News & Feature Stories
Crafty Crawls: Wollongong
Sydneysiders sometimes poke fun at their southern neighbours but the amount of craft beer to enjoy in Wollongong is no joke. Let The Crafty Pint be your guide to the best places for a beer in a city that's worth the travel.
Podcast People: Aussie Beer Voyage
Like beer? Like TV? Like exploring new breweries and hearing from people in the industry from the comfort of your home? Then take an Aussie Beer Voyage, the YouTube show guiding you through the Aussie beer scene.
Backing Beer: Australia's Cicerone Community
Paul Daley has spent the best part of a decade advocating for beer. Now, he's launched the Australian Cicerone – Certified Professionals Community with some of the country's top beer advocates to better promote the industry they love.
Crafty Sprawl: Sunshine Coast Breweries Part I
When you hear "Sunshine Coast", you think "beaches". But the Sunny Coast is a sprawling region that includes hinterland towns, cities and farms... and plenty of good beer. Our three-part guide to the region starts in the south.
Fury & Son Decide To Quit While Ahead
The father and son behind Fury & Son have ceased brewing and put their assets up for auction, citing the challenges currently facing the beer industry. But they're retaining the brand and IP as they sign off with: "Never say never."
Who Brews At Ward's Brewery?
Gladstone has long been known for its exports but when it comes to beer, typically that's been imported via long highways. Ward's Brewery have helped rectify that problem by turning the cordial factory into a local beer factory.
Crafty Crawls: Fortitude Valley
The beast that is Fortitude Valley is ever evolving, so we've updated our Crafty Crawl through this dodgy and frequently delightful part of Brisbane in order to guide you to the best craft beer breweries and bars.
Beer Basics: Yeast Part I
A few years back, we invited Molly Rose founder Nic Sandery to guide us through the essential elements that make up beer. Having covered malt, hops and water, now he turns his brewer's gaze to yeast.
Who Brews Boundary Island Beers?
Boundary Island Brewery launched in 2022 and have wasted little time making an impression beyond their coastal home in WA. After they won Best New Exhibitor trophies in Melbourne and Perth, we got in touch to find out more.
Lion Kill Two Birds With One Move
Lion are to close Two Birds' Spotswood home and discontinue the brand. The move comes less than two years on from the multinational's acquisition of Fermentum, which included Two Birds and other breweries alongside Stone & Wood.
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Blizzard Brewery Founder's OnMarket Raise
A significant number of craft breweries have crowdfunded in recent years. Now, with sources of funding ever harder to come by, a former brewery owner is hoping to help guide others along that path as he returns with OnMarket.
Who Brews Mountain Monk Beers?
The Bellman family has a long association with Mount Beauty, from working on the mountain to regular family holidays. Now, their association runs deeper than ever after they took over the local pub and built a brewery there too.
Beer Travel: Denver's RiNo District
The Denver Nuggets waited a long time to become NBA champs but you don't have to wait long - or travel far - to find excellent beer in the Mile High City. Join Will Ziebell for a stroll through the city's RiNo district, soaking in the local beer.
Athena: On A Mission To Boost Beer Quality
Clare Clouting has spent years working on craft beer quality and earlier this year launched a business to support breweries looking to build better processes. Jono Outred chatted to her about Athena Quality, good beer and good chips.
The Story Of: B2 Bomber
When Bridge Road Brewers first released their B2 Bomber in 2010, the imperial Belgian black IPA was unlike anything else. It remains an oddity to this day so, as Mach 13.0 lands, we asked brewery founder Ben Kraus how it came to be.
Who Brews Cypher Beers?
Mention Canberra and brewing to most Aussie beer lovers and BentSpoke and Capital are most likely to come to mind. There's more to the capital's beer scene than the big-hitters, however, not least now Cypher's brewpub is open.
Rocky Ridge Go Back-To-Back At The Perth Royal Beer Awards
For the second year running, Rocky Ridge have claimed the Champion Beer trophy at the Perth Royal Beer Awards. And, again, they've done it with a rarely-seen style: their barrel-aged barleywine Jindong Balling.
