Articles by James Smith
Mountain Culture Storm The GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers Of 2022
We have a new winner in the GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers poll for 2022, with Mountain Culture achieving a staggering result and blasting straight into top spot. Balter XPA finished second ahead of BentSpoke's Crankshaft.
La Sirène Back In Business – For Now
After a tumultuous seven weeks that would make a roller-coaster feel queasy, the team at La Sirène are set to reopen the doors to their bar today. However, the future of the popular "urban farmhouse" brewery remains unclear.
The Best Of Beer 2022
Christmas is approaching so it must be time for us to look back at the year just gone. And in a change from past years, we're kicking off with a look at the standout themes of 2022 on a national scale.
Future Mountain's Reservoir Brewpub Up For Sale
Future Mountain have listed their Reservoir brewery and venue for sale – but it's not what it seems. The founders plan to move to different parts of Victoria with their families and create a new Future Mountain with two rural bases.
The Story Behind La Sirène's Recent Closure
La Sirène have been locked out of their brewery and forced to close their bar indefinitely after traces of asbestos were found in buildings at the Melbourne Innovation Centre. They're unsure when they'll reopen with cleaning set to last into 2023.
Red Hill Brewery Goes On The Market
One of the country's longest-established breweries could be yours as Red Hill founders Karen and Dave Golding have today put their Mornington Peninsula brewery on the market just shy of 18 years after their poured their first beers.
Revolution In The Riverina
There are many people who have changed the nature of beer and brewing in Australia over the years. Yet what's happening in the Riverina region of NSW feels as transformative as anything else happening in the industry right now.
Wayward & Batch Join Forces As The Local Drinks Collective
Wayward and Batch have today announced the formation of a new collective of independent breweries they hope will give them greater firepower to compete with the multinational beverage companies dominating Australia.
Consolidation & Cooperation: Where To For Indie Beer?
Today's launch of the Local Drinks Collective by Wayward and Batch adds another layer of nuance to the local brewing industry. We look at what lies behind it and whether we'll see more cooperation and consolidation among small brewers.
Akasha To Open A Sydney Barrel Room
They're best known for their mastery of hops, but the team at Akasha are set to showcase a rather different side to the brewery. We called into the soon-to-open Akasha Barrel Room in Leichhardt to get the lowdown.
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 Indies 2022 Winners
White Bay claimed Champion Beer for their Lager at the 2022 Indies, a night on which Moffat Beach continued their remarkable run of form, and Jade Flavell of The Wheaty won a Champion Brewery trophy and the Services To Industry award.
Dainton Open A Second Taphouse In Melbourne
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign earlier in the year, Dainton Beer have taken over the former home of The Public Brewery in Croydon. It opens under the new owners for the first time this evening.
Bar La Sirène Opens In Alphington
More than a decade after moving into a warehouse in Melbourne's inner northeast, the farmhouse and wild ale specialists at La Sirène have opened their doors to the public. We called in for a chat, beer, food and champagne.
Stomping Ground Bought By Good Drinks
Good Drinks, the company that includes beer brands such as Gage Roads, Atomic and Matso's, has bought Stomping Ground. The 100 percent acquisition sees the ASX-listed company expand its portfolio and establish a foothold in Victorian.
Brew & A: Tim Miller
Brewmanity finally broke ground last month at the site will become home to their brewpub in early 2023. We dropped by for a look, but also to chat to the man they've signed as head brewer ahead of the grand opening.
Left Barrel On Top At SA's Beer Awards
The punnily-titled Bob's Ya Dunkel from Left Barrel was named Most Outstanding Beer in Show at the 2022 Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards. Champion brewery titles were claimed by Vale Brewing and Nowhereman.
David Cryer – 30 and Out
One of the most influential figures of the past three decades in the Australian and NZ beer industries has today announced his retirement. We chatted to David Cryer (and friends) about a stellar life in beer.
Waiting To Be FOUND.
FOUND. is an ambitious brewery and hospo project set to start taking shape in Perth later this year. We caught up with Steve Finney, the ex-Little Creatures, Feral, Gage Roads and Otherside man who's been working on his vision for seven years.
Little Bang Bought By SA Pub Group
What one of the brewery's founders called "the worst-kept secret in South Australia" is no longer secret. The fast-growing Duxton Pubs Group has bought Little Bang Brewing in a move that sees a highly-rated SA brewer join the Stepney business too.
Catchment Buy Fellow QLD Brewery Fortitude
Catchment Brewing have acquired Fortitude Brewing Co and their offshoot brand Noisy Minor as part of ambitious future growth plans. The West End-based operation is targeting ten venues and more brewery brands.
Sam Sets Sails For Bali
One of Australia's best-known and most-awarded brewers is setting sail on a new adventure. Sam Füss is off to Bali to become chief brewer at Beaches Brewing Co Bali, where she hopes to help develop the exciting young beer scene.
Feral Boar Out. Slumdog In
Brewing is back at the former Feral brewpub in the Swan Valley. Feral co-founder Al Carragher has brought in former Feral brewer Will Irving to helped launch Slumdog Brewing at what will reopen as the Baskerville Tavern.
Australian International Beer Awards 2022 – The Winners
There was plenty of home state glory at the 2022 AIBAs as Hawkers, Stomping Ground and Dollar Bill took out three of the four Champion Australian Brewery titles. Moffat Beach completed the set, with a pastry sour winning Champion Beer.
