News & Feature Stories
These Boots Were Made For Brewing
With its latest collab set for launch next week and plans to brew a first ever GABS beer, Pink Boots Society Australia continues to grow. Graham Frizzell caught up with one of its key players, Tiffany Waldron, to find out more.
Starting A Brewery Part I
More people than ever are hoping to open their own brewing company in Australia. But turning a dream into reality isn't easy; in fact, it's bloody hard work. Over two days, we're offering advice from experts, starting with brewers themselves.
A Complete Shambles
The craft beer scene in Hobart continues its dizzying rise. The latest brewpub to open in the Tasmanian capital is also one of the most polished you'll find in Australia. As Ruth Dawkins discovers, it's a case of Shambles by name not nature.
Beer History: The Kingdom of Hops
We've written plenty about the latest goings on in the Australian hop industry. But what of the past? In his first article for The Crafty Pint, beer loving historian Will Ziebell delves into the earliest days of hop growing in Tasmania's Derwent Valley.
The Micro Malting Man
Adelaide Hills brewer Al Turnbull of Lobethal Bierhaus is nearing the end of a decade long dream. He's designed and built his own in-house malting that will him to create his own malt for brewing, becoming the first SA craft brewer to do so.
Educating Molly Rose
Young brewer Nic Sandery is off on a round the world research trip part-funded by a successful crowd-funding campaign. His learnings in the different beer cultures will be brought to bear upon Molly Rose, his new brewing company, on return.
The Future Tastes Bad
The Crafty Pint will soon be starting a series looking at the steps brewers are taking to reduce brewing's environmental impact. Before then, however, Young Henrys is highlighting the impact climate change could have on your beer via beer.
The Story Of: Boatrocker Ramjet
For the second in our series looking at the story behind some of the coolest, most iconic or most sought after beers in Australia we showcase Boatrocker's Ramjet. The imperial stout even has its own day, with the first Ramjet Day on April 9, 2016.
The Collaborators: Where There's Hope, There's Hops
An American couple who have been growing hops for their home brew for years have launched a hop farm in Margaret River. Karridale Hop Farm has enjoyed a successful first harvest and is looking to bring an old variety back to life.
New Events Wrap – 11.03.16
As the first whiff of fresh hops from this year's harvest wafts across the land, we turn attention to some of the celebratory events held in the name of hops. Then it's onwards to beer dinners, tap takeovers, festival action and craft of a slightly less beery persuasion.
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Bruny Island Brews
A young Tasmanian brewer who spent time at Moo Brew, Seven Sheds and Lark Distillery is back brewing. This time around, Evan Hunter has partnered with Nick Haddow of Bruny Island Cheese Co to launch a brewery focused on creating authentic Tasmanian beers.
Burleigh Brewing 2.0
Burleigh Brewing has been flying the flag for microbrewing in Queensland for close to a decade. And today the Gold Coast brewery officially opens the doors to its new venue. James Graham caught up with head brewer Brennan Fielding to find out more.
Beer Travel: Orange
If you're looking for evidence of the growth of craft beer in Australia, you need only look at Orange in Central West NSW. There, as Tim Hanlon discovered, within a 25km radius of Orange's city centre you'll find three microbreweries, with more on the way.
March's Crafty Dozen
It looks like we've added another dozen new brewery, bar and bottleshop listings since last time we did a roundup. So, if you missed them, here's the latest additions to the Crafty directory from QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and WA. More very soon!
'Bo Hop Selecta
The owner of Oscar's Ale House in Belgrave is embarking on a long held dream to run a brewing company. Yellingbo comes with a difference though: Brad Merritt and wife Gypsy are using hops from the farm planted on their land first.
Aussie Beer Blogs: The Beer Healer
When he left his job with Lion, Chris Lukianenko was still keen to have an outlet for his passion for beer. So he launched The Beer Healer blog in the middle of 2015, a blog that has been developing very nicely ever since.
