News & Feature Stories
Australia's Generation XPA
From humble beginnings – and no little confusion as to what they actually are – XPAs have made a pitch to be regarded as the modern Australian pale. We examine their rise from obscurity to uniquity.
The Social Brewers: Beer In The Blood
Small breweries have been turning suburban industrial estates into community hubs for years so when Beau Curtis realised his local area didn't have a brewery of its own, he decided to do fix it, creating The Social Brewers.
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.
Local Brewing Co To Open Clifton Hill Taproom
Melbourne-based Local Brewing Co are set to move into a home of their own in coming months. The brewing company with a focus on driving sustainable social change has today unveiled plans for a Clifton Hill taproom.
Behind Bars: Wilbury & Sons
Prahran and Moorabbin aren't the first suburbs that come to mind when you think Melbourne craft beer. Yet Byron Barrowclough has been working to broaden tastes in both. We had a chat with him as his latest bar, Wilbury & Sons, turns one.
Who Brews As Lora?
Wild ales featuring ingredients foraged in inner Sydney with individually hand-painted labels? As he prepares to return to the US after COVID saw him become Wildflower's head brewer for two years, we catch up with the man behind Lora.
BentSpoke Top The GABS H100 Again
BentSpoke have gone back-to-back in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll, with their Crankshaft IPA holding onto top spot. The Canberra brewery's flagship beer finished ahead of the former winner Balter XPA.
Aunty Gets Crafty In New ABC Show
An upcoming episode of ABC's flagship science program Catalyst puts craft beer and the science of brewing and the agriculture that supports it front and centre. We chatted to some of those involved in The Great Brew Challenge.
A Vision For Indie Beer
Late last year, Young Henrys co-founder Richard Adamson was elected chair of the Independent Brewers Association. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the industry, we chatted to him about his vision for indie beer.
Who Brews Five Aces Beers?
Adam Sheehan was inspired to start a brewery while running a High Country bar. Late in 2021, after overcoming a series of challenges and a name change from Outlaw Brewing to Five Aces, he finally opened the doors of his Gippsland brewpub.
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Gage Roads Freo Set To Open
Sixteen years after launching, Gage Roads are days away from opening their “spiritual home” on Freo’s Walyalup Waterfront. Guy Southern caught up with CSO Aaron Heary to find out what it means for them and WA's beer lovers.
Beer On The Blockchain
Blockchains. Crypto. The metaverse. They're terms we hear about a lot these days but do they have much common ground with the world of beer? We spoke to two Australian brewing companies embracing digital currencies to find out.
Ministry Of Beer Welcomes A New Congregation
In five years, Brett Reimann has gone from brewing with a single barrel in a shed on his farm to opening an impressive cellar door in the Barossa Valley. Matt King called in to sample from its 16 taps.
Who Brews YEPP Beers?
Yeppoon is known for its beautiful beaches and as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef but one local couple hope the coastal town will soon be known for beer too. We caught up with Tanya and Justin Adam to find out more about YEPP Brewing.
Open And Shut: Omicron Crushes Hospo's Summer Comeback
Far from the new year bringing new hope, the beer and hospo industries face arguably their toughest period of the pandemic – and without government support. We spoke to business owners across the country as Omicron runs rampant.
The Year Of No Booze
In 2020, Australia witnessed the launch of a number of alcohol-free brewing companies and brands, and in 2021 sales rocketed, quality rose and options blossomed. As 2022 starts, look at why booze-free beer has struck such a chord.
Brisbane's Rising Brewtide
Brewtide is a new brewery venue created within one of Brisbane's most high profile new developments. We caught up with head brewer Gavin Croft to find out more about his plans for the brewing arm of Craft'd Grounds in Albion.
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.
Who Brews Golden West Beers?
Golden West Brewing Co bears a name familiar to many in WA, and now the brewing company has a home of its own. The mates behind the Perth brewing company opened the doors to their Subiaco brewpub just before Christmas.
Best New SA Beers Of 2021
With Christmas approaching, we head to SA for the sixth of our features looking back at the past year in beer. Which beers stood out from the crowd, what impressed readers, and what can we look forward to in 2022?
Brew & A: Eden Pink
When Eden Pink got a hospitality job working for Prancing Pony, she hadn't considered becoming a brewer. Five years on she's senior brewer at the Adelaide Hills outfit and her likeness decorates their new Pinkers beer too.
Best New Victorian Beers Of 2021
For Victorians, 2021 was for too close a carbon copy of 2020 for comfort, but there were beer highlights aplenty. Here we look back on a year of great beer, close shaves, and brave leadership that shone through the lockdowns.
The Collaborators: Mind And Strength Support
David Spargo is a Melburnian with a background in hospitality and social work who's decided to combine his two careers to provide better mental health support for managers and owners in small venues and breweries.
