Articles by Will Ziebell
Territory Brews
With Purple Mango returning to brewing, the beer scene in the NT continues to grow. We got in touch with the owners of One Mile, Beaver and Alice Springs Brewing Co to see how they're travelling as the new decade starts.
Conspiring On A Home
After a long search, the team at CoConspirators have found a home in Brunswick. We caught up with all four of them to hear about the plans.
Mornington Peninsula’s New Old Brewery
Less than eighteen months after selling the business to Tribe Breweries, Mornington Peninsula Brewery founder Matt Bebe is back where he started – and with a new brewery and distillery on the way too.
Help From Afar
From Buenos Aires to Bethnal Green, people in all parts of the global beer community are doing their part in support of bushfire relief. Will Ziebell spoke to two people leading fundraising and awareness far from the fires.
Who Brews Alchemy Beers?
Alchemy Brewing opened at the end of 2019, adding another option to Brunswick East's already impressive list of craft beer destinations. We caught up with the pair behind the brewery for our Who Brews...? series.
Crafty's Advent Calendar: Mulga
The Northern Territory has a few local beers to call its own these days, but one man who's been working to bring flavour to NT drinkers for almost two decades is Matt Mulga, who now runs three crafty bars in Alice and Darwin.
Who Brews Grassy Knoll Beers?
Beer and music have a wonderful ability to bring people together, and both lie at the heart of Grassy Knoll. The gypsy operation was founded by three mates, with head brewer Jeff Argent also a drummer with indie quartet Pirra.
Crafty's Advent Calendar: Richard Adamson
From playing in bands to brewing with native ingredients at Barons, from kickstarting the Inner West's beer revolution in Sydney to becoming an educator, Richard Adamson has brought much to the local beer world.
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.
Crafty Crawls: South & Port Melbourne
The contrast in beer offerings north and south of the Yarra is no longer as stark as it was. To prove it, join us as we set sail on a Crafty Crawl through the best beer spots in South and Port Melbourne.
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The Balter Sale: Analysis
Following today's Balter sale to CUB, we spoke to an expert in the business of beer about the potential ramifications for the industry as the IBA puts out a statement about independence.
The Collaborators: Louie SK
There's plenty of common ground between the worlds of craft beer and gaming, both of which collide at Bar SK in Collingwood. Will Ziebell caught up with co-owner Louie Roots about his mission to bring gaming to local beer.
Space Yeast, Rare Fruit & Roving Coolships
Dozens of international breweries send their beers to Australia, but there's only one we know of using yeast harvested at 70,000 feet and a roving coolship. Will Ziebell chatted to the man behind Lanikai's Hawaiian beers to find out more.
Sailing On A Black Flag
When the 75th Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race takes place this summer, the local beer world will have skin in the game. Gold Coast brewery Black Hops are sponsoring 114-year-old spinnaker Katwincher.
Founders First Continue To Accelerate
Founders First, the "craft accelerator" that started out with an investment in Jetty Road, today they'll announced they're adding SA beverage company Sparkke to their portfolio, continuing a frantic burst of activity ahead of their IPO.
BrewDog Brisbane Opens
BrewDog's long-mooted DogTap venue finally opened today with the Scottish brewing company pledging to donate all earnings from their first day to bushfire relief as the Queensland State Government launched two new ventures too.
Wildflower Top The First Drink Easy Awards
A beer from Wildflower has been voted Best Drink In Australia at the inaugural Drink Easy awards. It was judged the finest entry from around 1,250 entries spanning beer, cider, wine, spirits and soft drinks.
Hop Nation Movin' On Up
Hop Nation are to embark on a major expansion project in 2020. They've secured a new site close to, but far larger than their existing home in Footscray and plan to build a 25 hec brewery and 100-plus capacity venue.
Beer Travel: Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie might be best known for its pristine beaches, surrounding natural beauty and koalas. But there's three breweries that call the town home too. Will Ziebell called in at them all – plus Port Mac's other beery outlets.
Podcast People: The Chosen Brew
If you work in beer or just have a passion for it, chances are there are key beers that brought you to this point. That's the topic at the heart of The Chosen Brew, a podcast that's celebrating its third anniversary this week.
Behind Bars: East of Everything & Rosalita's
Gen and Michael Cotter started bringing good booze to Melbourne's eastern suburbs a decade and a half ago. As they prepare to open Rosalita's – a third venue in the same building – we caught up with the team.
The Collaborators: Bluestone Yeast
From brewing yeast pioneer Chris White to an Aussie startup looking to bring locally produced yeast to Aussie brewers, in this Collaborators feature we find out all about the brothers behind Melbourne's Bluestone Yeast.
Crafty Cabal Update - October 2019
Want to know what's going on with The Crafty Cabal, our beer lovers bonus scheme? In this update, there's more giveaways, more specials and info on an upcoming event too.
Who Brews Old Slang Beers?
Idioms and old sayings are a popular source for breweries seeking inspiration for beer names and that's where new Victorian operation Old Slang have gone too. We caught up with the man behind the beers to find out more.
The Booze World's Crowdfunding Barassi Line
Since it became an option in Australia late last year, a number of breweries have launched equity crowdfunding campaigns. But none of them have been in WA or SA and, according to crowdfunding platform Birchal, that's because they can't.