One For The Road
Newcastle Craft Beer Week is returning after a two year hiatus. We met up with the man bringing it back, Shannon Kearnes, the Novocastrian behind the One for the Road walking tours that take guests around his beloved hometown.
Trials and Fermentations
Former Moo Brew head brewer turned Australian hop guru Owen Johnston has returned to brewing. Hop Trial is his way of trying to educate people about the much-loved ingredient via beer. Ruth Dawkins met him to find out more.
New Events Wrap – 26.02.16
This week's cross-country collection of new events balances brand new beer with historical themes, a host of opportunities to meet brewers – including one of the most well known gypsies – and plants the seeds of your Easter plans.
Brewsvegas III Is Coming
Of all the beer weeks in Australia, Brewsvegas has a strong claim to be the most fun and community-minded. Launched by a group of venue operators, it's about to celebrate its third year. We get the lowdown from one of its founders.
Who Brews Beaten Track Beers?
You can find breweries off the beaten track in Australia these days, but few, if any, in as remote a location as Beaten Track itself. For our latest Who Brews? we find out the story behind the Boulder brewery six hours drive inland from Perth.
New Events Wrap – 19.02.16
From casks to Champagne ale to birthdays and farewells, this week's roundup of new events provides a colourful snapshot of how diverse the local beer scene has become. And how you can enjoy being part of it.
The Big Issue: Hops
There have been shortages in the supply of certain hops in past years but 2016 promises to be the first in which there is a significant impact on Aussie brewers. We speak to four key growers and suppliers to find out why – and how to prepare.
Reduced To Beers
A Perth restaurant is taking the beer cocktail concept to another level. At Baby Mammoth, they're creating beer vermouths with local and imported craft beers to use within cocktails, a Pia Poynton discovers.
Calling All Beer Media
Submissions are open for the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards, which includes a new trophy for New World Pale Ales. It's also a third chance for people covering the beer world to be crowned AIBA Media champ.
The Story Of: Watermelon Warhead
We're kicking off a new series looking at the story behind some of the coolest, most iconic and downright funky beers to come out of Australia. With 100 kegs ready for a major release, first up is Feral's Watermelon Warhead.
The Collaborators: Getting A Handle On The Beer World
It's not just brewers and those that sell their beer that are thriving as the craft beer industry grows; others are sharing in the success. One WA firm has a fast-growing division that has small brewers to thank for its existence.
New Events Wrap – 12.02.16
Want to know what's coming up in the beer world? Every week, we'll be rounding up all the latest beer events added to the Crafty Pint Events Diary. If you'd like to see yours appear there and here, drop us a line at events@craftypint.com.
A Farmer's Tail
Beard and Brau started out in an Adelaide warehouse. But its owners, Chris and Tanya, always dreamed of a more rural life. Today, they have it, running an award-winning environmentally-focused farmhouse brewery in South East Queensland.
Stop, Collaborate & Mill In
As recently as five years ago, a brewing collaboration was a genuine novelty in Australia. These days, as this look at what's brewing in SA right now, it's far more commonplace, even if the outcomes turn out to be genuine novelties themselves.
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Cicerone certified staff, expertly curated beer lists and fine food and wine in the very heart of Perth. The WA capital has been slow on the craft beer uptake but, as Petition Beer Corner shows, now it's catching up it's doing it in real style.
Mads For Aussie Beer
As Noma Australia's long sold out run kicks off in Sydney, it's not just the ingredients on the plate that have a strong Australian focus. The drinks list features several Australian beers, including some created especially for the restaurant.
Drinking History
After researching the Australian Sparkling Pale Ale style for America's Brewing Network, Peter Symons began to delve further into historical Australian beer. The result is Bronzed Brews, a book blending history with 42 home brew recipes for historical beers.
Who Brews Norman, Brian & Randy Daniels?
