Brewers and The Australian Brewery among the big winners.
Events Wrap 21.07.17
Outside of the country's major beer weeks, the next two weeks are strong contenders for the most intense period of events in the Aussie beer world to date. Drink up!
Podcast People: Bounty Hunter Banter
Having first launched a gypsy brewing company to channel their love of pop culture, the team behind Bounty Hunter Brewing has added banter to beer, as we discover in the latest entry in our occasional series of Podcast People.
Events Wrap – 23.06.16
With the Winter Solstice just gone and Independence Day coming, there's plenty of themed events taking place across the country. Plus we've got a FODMAP friendly pub tour, showcases galore, luscious dinners and free beers for Crafty supporters.
The Golden Goose: On Beer's Frontier
Goose Island's arrival in Australia represents the meeting point between the biggest of Big Beer and Australia's craft beer industry. We find out why it's a big deal and ask what it means within the rapidly evolving landscape here and globally.
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Events Wrap – 02.06.16
There are beer launches galore in the latest roundup of forthcoming beer events around Australia. You can also check out beer dinners, birthday parties, Solstice celebrations and even a sleepover in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Events Wrap – 12.05.17
Good Beer Week will be dominating proceedings for many beer lovers over the next week or so. But there's plenty of action taking place elsewhere too, including some events in other cities taking advantage of international guests on their way to and from Melbourne.
A Day In The Life Of: A Beer Judge
Next month sees brewers and beer experts from across the globe gather in Melbourne for the Australian International Beer Awards. But what goes into being a beer judge? Is it the best job in the world. Nick O find out.
Events Wrap – 14.04.17
Such is the splendour of the local beer world these days, there’s no time for idle sitting; new beers must be launched, birthdays must be celebrated, legends must be toasted.
Wildflower Blooming
Dozens of breweries will open their doors across Australia in 2017. They will come in all shapes and sizes, but we doubt any will be quite like Wildflower. Nick O spent time with the blendery's driving force, Topher Boehm.
Events Wrap – 24.03.17
There's one thing that can be said with certainty about the current Australian beer scene: it's all about the hops. Except, of course, when it's not. Although, for the most part with this event roundup, it is.
Events Wrap – 24.02.17
Like a vintage episode of Sesame Street, the latest roundup of the Aussie beer world is brought to you by the letter S. So if you're up for showcases, showdowns, sharing, silly stuff, serious business and a load of SuperBeasts, do read on...
Events Wrap – 10.02.17
Whether you need something for your sweetheart, a massive hit for you hoppy heart, or want to get to the heart of what the beer community is about, the smorgasbord that is the world of Australian beer events has everything you need.
Grab The Slab
Journalist Glen Humphries was already writing a beer book when he scooped the 2016 AIBA Media Award. That win changed his view on his writing and inspired him to turn it into a very different beer book, The Slab.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers of 2016 – Analysis
The first GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers countdown is complete. Panhead, Epic and Garage Project fill the top spots. But what, if anything, does the public vote tell us about the beer scene in New Zealand?
Events Wrap 27.01.17
If you need a sign that the little craft beer juggernaut hasn't lost any momentum over the festive period, a quick glance at the schedule of beer events in the first month of 2017 ought to do the trick...
Who Brews as Little Alchemist?
Ahead of their belated official launch – and a few months after we first bumped into brewer Riaz on a sofa during Sydney Craft Beer Week – we chat to new Sydney-based gypsy brewing company Little Alchemist.
The Crafty Pint’s Top Stories of 2016
Time for one final look back at the year in craft beer that was 2016. This time, instead of reflecting via the prism of its best new beers, we gather together some of the most read stories on the site over the past 12 months.
Best New NSW Beers Of 2016
We reach the midway point in our Best New Beers review with a look back at the year in NSW. It features almost entirely younger operations from the state, plus a few beers that may have snuck out in 2015 but hit the big time in 2016.
Events Wrap 09.11.16
The end of the year is nigh and with it comes one final splurge of beer events across the country. If all you want for Christmas is a new beer or a tap takeover, you're very much in luck, while there are dinners, festivals and more too.
Dead Ahead: 30 Years Of The Lord Nelson
It's been a big year for craft beer in Australia. And in particular for a Sydney icon. The Lord Nelson celebrated 175 years as a hotel and 30 as a brewery. Nick Oscilowski travelled back in time with its founder, Blair Hayden.
Events Wrap – 24.11.16
Birthdays galore in the latest fortnightly roundup of new and forthcoming beer events. There's also plenty for hop fiends, some cask ale action, bowls and, as is customary these days, some specials for Crafty Pint supporters.
Events Wrap 11.11.16
In the final lull before brewers start frantically trying to produce enough beer for the summer and venues start preparing for Christmas festivities, November has seen fit to serve us up a merry melange of excellent events...
Who Brews Sauce?
The concentration of breweries in Sydney's Inner West is set to increase again as Mike Clarke prepares to join the fray. In our latest Who Brews he shares the secrets of Sauce Brewing, launching as a gypsy brewer before opening its own warehouse venue.
Events Wrap 28.10.16
For the latest events roundup we're going coast to coast as major beer festivals bookend events involving hops, hot sauce, live art, Russian folk-ska-swing-punk, a GoPro mounted keg, plus a bunch of offers you won't find anywhere else...
Events Wrap 14.10.16
With tap takeovers and funky beers galore bookended by homebrewing and beer for a very good cause, the latest round-up of events ought to leave you feeling entirely fulfilled with the state of beer in Australia...
Who Brews Bounty Hunter Beers?
With inspiration drawn heavily from pop culture, striking artwork and plenty of prowess in the brewhouse, we find out more about Western Sydney's new gypsies, Bounty Hunter Brewing...
Events Wrap 30.09.16
Like a big fruit smoothie, the upcoming month of events contains an enormous mash of flavours; wild stuff out west; dining with the head brewer from the world's oldest brewery; a sweaty birthday beer dinner in Melbourne, and a whole heap more...
Who Brews Wandering Beers?
Fancy a bit on the side? Sam Clayman, Matt O’Neill and Scott Reid did, so they started the Wanderer Brew Co on top of their day jobs to see where the road would take them.
Glee In Glebe
Almost three and a half years after first announcing plans to open a brewery in Glebe, Steve Drissell has come good on his word as Staves pours its first beers.
Events Wrap 16.09.16
Oooooom-pah! It's Oktoberfest, in case you didn't know, and there are plenty of places around the country at which you can celebrate it. And if that's not your scene, theres even more in store for you...
On Vocation
Despite the rapid growth of the beer industry, the number of courses designed to train and educate brewers has remained few. Now, a new one is to launch in NSW under the stewardship of Neal Cameron.
Events Wrap 02.09.16
Hello Spring, hello festival season! In today's roundup of the new events added to the calendar in the past fortnight, it's clear that beer festival season is upon us.
Events Wrap 19.08.16
Do you like your beer on the move, aged in barrels, stuck in a can, sunk by the stein, dressed in drag or shuffled along a bingo board? Well then, you're in luck as there's an event for you in the coming days and weeks.
Beer Travel: NZ Tiki Tour IV Wine Country
In the final part of his Tiki Tour around the breweries of New Zealand's central North Island, Nick Oscilowski takes in the wine regions of the east coast before ending up in the middle...