Supermarket Success At The World Beer Awards
One of Coles' beer brands has picked up a trophy in the World Beer Awards in London. Tinnies Pale Ale was one of two Aussie category winners, with Sydney's Redoak collecting the other for their Chateau Sour.
Karma Kegs For The Climate
Ahead of the Global Climate Strike, the Good Beer Co have announced they’ll be bringing people together over beer to help raise money for the Great Barrier Reef. Will Ziebell spoke to brewing company founder James Grugeon.
Aussie Exports: Pat Keeble
Stone & Wood have made an impression in the UK like few other genuinely Aussie brands in recent years. Much of that is down to one man, their London jack of all trades, Pat Keeble. Will Ziebell joined him for a Pac Ale in Fitzrovia.
The Blackhearts Family Story
The success of local producers is regularly lauded on these pages and elsewhere. But the achievements of Paul and Jess Ghaie in the world of good booze retail are as worthy of recognition as any indie brewer or winemaker.
The Big Issue: Cracking The Code
A number of well publicised cases has brought the role of ABAC in setting the standards for alcohol advertising to the fore. We speak to ABAC's chair and industry figures to find out how businesses can avoid running into trouble.
Beer 'n' Spice & All Things Nice
No beer lovers trip to Bendigo is complete without a stop at Flight Bar for some spicy food and a restock of hot sauce. Now the owners have a burger joint too we caught up with them – and nicked their hot sauce recipe.
The Great British Beer Writer
Pete Brown started out in beer marketing before becoming one of Britain's best-loved writers on beer and wider booze and pub culture. We caught up with him in London ahead of his keynote address at BrewCon.
Bodriggy Fire Up Their Brewery Home
It's taken longer than they planned, but the Bodriggy team are finally able to open their brewery to the public. And we're pretty sure visitors will judge it worth the wait as it's one of the most striking of its kind in the country.
Who Brews BoJaK Beers?
The name is inspired by their two sons rather than the world's most depressed horse and they pour up to a dozen beers at their Dandenong brewpub. As they move into cans, we find out more about BoJaK Brewing.
BrewCon 2019 Program Announced
The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) have lined up some big names from overseas for this year’s BrewCon, which is taking place at the Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Centre in the first week of September.
CUB Bought By Asahi
AB InBev have announced they are to sell Australia's CUB to Asahi for $16 billion Australian dollars.
The Collaborators: Rockstar Brewing
His trophy-winning brewing company BrewCult might have folded but Steve "Hendo" Henderson is now involved in making more beers than ever. We caught up with him to find out about his diverse Rockstar Brewer operation.
Capital Landing At Canberra Airport
Capital Brewing announced today they're to open a 12-tap bar at Canberra Airport. The news bookends a week in which Stomping Ground announced their own plans to build a brewpub at Melbourne Airport.
Behind Bars: Big Ears
Big Ears is one of the bars working hard to bring better beer - along with tasty meatballs - to the people of Geelong. Ainsley Killingback is chief beer proselytist and here tells us about Geelong's crafty credentials.
Billson's Brews From The Archives
The new owners of a brewery with a history stretching back a century-and-a-half are bringing old beers back to life. Already Billson's have released an ale and a stout with origins in the late 19th century with more to follow.
Who Brews Hoppy Puppy Beers?
The brewing industry seems to be obsessed with dogs more than most and now has another canine-themed operation in its midst. As their first beer hits taps, we find out more about Brisbane's Hoppy Puppy.
A Fresh Blast On The FogHorn
Fans of FogHorn beers may not have to travel to the source for much longer after the brewery unveiled plans to expand horizons and release their first cans as part of a relaunch from FogHorn Brewhouse to FogHorn Brewery.
Brew & A: Mattias Isaksson
Mattias Isaksson has a dual role heading up the brewing at Queenscliff Brewhouse while also part of Old Wives Ales – two very different operations making very different beers. We caught up with him to see how he does it.
What Do Today's Excise Changes Mean?
Changes to alcohol excise for breweries announced in May 2018 come into effect on July 1, 2019. We asked people in the business of brewing, selling and moving beer about the impact the changes will have.
Aussie Export: Dave Rooney
After a midlife crisis led Dave Rooney to Buenos Aires, he soon found himself falling for the city's craft beer venues and local breweries. Now he runs tours for those who want to discover Argentina's good beer scene.
Who Brews Ornith Beers?
Daniel Venema is a bird photographer and beer lover who brews for two Brisbane brewing companies. We caught up with him to find out how his love of birds and brewing led him from homebrewing to his dual brewing role.
Who Brews As Paper Scissors Rock?
Breweries have been popping up in small tourist towns across Australia for years. Thanks to Paper Scissors Rock, anyone visiting Victoria's Halls Gaps can now enjoy a local beer while in The Grampians too.
The Collaborators: Craft Instinct
Jessie Jungalwalla has spent close to three years leading Craft Instinct, a branding agency dedicated to making the craft beverage world look better. We caught up with her to talk branding and beer.
Stomping Ground 2 To Open Early 2020
Stomping Ground are off to put their mark on new territory after announcing they'll be opening a second brewpub in Moorabbin in Melbourne's South Eastern suburbs early in 2020.
Who Brews Humpback Beers?
Towards the end of 2016, Cliff Wallis started taking the pokies out of the Tathra Hotel and laid the foundations for a brewery. Now Humpback Brewery is up and running, we thought we'd find out more.
