News & Feature Stories
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.
Get more Crafty!
Sign up to our newsletters and get the latest craft beer news delivered free to your inbox. Choose from our Friday Roundup of the week, the quick-read, social feed-like Crafty Cuppa – or both!
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.
Tar Barrel: Old Dog, New Tricks
After three years, the links between Tar Barrel and Mornington Peninsula Brewery are no more. As owner Matt Bebe makes a fresh start where he began, we chatted to him about staying local and the lessons learnt along the way.
Who Brews Hedonbar Beers?
It was while travelling they decided to start a brewery, and a beer label in Hong Kong that gave them their name. We caught up with the couple behind Hedonbar as they prepare to open their brewery and taproom on the Yorke Peninsula.
17 Years Of The Brisbanest Beers
You'll find breweries in most parts of Brisbane these days, but long before the city's craft beer scene exploded a young couple decided to open a brewpub in the CBD. Seventeen years on, we joined them for a trip down Memory Lane.
From Cask Ale To The Beerfarm: Young Gun Emma Locke
Emma Locke's first brush with beer came while pulling pints of cask ale to help fund a uni degree in the heart of England. Now, having switched British pubs for WA's Beerfarm, she's been named Indies Young Gun of the Year for 2022.
Who Brews Method Brewery Beers?
It takes a particular set of skills to set up a new brewery but when it comes to Newcastle's latest, the founders feel like they've been building towards it for some time. We caught up with the folks at Method Brewing to find out about the method behind the Islington brewery and beers.
Blackflag Open Their Coolum Compound
Blackflag Brewing's production brewery and taproom in Coolum Beach is a big step up from their Mooloolaba alleyway venue, with space and demand to expand almost immediately. We got in touch as it opens to the public.
Wild Yeast Zoo
Wild beers are the oldest form of brewing and still capture a certain romance. Stepping into that fray is Wild Yeast Zoo, a Newcastle-based venture that hopes to uncover new yeast strains of yeast and bring the public along for the journey.
The Keys To A Good Time – Yours From Today
The Keys Leisure Centre could well be Melbourne's most multifaceted venue, with the Preston haunt including a bowling alley, arcade, bistro, beer garden and three bars. As it opens, we chatted to one of the founders.
Who Brews Common People Beers?
People are drawn to the Northern Rivers village of Bangalow for many reasons. One group of friends was drawn there to start a brewery by the people, for the people. Find out more as we ask Who Brews Common People Beers?
Big Shed: Ten Lessons From Ten Years
Big Shed's story is the quintessential craft beer tale of two homebrewers taking a chance on themselves and their beers. As they celebrate a decade since launching, we asked Jason and Craig what they've learnt over the years.
Wayward & Batch Join Forces As The Local Drinks Collective
Wayward and Batch have today announced the formation of a new collective of independent breweries they hope will give them greater firepower to compete with the multinational beverage companies dominating Australia.
Consolidation & Cooperation: Where To For Indie Beer?
Today's launch of the Local Drinks Collective by Wayward and Batch adds another layer of nuance to the local brewing industry. We look at what lies behind it and whether we'll see more cooperation and consolidation among small brewers.
Akasha To Open A Sydney Barrel Room
They're best known for their mastery of hops, but the team at Akasha are set to showcase a rather different side to the brewery. We called into the soon-to-open Akasha Barrel Room in Leichhardt to get the lowdown.
The Indies 2022 Winners
White Bay claimed Champion Beer for their Lager at the 2022 Indies, a night on which Moffat Beach continued their remarkable run of form, and Jade Flavell of The Wheaty won a Champion Brewery trophy and the Services To Industry award.
A Day In The Life Of: A Beer Steward
Ahead of the 2022 Indies awards, we went behind the scenes at judging. While there, Will Ziebell spent time with Joslyn Erickson, the Indies Coordinator, to find out who and what goes into becoming a beer awards steward.
Dainton Open A Second Taphouse In Melbourne
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign earlier in the year, Dainton Beer have taken over the former home of The Public Brewery in Croydon. It opens under the new owners for the first time this evening.
The Beer Slingers: Bobbie Peels
After years running various hospo businesses, including launching Burnley Brewing, old mates Phil Gijsbers and Neil Mills have their first pub. With renos complete at the historic Bobbie Peels, we invited them to kick off a new series.
Jarrah Boy Brings Native Ingredients To The Fore
A new Sunshine Coast-based brewing company showcasing native ingredients is set to launch later this month. Jarrah Boy is the latest venture from Dale Vocale, an Indigenous chef, entrepreneur and proud Monero Ngarigo man.
Bar La Sirène Opens In Alphington
More than a decade after moving into a warehouse in Melbourne's inner northeast, the farmhouse and wild ale specialists at La Sirène have opened their doors to the public. We called in for a chat, beer, food and champagne.
Beer Agents For Change Launch Second Diversity Survey
Beer Agents For Change have today launched their second Diversity Survey. The aim is to put together a snapshot of people's experiences in the beer industry with a particular focus on diversity, inclusivity and discrimination.
Exit Australian Brewery. Enter Esker Beer Co
The Australian Hotel & Brewery is entering a new era with the launch of Esker Beer Company. The new name and design was picked to better connect the longstanding brewery with their surrounds in Sydney's outer northwest.
Vale Head Back To The Vale
After two months of trophy triumph here and on the global stage, Vale Brewing are heading back to the region from which they took their name. Ahead of tomorrow's opening, Matt King chatted to them about their taphouse in McLaren Vale.
The Spirit Of Oztoberfest
Oktoberfest celebrations have long been a fixture in the beer calendar but 2022 has seen such events go into overdrive. We chatted to some of those behind the feast of fests to find out what they love about this time of year.
The Brewer Who Can See Flavour
When Ian Watson tastes beer, he sees colour. He has synaesthesia, and this condition shapes the way he tastes beer – and the way he brews it. We caught up with one of the country's most experienced brewers to find out more.
Who Brews Ursa Major Beer?
Ursa Major is only visible in the Northern Hemisphere but the brewing company bearing the name brew their "otherworldly beer" in Australia. The founders are global brewers, who met in another city and still make beer from two bases.
Du Cane's Brewery & Dining Hall Launches In Launceston
Launceston will have a brewpub of its own from this week as Du Cane Brewery & Dining Hall opens its doors. We chatted to founder Will Horan about what beer fans can expect from the space and his new partnership.
Who Brews Squinters Beers?
A squinter is someone who lives in Western Sydney and drives into the city early morning looking at the sun, only to face the same fate on the way home. That reality has inspired Penrith's newest brewery, Squinters Brewing Co.
Brick Lane Join The B Corp Brigade
Brick Lane Brewing have joined the tiny but growing number of Australian breweries with B Corp certification. The accreditation can only be achieved by businesses whose environmental and social actions meet a high standard.