The GABSiest GABS Yet?
With the GABS 2022 season mere days away, we spoke to main man Mike about pulling it all together, then attempted to navigate our way through what must be the zaniest festival beer lineup to date.
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.
Fundraiser Launched For Wags' Family
A GoFundMe has been launched to support the family of Mark "Wags" Wagthorne, the much-loved beer world character who passed away from cancer at the age of just 44 last week.
Vale Wags
Tributes have been pouring in following the sad news that one of the most popular figures in the local beer world, Mark "Wags" Waghorne, has passed away after a years-long battle with cancer. We spoke to some of those who worked with and knew him.
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.
How Good Is Pint Of Origin?!?
There's precious little good news around at the minute, so let's try this: Pint of Origin is going ahead in Melbourne this May. With Good Beer Week cancelled for 2022, we've rallied with the #poo22 venues and are going bigger than ever!
Batch Buy Bucket Boys
Batch Brewing Co have acquired Bucket Boys. They will transition the latter's Darling Square venue into a Batch outpost in Sydney's CBD, with Bucket Boys Marrickville and its related online store retaining the existing name.
Brew & A: Rhys Lopez
At the end of 2021, our WA team chose Otherside as the state's standout brewery of the year. We figured that was a great excuse to invite head brewer Rhys Lopez to take us on a tour through his life in beer and beyond.
No Good Beer Week Or BrewCon In 2022
Sad news for beer lovers and many in the beer and hospitality industries today with the announcement that Good Beer Week won't be going ahead in May. The Independent Brewers Association have also postponed BrewCon to 2023.
Who Brews As Brewcha Libre?
Just two-and-a-half years ago, Ryan Walker wasn't even into beer, then a gift of a homebrew kit changed everything. As he prepares to launch his first two beers, we chatted to him about his Mexican wrestling-themed brewing company.
The Crafty Pint's Biggest Stories Of 2021
From brewery sales to the rise of hazy pales, homebrand beers to wild frontiers, and winners to those tackling sinners, here's a look back at some of the biggest stories to appear on The Crafty Pint in 2021.
The Best Of The Territories In 2021
Time to wrap up our state by state by territories wrap of the year in beer that was 2021 with a look back over the past 12 months in the ACT and NT, a time in which the beer scenes in both territories have been expanding.
Getting Blind With Crafty: Cold IPAs
Something a little different for our last blind tasting of 2021 as we tuck into an emerging style that's only been attempted by a small number of Aussie brewers. So, what did our panel make of the world of cold IPA?
Indies Trophies To Change Hands Following Audit
Four state champion trophies from the Indies awards in 2020 and 2021 are changing hands following an independent audit of results. Wildflower, Future Mountain and Mismatch are the new recipients as the audit continues.
A New Guide To Beer Ownership
We've been meaning to create an interactive version of our Who Owns Your Beer? infographic for some time. And, ahead of the 2021 Indies, we've finally made it happen, creating a version we can update with each and every sale.
Beer's Diversity And Discrimination Problem
A survey looking at diversity in the Australian beer industry shows there is much work to do for it to become truly inclusive. We spoke to the survey creators, Beer Agents For Change, about their mission to create a better beer world.
Slow Lane Triumph At Sydney Beer Awards
Slow Lane continue to rise through the ranks of top Aussie brewers at quite a rate. The Botany brewery added more trophies to their collection at the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Awards, with Belgian tripel Threefold leading the way.
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.
Feral's Brewpub Comes Full Circle
Just weeks after Feral closed their Swan Valley brewpub, there's good news for WA's beer lovers. One of the original founders of Feral has taken over the site and will be opening a tavern and recommissioning the on-site brewery.
The Wild Ones: Van Dieman
The Wild Ones is a series showcasing Australian brewers creating spontaneously fermented ales. Following our launch piece last week, here we head to a farm in Tasmania to catch up with Van Dieman founder Will Tatchell.
The Overland Corner Hotel Flowers Anew
There have been many heartwarming and inspirational tales to come from the beer world during the pandemic, but few as colourful as this. Here's how a Sydney family went from hitting the road to a houseboat to an historic pub.
The Big Sale: Is It A Big Deal?
Last week's announcement that Stone & Wood's founders had agreed to sell their business to Lion sent shockwaves through the industry. But, as the dust settles, what has really changed for indie brewers and those who buy indie beer?
Kaddy Go National
As they approach their second birthday, business to business drinks ordering platform Kaddy is expanding across Australia. We chatted to co-founder Rich Coombes about their growth, navigating COVID, and the search for truth.
Brick Lane & O'Brien Toast World Beer Awards Success
Brick Lane and gluten free beer specialist O'Brien Beer woke to good news with both winning trophies in the World Beer Awards. Brick Lane's Revolver claimed World's Best Porter and O'Brien's Belgian Ale Best Gluten Free Beer.
Lion Buys Stone & Wood
In news that will send shockwaves through the local beer community, Lion have today confirmed the acquisition of Stone & Wood as well as associated brands in the Fermentum Group, including Fixation and Two Birds.
Fermentum To Lion: The Founders' Tale
Following the sale of the Fermentum Group to Lion, we chatted to co-founders Ross Jurisich and Jamie Cook to get more on how they reached this point.