From a Surry Hills vegetarian restaurant of the same name sprung Yulli's Brews. Stepping in tandem into the brewing world are Yulli's founder Karl Cooney and homebrewing staff member James Harvey. With their first of their beers now in cans, we find out more.
Arrogant Bootlegging Bastards
Margaret River brewery Bootleg has scored quite the coup and been invited to become one of a handful of breweries invited to brew Stone's legendary Arrogant Bastard. And all because of a bit of cheek and a spot of mountain biking through WA.
The Collaborators: A Glimmer Of Hops
With hops in ever greater demand and supply shortages increasingly common, a South Australian is hoping to bring hop farming back to the Adelaide Hills. Matt King caught up with Stuart Binnion as he prepares for his first harvest.
Beer Travel: Hunting Down The Hottest 100
At the denouement of the Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2014 poll, Dan "Crafty Kev" McEvilly set himself the challenge of trying them all. A year on, he tells us about his mission and how the beer world rallied to help his cause.
Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2015: Analysis
Once again, the Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers results have led to much debate. There were some clear winners and some surprises too. Here's what we thought the 2015 results suggested about the local beer scene.
Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2015: The New Kids
Among the winners in yesterday's Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2015 countdown were three breweries new to the list in 2015. Pirate Life and Hawkers Beer both launched in 2015, while Big Shed came in with three entries. We spoke to them all.
Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2015: The Results
The votes are counted, the results are in, and we have a new (returning) number one: Stone & Wood Pacific Ale. Feral moves to number two while the big story is Pirate Life, with the new brewery taking two of the top four spots in its first year.
Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2015: Infographic
The results of the Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2015 are out. So, as in 2014, we've done some number crunching so we can present some of the keys stats and trends to you in handy Infographic form.
Craft Shopping
Building upon their runaway success at in Croydon, the Public Brewery team has opened a second venue in a most unlikely spot: a shopping centre. The Cellar Door showcases local beer, wine and produce at Eastlands and could make mall shopping actually enjoyable.
Beer Travel: Adelaide's Craftiest Beer Gardens Part II
Last week, we kicked off a tour of some of Adelaide's craftiest beer gardens on a mission to find out what makes a beer garden great. Here's part two, as Matt King checks out another half dozen combining craft beer with al fresco action.
Beer Travel: Adelaide's Craftiest Beer Gardens
Summer's here, which means it's beer garden time. Matt King has been visiting many of the best and craftiest that Adelaide and surrounds has to offer, asking owners and patrons what makes a beer garden great.
Mining A Rich Seam
Visitors to WA's Great Southern region will probably have visited Boston Brewery and sampled its wares. Now, with a new brewery in place and bottling line on the way, you may not have to travel quite so far to check them out, as Pia Poynton discovered.
Beer Nuts: The Fletcher Brothers
There a few beer lovers anywhere in Australia who have tried as many beers as Jez and Sam Fletcher; certainly none who have documented their sampling in such fastidious detail. So we invited the brothers to be our first Beer Nuts double act.
The Geeks Inherit
More good news for SA's beer lovers as the brewing duo going by the name Little Bang have opened their own brewery and venue. It means bigger batches of their beers and yet another place where you can enjoy beer as fresh as fresh gets.
The Smoky, Hoppy, Spotty Dog
At the end of 2015, another new brewing company launched its first release into Tasmania's increasingly busy beer scene. Spotty Dog Brewers were already known to locals for their smoked BBQ treats; now they've got beer to go with it too.
The Big Issue: Quality
Is there anything more important when it comes to beer than quality, both when it leaves the brewery and the experience enjoyed by each drinker who buys a beer? For our first Big Issue feature of 2016, six experts share their views.
Best New Beers of 2015: Queensland
We reach the end of our state-by-state (and territory) look back at 2015's best new beers in Queensland. Darren "250 Beers" Magin sat down with fellow beer gurus to pluck ten of the finest new drops to grace the Sunshine State last year.