Best New Queensland Beers Of 2021
Borders have opened and shut, lockdowns have come and gone, but the beer scene in Queensland continues to go from strength to strength. Here we look back over 2021 to shine a light on the brightest beer moments of the year.
Best New NSW Beers Of 2021
If you ignore the 107 day lockdown – or even if you can't – there's been much to enjoy and embrace in the NSW beer scene in 2021. Here, Judd Owen looks at the standout beers and highlight moments from the past 12 months.
Best New Tasmanian Beers Of 2021
For most Aussies, Tasmania has been off limits for much of 2021, which has allowed the island states brewers and beer lovers to get to know each other better than ever. Join us as we round up the year's standout beer highlights.
Brew & A: Ned Bowring
Following a long stint of travel, Ned Bowring switched careers to follow his passion for brewing. He then fell for the art of barrel-ageing at Boatrocker, before moving to Hawkers then Deeds, where he's created their first mixed culture beers.
Indie Beer Hits The SCG
Fans of cricket and Sydney's indie brewers have been given an early Christmas present. Beers from The Grifter Brewing Co and Young Henrys are now pouring at the SCG after Merivale secured hospitality rights.
Best New WA Beers Of 2021
Yes, it's that time for The Crafty Pint team and friends to attempt the ever trickier task of encapsulating the best of Aussie craft beer for another year. And once again we kick off our annual Best Of series in Western Australia.
Last Call: Tell Us Your Beer Highlights Of 2021 And Win!
Have you enjoyed great beer, great breweries, great venues and great beer experiences in 2021? If so, we want to hear about it! Tell us what's impressed you the most in your local beer scene and you could win more great beer!
The Odd Culture of Newtown
Sour beer, natural wines, a fine dining menu, European opening hours and a prime spot on Newtown's King Street. The new Odd Culture venue may be difficult to categorise, but it's not difficult to enjoy.
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.
Who Brews Five’ 3” Beers?
Killer Sprocket has fast become something of a brewing incubator for newcomers to the beer industry. Among them is Christopher Martin, the man behind Five' 3" Brewing, and now part of the Killer Sprocket team too.
Crafty's Christmas Giftathon!
To celebrate the imminent arrival of the festive season, we're running a weeklong Giftathon for our beer club, The Crafty Cabal. Each day until December 9 we're giving away mixed cases of beer and double passes to GABF Geelong.
Australia's First Gluten-Free Bottlo
Gluten-free beer has come a long way in Australia in recent years and one new retailer has committed to stocking the widest variety anyone can find. We spoke to David Lilley about his decision to launch the online Gluten Free Beer Shop.
Casey’s Brewery Opens Bar To Thirsty Locals
After spending six years keeping Penrith locals well supplied with takeaway beer and fresh wort, Casey's Brewing have finally opened a bar. We caught up with founder and head brewer Patrick Casey to find out more.
Wild Life Get Wilder
Shepparton-based Wild Life Brewing recently took their pilot kit away from home to spend a day in the elements. We caught up with co-founder Jack Thomson to find out about the adventure and plans for their own brewery.
Who Brews Tall Timbers Beers?
Fifty years on from Swan's aborted plans to build a brewery in Manjimup, a group of locals took over the building and created one themselves. We caught up with the team at Tall Timbers Brewing Co to find out more.
Blasta, Moffat Beach, Stomping Ground & Future Mountain Triumph At Indies 2021
WA's Blasta are once again toasting their awards success, with the brewery's wheat beer named Champion Beer at The Indies. The perennial award winners at Moffat Beach also had a huge night, as did Stomping Ground and Future Mountain.
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.
From Beer Blogger To Brewery Owner
Luke Robertson has enjoyed a variety of roles in the Australian beer industry: providing commentary, telling stories, and working closely with brewers through the IBA and Good Beer Week. Now he's off to run a brewery New Zealand.
Who Brews Shout Beers?
After years of talk, a few beers at the Bitter & Twisted festival saw four mates commit to starting a brewery. As they prepare to upgrade from their current home and open a brewpub, we caught up with the Shout team to find out more.
Meet Geelong's Newest, Not New Brewery
A new brewery recently launched in Geelong but neither the beer nor the brewer are all that new. We chatted to Cockies' new owners about what they have planned for the brand and the newly-established Great Ocean Road Brewing.
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.
Australian Beer Industry Diversity Survey Results 2021
In July, the Beer Agents For Change, a collective of females with more than 60 years experience in the beer industry, launched an industry-wide diversity survey. You can view their findings in an infographic released with the results.
Who Brews Freshie Beers?
Much noise has been made about the craft beer hub that is Sydney's inner west, but the Northern Beaches are home to a growing number of local brewers too. We caught up with the founder of the newest: Freshwater Brewing.
From Belgium To The Gold Coast: Madocke's Mission
Few would have foreseen the Gold Coast becoming a craft beer powerhouse, yet it most certainly has. And now, following the opening of Madocke's taproom, it's even home to a brewery specialising in classic Belgian beers too.
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.
