News & Feature Stories
Who Brews Surfboat Beers?
Surfboat Brewing's story begins with a closed RSL, an overabundance of honey, and nostalgic memories of being a volunteer surf lifesaver. Today, it lives on as a community hub that welcomes drinkers, dogs and jive dancers alike.
Zevero's Mission To Help Breweries Cut Emissions
You can't solve what you can't understand and few problems are as complex as climate change. Zevero is a platform built to help breweries slash their emissions and to help their mission locally, they've hired Tom Delmont.
Uraidla Win Champion Beer At The 2024 Indies With A RIPA Of A Beer
Uraidla Brewery, a small operation at the foot of the Adelaide Hills, have won Champion Australian Independent Beer at the 2024 Indies, with Champion Brewery titles going to Stomping Ground, Seven Mile, Boundary Island and Tiny Fish.
Episode 002: Lindsay Astarita of Stomping Ground
Ahead of the 2024 Indies awards, we sat down with Lindsay Astarita, sensory and quality guru at Stomping Ground, for a chat about her role, what it's like to be a beer judge, and a life spent travelling the world via craft beer.
Max Bowering Slays Beer
At the age of just 24, Max has become Uraidla Brewery's head brewer. As he takes the reins, we invited him to tell us about his love for craft beer and what catches his eye.
Who Brews Meletos Beers?
Meletos Brewing is located in the heart of the Yarra Valley and has a rich history when it comes to beer, wine, apples and style. We chatted to head brewer Jacob Turoy about the brewery's brand new story.
The Final Deed Is Not Yet Done
Deeds Brewing are set to reopen the doors to their Glen Iris taproom this week and plan to brew a few new beers too. However, their return looks set to be short-lived and driven by a desire to wind up the business in an orderly fashion.
Wildflower & Mountain Culture Launch Joint Taproom: Village
The founders of Wildflower and Mountain Culture have been mates for a decade, have collaborated many times in the past, and today consummate their relationship with the launch of a joint taproom in Sydney's Inner West.
Blackman's Brewery: Ten Lessons From Ten Years
Blackman's were the first modern era brewery to bring local beer to Torquay and, in the decade since, they've been embraced by their community. As they turn ten, we asked the Blackmans to share their Ten Lessons From Ten Years.
Episode 001: Chris & Gab Moore of Sailors Grave Brewing
The Crafty Pint Podcast is officially up and running. And we've got two great guests to kick things off: Chris and Gab Moore, the creative geniuses behind the unique Sailors Grave Brewing.
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Aussie Exports: Fergal Carroll
Fierce Mild are dedicated to providing non-alc craft beer to Irish drinkers but share an affinity with Australia. To find out more about them – and their local links – we chatted to former Fixation man Ferg about how it all came about.
Vote For Holgate's 25 Years of Beers People's Choice
To mark a quarter century of brewing, the team at Holgate Brewhouse set out to brew 25 beers for 25 years. And they're inviting the public to choose one of the beers – with a sweet prize on offer for one winning voter.
Brewed In Queensland: A Documentary Five Years In The Making
Dan Osper didn't plan to spend five years making a documentary about the craft beer industry. But Brewed In Queensland just kept evolving, from the first interviews in 2019 to the YouTube launch of the 12-part series in 2024.
Seeker Take Flight With Tiny Tins
Limited release beers tend to appear in 440ml cans but it can be a lot of liquid and booze to enjoy in one go. Seeker Brewing are shaking things up with big beers in tiny tins called The Art Of Flight.
We're Launching The Crafty Pint Podcast
Fourteen years after we set out on a mission to cover the Australian craft beer scene, The Crafty Pint is launching a podcast. You can view a trailer now, with the first full weekly episode published in late July.
The Story Of: Red Hill Imperial Stout
When it comes to beers that are both cherished and have staying power, few compare with Red Hill Brewery's Imperial Stout. As we make our way through the depths of winter, here's the founders with the tale of how it came to be.
Closing Loops And Brewing Shrooms – Australia's Most Sustainable Beer?