Crafty Crawls: South Sydney
South Sydney is a diverse place in which industrial zones rub shoulders with residential and commercial hubs. As such, it's a perfect place to open a brewery – and plenty have, as you'll discover in this delicious Crafty Crawl.
That's Dope! The US Brewers On A High
The cannabis plant is a close relative of hops but we don't – legally – see them together in Australia. The situation is rather different in the US, as Will Ziebell discovered in conversation with some of those pioneering weed-beer hybrids.
Who Brews Crafty Robot Beers?
Tim and Damo met while brewing at Mismatch in the Adelaide Hills in 2018. Now, alongside Damo's wife Genevieve, they're at the helm of Crafty Robot, a brewery and taproom that opened in Adelaide's CBD this autumn.
I'm Growin' Down: Lessons From America's Shrinking Breweries
Late last year, Tomme Arthur did something brewery owners don't often do: talked about shrinking The Lost Abbey to survive. Will Ziebell caught up with him in America to find out what's happening in a country often seen as craft beer's future.
Pint of Origin 2023 Consumer Survey
Pint of Origin 2023 appears to have been another success, as we brought beers from across the planet to some of Melbourne's best beer venues. But how was it for you? And how can we make it even better in the future?
Looking After The Lake, Man
Last week, Lakeman Brewing took out the Supreme Beer Award at the New World Beer & Cider Awards. Here, Michael Donaldson tracks the unique journey of the Taupō brewery from farming to making award-winning beers.
BoozeBud Bought By Hairydog
BoozeBud is set to continue operating after being bought by fellow online retailers, Hairydog Group. The announcement follows Boozebud appointing voluntary administrators in early May as the business collapsed.
Behind Bars: Mongrel
If you're into skeletons, sour cocktails and sausage daddies – or, at least, if they don't scare you off – then Mongrel's brand of weirdness is for you. We chatted with the pint-pouring pooches at the Milton bar for our Behind Bars series.
Dollar Bill Triumph At The Australian International Beer Awards Again
Tiny Ballarat operation Dollar Bill, who specialise in barrel-aged and wild ales, have claimed Champion Australian Beer at the Australian International Beer Awards just two years on from their first triumph.
The Australian International Beer Awards At 30 – Part II
In part two of our mini-series marking 30 years of the Australian International Beer Awards, we invite some of those with long and significant involvement to share their memories and photos, and trace just how much it's changed.
Who Brews As The Thirsty Messiah?
He might not be the Messiah, and he may be a very naughty boy. What we know for certain is that Thomas Delgatto, alongside wife Libby, is now the owner of Newcastle's newest brewpub. Meet the Thirsty Messiah.
The Australian International Beer Awards at 30
The country's biggest beer competition, the Australian International Beer Awards, takes place for the 30th time this May. Here, we take a stroll down Memory Lane with some of the key figures from the past three decades.
Ziebs' Final Letter From America
In the last of his Letters From America, posted as he awaited a boarding call in LAX, Will Ziebell reflects on a few days spent exploring the breweries of San Diego on a hunt for the perfect West Coast IPA.
Australian Beer Industry Diversity Survey 2022
The first Industry Diversity Survey was carried out by Beer Agents For Change in 2021. The group, which is working towards a more divers and inclusive industry for all, published the results of its second survey in May 2023.
Blackflag's GABS Beer Raises A Red Flag
The name and branding of a new release from Blackflag Brewing has come in for criticism from inside and outside the beer industry.
Letters From America: Aussie First-Timers
More than 10,000 attended the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference, among them a number of Australians. Will Ziebell caught up with a few of the first-time attendees to find out why they were there and what they'd learned along the way.
Who Brews On Point Beers?
Alexandra's old butter factory has been brought back to life by two best mates who've known each other since high school. We got in touch to find out more about On Point Brewery, which opened to the public at the tail end of 2022.
