News & Feature Stories
Crafty Cabal Update – 07.04.17
We've been so busy hanging with Cabal members around the country, we haven't announced that much new stuff in the past couple of weeks. But don't worry: we do have new offers and events to announce...
First Among Equals
A brewery’s first beer can tell you a lot about how the owners want to present themselves, acting as a marker of what's to come. Kerry McBride chats to three brewers about the nature of what comes first, and how it sets up all that follows.
Our Man In NZ: Brewpubs
The brewpub model is growing in popularity on both sides of the Tasman. In his latest article for The Crafty Pint, Our Man In NZ, Jono Galuszka, chats to three people heading down that path in Wellington and Palmerston North.
Wildflower Blooming
Dozens of breweries will open their doors across Australia in 2017. They will come in all shapes and sizes, but we doubt any will be quite like Wildflower. Nick O spent time with the blendery's driving force, Topher Boehm.
Brewing Without Borders
Breweries will be able to hire brewers from overseas more easily after Hawkers successfully secured a 457 visa for one of their brewers. This is the first time brewing has been recognised as a skill suitable for a Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa.
Aussie Exports: Gerad Giles
Aussie Exports is a series in which we check in on Australians doing cool things in beer overseas. Here, we head to British Columbia where former Esperance inhabitant Gerad Giles is working for BNA Brewing.
The Secret Brewer: Gypsy Brewing Pt II
Yesterday, we launched a new series, The Secret Brewer, in which an unnamed brewer laid out their concerns about gypsy and contract brewing. Today, brewers from here and overseas respond to the points raised in the article.
The Secret Brewer: Gypsy Brewing
The Secret Brewer is a new series in which a local brewer lets off steam about an issue that's troubling them. First up: gypsy brewers. Tomorrow, we'll present responses to the points raised by our mystery brewer in part two.
Starting A Brewery: The Early Days
Thinking of starting out in brewing? Keen to learn more about the realities of chasing that dream? Here, we find out what four Australian brewing company owners have learned in their first year of operation.
Events Wrap – 24.03.17
There's one thing that can be said with certainty about the current Australian beer scene: it's all about the hops. Except, of course, when it's not. Although, for the most part with this event roundup, it is.
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The Breeder
Washington State based Select Botanicals Group has developed some of the hops most beloved of craft brewers. We met head breeder Jason Perrault when he was in Melbourne to talk torture, promiscuity and limitless possibilities.
Foreign Import
It's not unusual for you startup breweries to seek advice from experts. They don't often fly them in from the other side of the world, however. Will Ziebell meets the former Pilsner Urquell brewer assisting the team at Brunswick's Foreigner.
Crafty Crawls: Manly & The Rocks
In the ten months since we published our first Crafty Crawl, we've somehow never managed to feature any water-based travel. But not more is that the case, as Judd Owen embarks on one taking in Manly, The Rocks and a ferry.
The Artisan
There are few people in Australia who have explored so many facets of the beer world as Brian Fitzgerald. Now winning plaudits for his Belgian style beers as Artisan Brewing, he's a beer judge, Cicerone, yeast importer and more.
The Biggest Week In Beer Is Coming
Good Beer Week has grown into a happening of global stature, encapsulating 270 events, the Australian International Beer Awards and the ever-growing beast that is GABS. The 2017 version promises to be the biggest yet.
Brewing Up Excellence
The Victorian State Government recently announced it was contributing half a million dollars towards the development of a Centre of Excellence for beer in Ballarat. Will Ziebell finds out more from the man driving the project.
Cabal Update – 16.03.17
We're a day early with our fortnightly update, but that's because we've got stuff going on this weekend and news related to Good Beer Week and GABS, which are now on sale. Plus other new news too...
The Collaborators: Voyager Craft Malt
The Collaborators is an ongoing series looking at businesses growing in tandem with the local craft beer industry. Here, Marie Claire Jarratt chats to the man behind a craft malthouse in NSW and brewers who use his malts.
Aussie Beer Blogs: Schoonerversity
With Brewsvegas set to launch this week, for our latest focus on one of the many beer-focused blogs in Australia, we turn to Brisbane. There we find Schoonerversity, created by Mick Wust because, well, because he loves sharing good beer.
Lion Quits Craft Beer Industry Association
Chuck Hahn, one of the figureheads of the Australian craft beer industry since the 1980s has today released a statement announcing Lion's departure from the Craft Beer Industry Association. We sought reaction from independent brewers.
Brew & A: Brendan O'Sullivan of 3 Ravens
As sour beers continue to grow in popularity, one man well set to reap the rewards is Brendan O'Sullivan. The 3 Ravens head brewer has been exploring that realm with success since long before he became a commercial brewer.
Our Man In NZ: Spontaneity
In his latest article on the New Zealand beer scene, Jono Galuszka talks to two of the men exploring beer's "final frontier". They are two of a growing number of brewers turning their attention to spontaneous fermentation.
Cabal Update - 3.2.17
It might be Autumn, but the beer calendar is still hot, with events and festivals going strong, especially as fresh hop season gets closer. Cabalistas can make the most of it, thanks to a bumper crop of special events and new offers.
The Collaborators: Spark Breweries & Distilleries
We know plenty about the Aussie brewers, hop growers, venues and festivals helping the local industry grow. But did you know there's a local business designing and installing innovative breweries? Meet Spark.
1,000 Brews And Counting
Mornington Peninsula Brewery recently brewed the 1,000th batch of beer at its original site. So we chatted to the man at the helm for them all, a brewer who's been making beer since the early days of Mountain Goat.