Breweries love to collaborate and many are putting greater focus on brewing more sustainably. Now a new project in SA is exploring just how green brewing can be.
Mash Gang Australia: No Alcohol, No Limits
"Forever experimenting." The non-alc beer space hasn't always been associated with the broadest of choice, but Trenno of Mash Gang Australia is on the case, playing with new styles and creative ingredients with each brew.
Valhalla Brewing Enter VA Citing Major Drop In Hospitality
Valhalla Brewing have become the latest indie operation to enter voluntary administration, citing a significant drop in patronage at their venues. Owner Scott Hunt says they hope to remain in control of the Geelong-based business.
The Breeders Bringing New Brewing Yeasts To Life
In June, brewers given a new yeast to play with called LalBrew Pomona. To find out how new yeasts like this hybrid come to life, we chatted to one of its creators at Escarpment Laboratories in Canada.
Suburban Scoop SA's Best Beer Trophy For 2024
The Suburban Brew claimed Most Outstanding Beer In Show at the 2024 Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards. The champion brewery titles went to Pirate Life (Large) and Barossa Valley Brewing (Small).
Who Brews Breakwall Beers?
We first met Chase Saraiva when he was head brewer at Wildflower, chatted again as he launched Lora Brewing, and now he's here in a third guise, leading all things beer at Breakwall Brewing in Narooma on the NSW South Coast.
Crafty Crawls: Adelaide's CBD Breweries
Adelaide CBD's compact nature makes it a great location for a Crafty Crawl. Here, we a stroll through the half dozen brewery venues that call the area home, ending a hop and a skip from the Adelaide Oval.
Courtney Plowman Slays Beer
Courtney Plowman has loved wine since she could legally drink but a local bar sparked a passion for craft beer and the community surrounding it. For our Slays Beer series, we invited Courtney to tell us about her path into the industry.
Just Wines Buys Beer Cartel And Brewquets
Beer Cartel and Brewquets have been bought by Just Wines. We chatted with co-founder Richard Kelsey about the sale of one of Australia's pioneering beer retailers.
Brewski To Close After A Decade Of Beers
"Want it to be a celebration of what we created, not a woe-is-me story.” Brisbane's legendary beer bar Brewski is closing its doors, with the owners citing ever-increasing rent and changing drinking habits for their decision.
Perth's Pioneering Dutch Trading Co To Close
One of the country's leading beer venues is set to close in August. The Dutch Trading Co has been a bastion of all things beer in WA since June 2015, but will be replaced by a new venue with a focus on wine and cocktails as well as beer.
The Mill Brewery Take Over The Bendigo Hotel
In welcome news for both the local beer and live music scenes in Melbourne, Collingwood's The Mill Brewery have announced they're taking over the suburb's legendary The Bendigo Hotel.
Betting On The Beerfarm
Following their purchase of Feral's Perth site, Beerfarm have made it clear they're looking to expand nationally and see more of their beer exported. We chatted with the brewery's directors about their long-held plans for growth.
La Petit Rocher's Belgo-Brisbane Beer
A new project from beer industry legends Ian Watson and Rocky Reed captures the spirit of Belgian brewing, mixes tradition and innovation, and manages to be both fancy and rebellious. It's La Petit Rocher, and it's launching in July.
Local Brewing Family Buys 4 Hearts Brewing
4 Hearts Brewing and Pumpyard Bar have been bought by the local family behind Stony Creek Brewing. Mick Wüst spoke to those involved about what it means for the longstanding Ipswich operation.
2024 Mid-Year Report – Shift Happens
The first six months of 2024 have been brutal for beer, putting even the turbulence of 2023 in the shade. Here, we take stock, examining where the industry finds itself and where it's heading.
Beer Nuts: Tom Madden
Tom Madden has been a regular sight at beer festivals for years – and now has his own. Ahead of the first Obsidian Dark Beer Festival, Tom tells us how his passion for beer led him to become more than just a drinker.
The Secret Brewer: Voluntary Administration Part II
The people running some of the breweries to have been through voluntary administration over the past 12 months, as well as the CEO of the IBA, respond to concerns raised by The Secret Brewer.