Ziebs' Letters From America Part 2
With the Craft Brewers Conference and World Beer Cup wrapped up, Will Ziebell has moved onto Denver. Here, he reflects on his experiences in Nashville, the issues raised there, and the delicious IPA awaiting him in the Colorado capital.
The People Of Pint Of Origin
In one sense, Pint of Origin is all about the beer, the brewers and the venues hosting them. But it's also about bringing people together to go on shared adventures. Here, we celebrate some of the people of #PoO.
Crafty Crawls: Newcastle Part I
Four years on from our first Crafty Crawl through Newcastle and the beer scene has evolved so much it now warrants two editions. First up, we take a tram then hit the pavement, heading east to west through the city's heart.
Bucketty's Claim Another Medal At The World Beer Cup
Northern Beaches-based Bucketty's are one of the smaller operations in Australia but continue to punch above their weight. For the second year running, they've claimed a medal at the world's biggest beer comp, the World Beer Cup.
Pint of Origin 2023: Meet The Aussies
Pint of Origin kicks off for an 11th time this Friday, bringing almost 1,000 different beers to 20 of the city's best pubs and bars from May 12 to 21. In our second preview, we take a look at what to expect from the Aussie venues.
Getting Bigger In Japan
Collaborations have long been part of craft beer culture, and Pint of Origin 2023 will see one host venue take things to another level. We caught up with Benchwarmer founder Locky and his Japanese partners to find out more.
Ziebs' Letters From America Part I
Crafty Pint senior writer Will Ziebell is in the States for the Craft Brewers Conference but is taking the opportunity to do some exploring too. In his first missive, he reports back on his experiences in Nashville before the formalities start.
Who Brews Hiker Beers?
A celebration of the great outdoors, beers ranging from Scottish light ale to highly-rated hazy IPA, and a big airy venue with a place for everyone. Meet Hiker Brewing Concern in this instalment of our Who Brews...? series.
Drinks Marketplace Kaddy Goes Into Administration
Kaddy, an online marketplace connecting Australian drinks producers with retailers and venues, has gone into voluntary administration. The news comes in the same week that online retailer Boozebud entered administration too.
Hip Hops Hooray: Brendale Gets A New Brewery
After countless delays, Hip Hops Brewers are about ready to open in Brendale. Owner Shaun Reeves told us about his 21 tap venue set to host live entertainment and be a place for locals to relax and create.
Pint of Origin 2023: Meet The Internationals
Pint of Origin returns to Melbourne for an 11th time on May 12, bringing almost 1,000 different beers to 20 of the city's best pubs and bars over ten days. In the first part of our preview, we roundup the highlights at the international venues.
HPA Eclipse Past Years In The 2023 Hop Harvest
As they release their 2023 crop report, we spoke to Australia's largest hop grower, Hop Products Australia, about their faith in their latest commercial variety, Eclipse, what's on the horizon, and the wider world of hops.
Who Brews As The Brewers Collective?
Bendigo has garnered a fine reputation for beer over the years, with festivals, bars and even its own beer-pushing association. Yet it didn't have a brewpub. Until now. Meet the homebrewers gone pro behind the Brewers Collective.
Crafty Crawls: The Breweries Of Marrickville
Five years on from our first Marrickville Crafty Crawl and much has changed, while some has remained the same. Join Benedict Kennedy-Cox for a guided tour of the most brewery-soaked suburb in the land.
Ferveo's New Form Of Yeast For Brewers
Ferveo is a yeast company that's been working with Adelaide brewers for some time before officially launching with an innovative range. Here, Tommaso Watson tells us about his journey from winemaking to wort-wrangling.
Beer Grows Here: The Devilbend Farm
The paddock-to-plate philosophy runs deep on the Mornington Peninsula and myriad wineries let you enjoy a glass while looking at the vines that were the source of your enjoyment. Devilbend Farm Beer is a new brewery that is growing its own grains, hops and plans to make estate ales.
