News & Feature Stories
Events Wrap 21.07.17
Outside of the country's major beer weeks, the next two weeks are strong contenders for the most intense period of events in the Aussie beer world to date. Drink up!
Help Us Get Blind: Imperial Stouts
Having brought our blind tasting panels back last month – and taken them public – we're aiming to run them every two months now. Next up is imperial stouts and, once more, we're asking you to help us decide which beers to put to the test.
Aussie Exports: Zac From Zenith
Our Aussie Exports series makes a first visit to South America. There, in Peru, we find Zac Lanham at the helm of Cervecería Zenith, a microbrewery he founded with wife Milka in Cusco, the historic city in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.
Podcast People: Bounty Hunter Banter
Having first launched a gypsy brewing company to channel their love of pop culture, the team behind Bounty Hunter Brewing has added banter to beer, as we discover in the latest entry in our occasional series of Podcast People.
Best Beers of 2017 – So Far
With so many new releases hitting taps and fridges every week, it can be hard to keep up. So here's a mid-year refresher featuring the thoughts of 40 beer writers, educators and venue operators on the best of 2017 so far.
Crafty Crawls: Preston
As craft beer nudges ever further outwards from its original Melbourne heartlands, so do our Crafty Crawls. Here, Will Ziebell finds much to satisfy in the evolving suburb that of Preston.
Fresh Prints
The unofficial campaign to educate drinkers about the important of drinking (most) beer fresh continues with the launch of a new video by Modus Operandi highlighting the benefits of checking the age of any beer you buy.
Tap Contracts Here To Stay
Small, independent Australian brewers didn't get the news they were hoping for today. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released the results of its multi-year investigation into tap access and declared the status quo was here to stay.
Beer Nuts: Michael Doulton
When it comes to dedication to the cause, you'll find few who can top Michael Doulton. For our latest Beer Nuts feature, Matt King steps inside one of the more remarkable beer caves you're ever likely to see.
River Of Gold
In just 18 months, the trophy cabinet at Brewhouse Margaret River has become a well-stocked affair. On the back of trophies at the Perth Royal Beer Show awards, Ross Lewis finds out more about the young brewery and its fine dark beers.
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Where It's At: On Beer's Frontier II
Global or hyperlocal. Independent or "crafty". The beer world isn't just getting more competitive, it's getting more complex too. Here, we try to unpick the state of play today by studying the craft beer scenes both here and in the US.
Infographic: American & Australian Craft Beer Timeline
There's been much talk of how far the Australian craft beer industry lags behind that of the US. Here, tied in with our look at the state of play, we present a graphic timeline of the rise, fall and rise of the two countries' craft beer industries.
Crafty Cabal Update – 07.07.17
Following the cracking event at Pirate Life's brewery, what's new for Crafty Pint supporters? Well, plenty, with a new competition, new deals, an imminent bar shout and more festival bonuses in the offing too.
Craft Beer Heroes: John Preston
John Preston is one of the country's most unassuming craft beer heroes. In various ways, he's been helping drive the country's homebrew scene forward while supporting many ventures in the commercial brewing world too.
Behind Bars: Jac Morgan
Behind Bars sees The Crafty Pint hop around the country asking people behind reputable beer bars what they're seeing in front of them: what are people drinking, what are the coming styles and so on. This time, it's Jac from Melbourne's Dr Morse.
Strength In Numbers
Just weeks after the CBIA became the Independent Brewers Association, the body has released research showing Australia’s independent beer industry now includes more than 400 breweries, generating $740 million in economic output in one year.
Enjoy By
Some breweries print a best before or packaged date on the label, some put a date on the bottle, others have nothing at all. For the consumer in a bottleshop, how are they to know what’s new, what’s old, and what’s been kept in a warm warehouse for months?
The Golden Handshake
Outgoing Feral sales boss Steve Finney was sent off in fine style last night as the beer brewed as his farewell gift picked up a trophy at the Perth Royal Beer Awards. There was major success for Margaret River Brewhouse too.
Who Brews Ballistic Beers?
When your name suggests an intention to go big, it doesn't hurt to walk away from your first major beer awards laden with gold. That's what happened to young Brisbane brewery Ballistic Beer Co. We find out more...
Beer Nuts: Leith Booker
Beer Nuts is an occasional feature we run that shines a spotlight on people who take their passion for good beer to the extreme – and sometimes beyond. Here, we step inside the beer cave of Leith Booker.
Something's Brewing On Southbank
There aren't many things that haven't been attempted along Melbourne's busy Southbank Promenade. But this week brought something new as Brewmanity headed to Hopscotch to christen Frank the Tank with an oyster stout brew.
Beer Travel: Greece
Last time we heard from Storyteller Spinks, he was in Turkey. He's since moved on to Greece, where he's ensured plenty of time on his travels has been spent in the company of people working in and writing about the country's nascent craft beer scene.
Events Wrap – 23.06.16
With the Winter Solstice just gone and Independence Day coming, there's plenty of themed events taking place across the country. Plus we've got a FODMAP friendly pub tour, showcases galore, luscious dinners and free beers for Crafty supporters.
The Australian Craft Beer Survey Returns
Last year, Sydney bottleshop Beer Cartel launched its Australian Craft Beer Survey, collecting feedback from 6,500 people. The 2017 version is live now as they look to capture a more detailed picture of the local beer landscape.
Brew & A: The Innovative Goat
Little did we know until recently, but a chance meeting with Alana Rees set her on the path to becoming a brewer. In a short space of time, she's gone from homebrewer to Innovation Brewer at Goat to AIBA trophy winner.
