News & Feature Stories
Who Brews & Blends Barrel Shepherd Beers?
Wollongong has always been a manufacturing city but these days it feels like much of that production is beer. The Barrel Shepherd has joined the city's thriving beer scene, bringing with it a unique tale and love for barrels, local fruit and yeast.
Hottest 100 Craft Beers Of 2022: Analysis
Mountain Culture have scored an incredible top spot with their Status Quo in the 2022 GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers poll. Here, we dig deeper into the top 100 to see what it can tell us.
Mountain Culture Storm The GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers Of 2022
We have a new winner in the GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers poll for 2022, with Mountain Culture achieving a staggering result and blasting straight into top spot. Balter XPA finished second ahead of BentSpoke's Crankshaft.
Crowdfunded Brewery Future Magic Opens Today
The Future Magic team open the doors to their Brisbane brewery today. They launched their operation on the back of a crowdfunding campaign, so we chatted with co-founder Sean Astill to find out more about their approach.
Ballistic Beer Goes Into Administration
One of Queensland's most high profile independent brewing companies has gone into voluntary administration. According to a filing with ASIC dated January 24, Ballistic Beer Co have appointed PKF Melbourne as administrators.
Going Green: Bearhug Pallet Wrap
Plastic is often a necessary evil in the beer world: it can help keep beer safe but often ends up in landfill. It's an issue being tackled by Bearhug Pallet Wrap, a startup looking to move beer safely while cutting out single-use plastic.
Who Brews Aetheon Beers?
Kevin Martinovich’s fascination with all things fermented led him into a career encompassing retail, hospitality, and global travel. Now with his own brewing company, we invited him to take part in our Who Brews...? series.
La Sirène Back In Business – For Now
After a tumultuous seven weeks that would make a roller-coaster feel queasy, the team at La Sirène are set to reopen the doors to their bar today. However, the future of the popular "urban farmhouse" brewery remains unclear.
Better Together With A Better Vision
A conversation with Emily Tankey about brewing venture Better Together grew into a conversation about brewing at Brouwerij De Molen, the importance of female ownership, and the need for distinction in contract brewing.
Spotty Dog's Hobart Home Is Here At Last
It's been a long road for Spotty Dog but the Tassie brewers who launched their first beer in 2016 finally have a home in Hobart. Co-founder Klimt Donohoe told us all about their new venue and what beer lovers can expect.
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Who Brews Wooden Axe Beers?
What could possibly possess someone to turn up to a homebrew competition with nothing but a couple of flannels, a homemade, lumberjack-themed jockeybox, and a keg of 9.5 percent ABV white stout? Meet the mates behind Wooden Axe.
The Collaborators: Candy Warhol's Colouring Cans
If a colouring book featuring 148 beer cans from breweries across Greater Sydney appeals to you, then you're in luck – ex-graphic designer Connor Dempsey has made one to scratch his own creative itch and support good mental health.
Who Brews Gallows Beers?
The brand may have a dark name and dark labels (and started with a dark beer), but the story of Gallows Brewing is one of sunshine as three friends were drawn back together in gorgeous Coffs Harbour to start a brewing company.
The Best Of Beer 2022: The Territories
They’re far from being neighbours and you wouldn’t draw too many similarities between the ACT and NT either, but once again we’re running the Territories together as our Best Of Beer 2022 series draws to a close.
The Best Of Beer 2022: South Australia
Our Best Of Beer 2022 series heads to South Australia for a look at the highs, lows, twists and turns via the standout moments and beers, the newcomers to the scene, and those who experienced a memorable 12 months.
The Best Of Beer 2022: Tasmania
It's time to head south for the sixth entry in The Best Of Beer 2022 series as we cross the Bass Strait to check in on a busy year of openings – both new and from existing operations – and delicious beers from around Tasmania.
The Best Of Beer 2022: Queensland
The remarkable rise of Queensland's craft beer scene continued apace in 2022, even in the face of floods and the challenges faced by the industry across Australia. Here's our take on the tumultuous 12 months that was.