WA's Brew Moon Rises Again
A unique COVID era collab between 21 breweries and a distillery in WA has borne fruit for a second time. Four years after dozens of kegs were turned into a fundraising spirit, Brew Moon Rising reappears as a whiskey.
The Secret Brewer: Voluntary Administration
Voluntary administrations have become a defining feature of the beer world over the past two years in the face of unprecedented economic challenges. Here, one brewer discusses the repercussions on the wider industry.
Down The Barrel Hole With Fox Friday
Winter's chill makes it a perfect time to enjoy barrel-aged beers. Ahead of Fox Friday releasing beers from their first ever foray into this field, we spoke to the team – no strangers to working with oak – about their approach.
Great Ocean Road Brewing Expand Into Former Sou'West Site In Torquay
Great Ocean Road Brewing are taking over the former home of Sou’West Brewery in Torquay, after the latter entered administration in May. Co-founder Matt Shortal about their decision to secure the site and plans for the future.
Hiker To Open Taproom At Former Black Hops Brisbane & Semi-Pro Site
Less than 18 months after opening their Salisbury brewery, Hiker Brewing Co are opening a second location: a brewery and taproom in East Brisbane’s Manilla Street, in the space formerly occupied by Black Hops.
Red Top Brewing’s Bedford Brews
If you ever spot Red Top Brewing Co's truck, you're in for a beer experience with a difference. It's the brainchild of brewer Emily Allsopp, who tells about her passion for beer, brewing and her impressive bar-for-hire.
Margaret River-Based Black Brewing Has Gone Into Administration
Black Brewing Co has entered administration. The Margaret River-based operation, which won Champion WA Brewery at the 2023 Indies, has appointed Avior Consulting and is to close its restaurant on June 15.
Working Title's Hot Climate Coolship
Tradition dictates that coolships should be used to create spontaneously-fermented beers in the cooler months in cool climates. So Working Title decided to give it a go in subtropical Queensland. Judd Owen joined them.
Small Gods; Big Ideas
Small Gods are tiny by name and nature but have caused a stir with their unique approach. Michael Donaldson explores their story and beers, including the 8 Wired collab named Supreme Winner at the New World Beer & Cider Awards.
The Future Of Black Hops
After being saved from liquidation by a group of new and existing shareholders, the new owners of Black Hops appointed industry veteran Nick Boots as CEO. We spoke to the Gold Coast operation's new boss about their plans.
Who Brews At Buddy Brewing?
Joining with others to "fight the greater evil," converting locals to malt-driven beers, and adding Carolina Reaper chillies, coffee and caramel to an ESB. Meet Buddy Brewing: more than friends... they're family.
Lager Rules As Finlay's Win Champion Beer At Perth Royal Beer Awards
Finlay's Brewing, a small brewery in Kalbarri – almost 600km north of Perth – have won Champion Beer at the 2024 Perth Royal Beer Awards. Rocky Ridge, Otherside and Margaret River Beer Co claimed the brewery trophies.
Lion Set To Close Malt Shovel Brewery
Lion is set to close the Malt Shovel Brewery in Sydney's Inner West in August. The decision spells an end to nearly four decades of brewing on the site, the birthplace of Hahn Brewery and the James Squire range of beers.
BentSpoke: Ten Lessons From Ten Years
BentSpoke Brewing are celebrating ten years since their story kicked off but the couple behind it, Richard Watkins and Tracy Margrain, have long been involved in the local beer scene. As they mark the occasion, we caught up with the Canberra brewers so they could teach us all Ten Lessons From Ten Years.
FogHorn Founder Takes Full Control Of Brewery As Mighty Craft Exit Craft
Shawn Sherlock, who built a reputation as one of Australia's finest brewers while at Murray's, has taken full control of FogHorn Brewery almost a decade on from launching the business, with Mighty Craft exiting craft beer.
Range To Close Their Abbotsford Taproom
Range Brewing have today announced they're closing their Melbourne venue. The Abbotsford taproom opened in 2020, and will serve customers for the last time on June 15 as they focus on their Brisbane operations.