Our Man In NZ: Beer Camp Heads South
Beervana has lined up a meaty exclusive, luring Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp outside the US for the first time. With more American breweries looking at the Australasian market, Jono Galuszka looks at what it means for the festival and the NZ beer scene.
A Sporting Chance?
If you were to name one facet of Australian life small breweries are least likely to crack in a hurry, the nation's sporting citadels would be up there. But, asks Will Ziebell, do small wins here and overseas suggest there's hope?
Is The Tide Turning On Tax?
In today's increasingly polarised society, it takes something special to bring opposing factions together. Maybe craft beer can be the answer. This week saw Labor and Liberal politicians unite to call for fairer treatment of and greater support for craft brewers.
Getting Blind With Crafty: Hoppy Reds & Ambers
After an unplanned seven month break, we brought our blind tasting panel back. We focused on hoppy reds and ambers, with readers helping select the featured beers. Here's the results – and how readers can join us for a public version of the tasting.
Making Inner West The Best
Five brewers today launched a new brewing association for Sydney's Inner West in the company of a trio of local politicians. They've grand plans for their home, which has the greatest density of microbreweries in Australia.
Crafty Cabal Update – 16.06.17
This update on what we've got lined up for Crafty Pint supporters is as much about saving dates as anything else. We've got more events coming in various states, as well as some more giveaways and enticing signup bonuses too.
Beer Food: Pucker Tucker
Chef Paul Kasten explores the nuances of pairing sour beers with food, and how to work with varying levels of carbonation, sourness and the broad range of flavours to be found in sour beer.
The End Of A Cult?
As he settles into a new role as a shift brewer at Stone & Wood, BrewCult founder Steve "Hendo" Henderson has words of warning for others looking to follow him into the brewing game.
Aussie Beer Blogs: Sydney Beer
Sydney Beer is, we'd suggest, rather more than a blog. Tim Hodge has created a place where he gathers news, events, opinion and more, all united by one thing: they take place in or are about the burgeoning Sydney craft beer scene.
The Golden Goose: On Beer's Frontier
Goose Island's arrival in Australia represents the meeting point between the biggest of Big Beer and Australia's craft beer industry. We find out why it's a big deal and ask what it means within the rapidly evolving landscape here and globally.
A Drop In The Ocean
For the first time in its history, Phillip Island has an operational commercial brewery. Ocean Reach is a small brewpub operation that opened in Cowes at the end of 2016 and is already winning over the locals.
Rocks Puts Its Brewery Up For Sale
One of Sydney's largest breweries is going on the market. One of the partners in Rocks Brewing has decided to exit the business meaning the brewery and venue in Alexandria – but not the brewing company – is set to be sold.
Events Wrap – 02.06.16
There are beer launches galore in the latest roundup of forthcoming beer events around Australia. You can also check out beer dinners, birthday parties, Solstice celebrations and even a sleepover in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Breaking China II
In Breaking China, we spoke to Australian brewers looking to secure export to China on the challenges they faced. In part two, we seek a different perspective from Chinese beer writers and an expat in Melbourne working to establish a distribution network for Aussie brewers.
Carry On Grifting
The Grifter Brewing Co started out almost by chance. Today, it calls an impressive Inner West factory home to both its brewery and bar. As they mark five years in brewing, we invite two of its founders to look forward and back.
Help Us Get Blind: Reds & Ambers
After an eight month hiatus, we've found the time to bring our Blind Tasting Panel back together. And, given there's so many beers to pick from these days, we're inviting our readers to help us pick the beers we'll put to the test.
Beer Travel: The Other High Country Beer Trail
The High Country Brewery Trail in North East Victoria is one of the most popular and rewarding trips an Aussie beer tourist can take. The region is also home to some fine craft beer supporting pubs. And here are the best of them.
Beer Travel: Istanbul
Storyteller Spinks is off on another meander through the Northern Hemisphere. In his latest update, he calls in on two of the craft brewers of Istanbul and discovers the issues facing Aussie brewers pale in comparison.
Crafty Cabal Update – 26.05.17
With the last of the 70-odd people we're sending to GABS for free preparing to hit the Dome in Sydney, time to reveal the latest events, offers and prizes we've got lined up for Crafty Pint supporters around Oz.
Our Man In NZ: Kiwi Hops
The New Zealand hop industry produces some of the most sought after varieties in the world. Jono Galuszka spent time with NZ Hops and one of the lead scientists behind the development of new hops to find out more.
Brew & A: Mornington's Barrel Man
Earlier this month, Mornington Peninsula Brewery released the first beer from its barrel program, the luscious Old Pumping Station. Overseeing the program is young brewer Kristian Martin. Here, we find out more about him.
Australian International Beer Awards Winners 2017
Last night's beer awards in Melbourne put the seal on an incredible first year for Balter as the Gold Coast brewery took out three major trophies. They were among several multiple winners, which included several locals and Dagon from Myanmar.
The Big Issue: Weird Beers
It's that time of year when more new beers hit the market than at any other thanks in part to GABS. A good percentage will be highly experimental or outright odd, with the oddest tending to gain the most media hype. But is all news good news?
Independence Day
Today, Australia's small and independent brewers voted to remove large breweries from national trade body. What was the Craft Beer Industry Association (CBIA) is now to be known as the Independent Brewers Association.
The Secret Brewer: Price Wars Pt II
Yesterday, we presented an article from The Secret Brewer claiming a price war poses serious challenges and issues for the Australian craft beer industry. Here, a brewery owner, a sales rep and a venue owner respond to those claims.