The Best Of Beer 2022: WA
Join us as our touring review of the year in beer touches down in WA. It's a cracker too, not just looking at the trends and highlights of 2022 in the state but also addressing some of the broader issues at play for beer in Australia right now.
Akasha Aim To Open A Newcastle Brewpub
Not content with opening one new venue in 2022, Akasha have seen off the year by acquiring The Edwards in Newcastle. We chatted to founder Dave Akasha about the purchase and their plans to install a brewery.
The Best Of Beer 2022: Victoria
It's been a funny old year in Victoria, with pioneers looking to exit the industry and many more battered from all sides. But there's been a whole lot of good beer and beautiful moments too; here we take a look at what stood out.
The Best Of Beer 2022: NSW
From Bondi to Bangalow, craft beer continued to crop up in more corners of New South Wales during 2022. Join us as we attempt to make sense of it all via the standout moments, beers and new arrivals from the past 12 months.
The Best Of Beer 2022
Christmas is approaching so it must be time for us to look back at the year just gone. And in a change from past years, we're kicking off with a look at the standout themes of 2022 on a national scale.
Your Mates To Open A Bowlo in 2023
Your Mates have already enjoyed an impressive 2022 and, as they year draws to a close, they've got one more major announcement up their sleeve. They're set to open a bowls club of their own in 2023 in the town of Cooroy.
The Making Of A Champion Hazy
There's a lot of beer available and a lot of it's good but what separates a good beer from a great one? And what exactly goes on at beer judging? To find out, we spent three days tracing the judging of the Juicy-Hazy category and spoke to the brewer behind the overall winner to find out what makes a Champion Hazy Beer.
Future Mountain's Reservoir Brewpub Up For Sale
Future Mountain have listed their Reservoir brewery and venue for sale – but it's not what it seems. The founders plan to move to different parts of Victoria with their families and create a new Future Mountain with two rural bases.
Beer Cartel To Be Online Only In 2023
Beer Cartel are closing their physical store in Sydney at the start of next year, with the popular beer retailer deciding to move their operation entirely online. We spoke to co-founder Richard Kelsey about the decision and their future plans.
Found Further Afield: FOUND. Lab
With construction on their ambitious Perth Girls School project pushed back, the team behind FOUND. are set to launch a new venture in the meantime. FOUND. Lab will open south of Perth in early 2023, and could become their "wild workshop".
Capital Brewing: Five Years In Five Beers
It's been an impressive 2022 for Capital. Their green credentials have shone brightly and it also marks five years since their Fyshwick brewery opened. To mark the milestone, we invited them to head down Memory Lane.
Who Brews Good Folk Beers?
Newcastle's beer lovers have another brewery of their own after two well-known local publicans ventured into brewing for the first time. We caught up with the team at Good Folk Brewing as they opened their doors to the public.
The Collaborators: Beer Fans
Branded t-shirts, hats and hoodies have become a major part of craft beer. But when you've got beer to make, merch isn't always at the top of your to-do list. Enter Beer Fans: a business built to make beer merch easier.
Phantasm: The Ghost Coming To Your Beer
Hops and their vibrant aromatics create much excitement among beer fans but a ghostly new flavour is attracting attention among brewers. That ghost is Phantasm, so we chatted to the man behind it and one of the first local brewers to try it.
Pirate Life To Open South Melbourne Venue
Pirate Life are opening a venue in South Melbourne next year. It will be Pirate Life's first home on Australia's east coast, located near the iconic South Melbourne Market, and is set to pour beers from their Port Adelaide home.
The Story Behind La Sirène's Recent Closure
La Sirène have been locked out of their brewery and forced to close their bar indefinitely after traces of asbestos were found in buildings at the Melbourne Innovation Centre. They're unsure when they'll reopen with cleaning set to last into 2023.
Who Brews Cosmo Beers?