Events Wrap – 24.02.17
Like a vintage episode of Sesame Street, the latest roundup of the Aussie beer world is brought to you by the letter S. So if you're up for showcases, showdowns, sharing, silly stuff, serious business and a load of SuperBeasts, do read on...
Crafty Crawls: Ballarat City Guide
Each summer, Ballarat attracts thousands of beer fanciers to its City Oval for its annual festival. But, with four breweries and a growing number a craft venues, there's plenty of reason for beer lovers to visit at other times.
Get Fresh
It's hop harvest time across Australia. And this year's offers more chances than ever to get up close and personal with the little green flowers, not least thanks to a pair of festivals celebrating the harvest and fresh hops beers.
The Beers Really From Up Here
There's been plenty of talk about the rise of craft beer in Queensland in recent years. For the most part, it's been centred around the state's South East but, as Will Ziebell finds, it's gaining a toehold in the Far North too.
Cabal Update - 17.2.17
Beer festival season is not over yet, and The Crafty Cabal has got you well and truly covered. Throw in some tasty CANimals and a chance to meet a whole load of brewers, and February is proving itself to be one hell of a month for Cabalistas.
Stepping Up
Newstead Brewing is deep into stage two of its development, building a large brewery close to XXXX and launching a project to study Brisbane's indigenous yeasts. In a broad-ranging interview, Judd Owen speaks to founder Mark Howes and new head brewer Dr Kerry Claydon.
Two Birds II
Today sees Two Birds Brewing founders Jayne Lewis and Danielle Allen celebrating the completion of their journey from contract brewers to fully self-sufficient brewery owners. They're marking it with a new beer and new look too.
Beer Travel: 12 Hours In San Diego
When Aussie beer lovers head to the States, they usually give themselves several weeks to explore the beer scene. What if you've only got 12 hours? In San Diego for a conference, Marie Claire Jarratt discovered the answer is: plenty.
The Crafty Dozen – February 2017
With a handful of other directory listings waiting in the wings, time to round up the most recent dozen to be added to the site. It's the usual mixture of breweries, venues and bottleshops, this time from WA, NSW, TAS and VIC.
Betting On The Farm
Next month will see the first beers released by Rocky Ridge Brewing Co. The WA operation aims to be totally self sufficient, growing and harvesting all of its ingredients on the family dairy farm near Busselton.
Events Wrap – 10.02.17
Whether you need something for your sweetheart, a massive hit for you hoppy heart, or want to get to the heart of what the beer community is about, the smorgasbord that is the world of Australian beer events has everything you need.
Sailing On White Lakes
Former Swan Brewery man Sean Symons has returned to brewing, taking up the reins at the impressive new Whitelakes operation in Perth. Ross Lewis joined him to talk beer, brewing and grand plans for expansion.
Beer Travel: High Country Part II
Earlier this week, we ran the first part of Kerry McBride's jaunt through the Victorian High Country, calling in on the members of the region's Brewery Trail. Today, she completes the trip at three more breweries.
Grab The Slab
Journalist Glen Humphries was already writing a beer book when he scooped the 2016 AIBA Media Award. That win changed his view on his writing and inspired him to turn it into a very different beer book, The Slab.
The Big Issue: Exploitation
The official line is that craft beer is a resoundingly good thing. And that working in the industry means you're the luckiest person alive. Yet what happens when someone's goodwill or eagerness to be part of it is exploited beyond all reasonable limits?
Beer Travel: High Country Part I
The High Country Brewery Trail has expanded to stretch hundreds of kilometres and include seven breweries. Over the course of a three day weekend, Kerry McBride stopped in at each and every one.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers of 2016 – The Top 3
The first GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers countdown saw three hoppy beers from three masters of the NZ beer industry fill the podium. We chatted to all three: Mike from Panhead, Luke from Epic and Jos from Garage Project.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers of 2016 – The Results
First, the Orange One takes the White House and now the orange one from Panhead takes out the inaugural GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers, ahead of Epic's Hop Zombie and Garage Project's Pernicious Weed.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers of 2016 – Analysis
The first GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers countdown is complete. Panhead, Epic and Garage Project fill the top spots. But what, if anything, does the public vote tell us about the beer scene in New Zealand?
Brew & A: Greg Mace – The Craft & Co
It's Waitangi Day and the first ever Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers countdown too. So it feels like as good a time as any to run our Brew & A with Greg Mace, a Kiwi brewer who now plies his trade in Melbourne.
Cabal Update - 3.2.17
A festival, a brewery tour, new offers including for Brewsvegas fans and the chance to win some free Balter beer. The Crafty Cabal is rolling through into February with a bang.
Broo Buys Mildura Brewery
For the second day running, we've received news of a buyout in the Australian beer industry. Broo has announced via the ASX that it has purchased Mildura Brewery. More to follow...
The Big Issue: The Canned Wagon Pt II
Earlier in the week, we looked at the history and recent renaissance of cans in the beer world. Today, in part two of her Big Issue feature, Marie Claire Jarratt delves deeper with a panel of experts.
Dixon Buys Hawthorn Brewing Company
The fast-growing Dixon Hospitality Group has added another string to its bow. The business has moved into the craft beer sector after buying Hawthorn Brewing Company and launching new division Salt Brewing.
The Big Issue: The Canned Wagon Pt I
After a slow start, the rise of craft tinnies has been little short of phenomenal. Today, we kick off a two-part Big Issue feature, looking at how and why they've come to prominence and how popular they may become.