Brewing good beer isn't enough for the couple behind Cosmo Brewing. They want the Bathurst-based operation to be a force for good too. We got in touch for a chat about foraged fruit, community values, and serendipitous saison.
The Suburban Brew Open Their Second Taproom Today
Adelaide's beer drinkers can walk into a new brewery built by familiar faces from today as The Suburban Brew open a second home in the 'burbs. Before they swung open the doors in Glynde, we got in touch for a chat.
Moon Dog Plan To Take Over Franco Cozzo Footscray
Moon Dog plan to build a new home in Melbourne's most iconic furniture store, with the brewery submitting an application to redevelop Franco Cozzo in Footscray. We chatted with cofounder Karl van Buuren to find out more.
Brew & A: Carla Naismith
Brewing isn't a career many chose while in school and, while Carla Naismith is no different, she soon discovered a passion for the industry she's never been able to shake. We invited Shapeshifter's senior brewer to join us for a Brew & A.
Going Green: The Common Good Company
What if every single thread of your beer merch was made from recycled cotton and recycled drink bottles? We caught up with The Common Good Company for a chat about their high quality apparel with a low impact on the planet.
Who Brews Little Giant beers?
An Aussie wine label making European-inspired beers in funky little bottles isn't something you see every day. So here's the story behind Little Giant beers in this Who Brews…? with a difference.
Sobremesa Scoop Top Beer At Drink Easy Awards 2022
The small, family-run Sobremesa scored the top beer at the 2022 Drink Easy Awards, finishing third overall in the competition that features all forms of drinks. Brick Lane, Mismatch and Molly Rose all made the best beer list too.
Archer Touch Down In Newmarket
What better place for an aviation-themed brewery to set up home than inside a World War Two era hangar? After a turbulent few years, Archer Brewing are landing in Newmarket with a new brewery to call home.
Red Hill Brewery Goes On The Market
One of the country's longest-established breweries could be yours as Red Hill founders Karen and Dave Golding have today put their Mornington Peninsula brewery on the market just shy of 18 years after their poured their first beers.
King Road IPA Scoops WA Beer Of The Year
King Road Brewing have scooped another major trophy for their IPA, with the much-loved beer from the farm-based brewery 35 minutes of Perth claimed the WA Good Food Guide Beer Of The Year for 2022 last night.
Who Brews Dusty Lizard Beers?
Dusty Lizard opened in Wollongong in later 2020 and, while their taproom has proved a hit, the runaway star has been Dustin the lizard. He was too busy to chat, so ahead of their second birthday we chatted to the founders instead.
Revolution In The Riverina
There are many people who have changed the nature of beer and brewing in Australia over the years. Yet what's happening in the Riverina region of NSW feels as transformative as anything else happening in the industry right now.
The Story Of: Moff's Summer Ale
How does a session IPA designed for easy beach drinking beat out both session beers and bigger IPAs for beer awards? None of us, including the brewer, seem to quite know the answer. But read about the beer that does it in The Story Of Moff's Summer Ale.
Be Part Of Pint Of Origin In 2023!
Applications are now open for any venue wishing to be part of Pint of Origin when it returns in May 2023. Make sure you get your application in before November 25 – we'll notify successful applicants in early December.
Who Brews Cold Hands Beers?
The crew behind Cold Hands Brewing only started brewing together in February but they've wasted no time launching with their first commercial release out in September. We got in touch to hear how they brought it all together.
Bonza Airlines Will Take Flight With All Indie Beer
Bonza Airlines are a new low-cost airline set to launch in the near future but when they do, its beer and food offering won't look all that low-cost. Instead, they'll be stocking entirely indie beer from the likes of Your Mates, Ballistic and Spinifex.
Pink Boots Australia: Ten Years, Ten Beers & Hundreds Of Careers
Over the last ten years, Pink Boots Australia has been an essential community and support network for women and non-binary members of the beer industry. As the local chapter turns ten, we chatted to the not-for-profit's past presidents about its important role, what they're proud of and what they hope to see change.
