Beer Travel
8 Wired's Wild Success
8 Wired beers have been found – and much-admired – across Australia for well over a decade now. After the brewery claimed both top trophies at the 2023 NZ Beer Awards, Michael Donaldson chatted to founder Søren Eriksen.
Crafty Sprawl: Sunshine Coast Venues & Bottleshops
To wrap up our guide to the best of beer on the Sunshine Coast, we ducked into the bars, restaurants and bottleshops dedicated to showcasing good beer. Spoiler: it was at a lot of places.
The Local Taphouse To Open At Melbourne Airport
The team behind trailblazing craft beer venue The Local Taphouse are set to open a bar at Melbourne Airport. It's their second joint venture there, following the launch of a Stomping Ground venue in early 2020.
Crafty Sprawl: Sunshine Coast Breweries Part II
The Sunny Coast has far too many breweries to contain them all in just one article. Here, we continue our three-part guide to the Sunshine Coast, this time looking at the breweries in the upper half of the region.
Crafty Sprawl: Sunshine Coast Breweries Part I
When you hear "Sunshine Coast", you think "beaches". But the Sunny Coast is a sprawling region that includes hinterland towns, cities and farms... and plenty of good beer. Our three-part guide to the region starts in the south.
Beer Travel: Denver's RiNo District
The Denver Nuggets waited a long time to become NBA champs but you don't have to wait long - or travel far - to find excellent beer in the Mile High City. Join Will Ziebell for a stroll through the city's RiNo district, soaking in the local beer.
Looking After The Lake, Man
Last week, Lakeman Brewing took out the Supreme Beer Award at the New World Beer & Cider Awards. Here, Michael Donaldson tracks the unique journey of the Taupō brewery from farming to making award-winning beers.
Ziebs' Final Letter From America
In the last of his Letters From America, posted as he awaited a boarding call in LAX, Will Ziebell reflects on a few days spent exploring the breweries of San Diego on a hunt for the perfect West Coast IPA.
Letters From America: Aussie First-Timers
More than 10,000 attended the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference, among them a number of Australians. Will Ziebell caught up with a few of the first-time attendees to find out why they were there and what they'd learned along the way.
Ziebs' Letters From America Part 2
With the Craft Brewers Conference and World Beer Cup wrapped up, Will Ziebell has moved onto Denver. Here, he reflects on his experiences in Nashville, the issues raised there, and the delicious IPA awaiting him in the Colorado capital.
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Getting Bigger In Japan
Collaborations have long been part of craft beer culture, and Pint of Origin 2023 will see one host venue take things to another level. We caught up with Benchwarmer founder Locky and his Japanese partners to find out more.
Ziebs' Letters From America Part I
Crafty Pint senior writer Will Ziebell is in the States for the Craft Brewers Conference but is taking the opportunity to do some exploring too. In his first missive, he reports back on his experiences in Nashville before the formalities start.
Aussie Hops: An International Perspective
Australian hops can ignite plenty of passion among local brewers but they're not alone. Overseas, the likes of Galaxy are often in high demand. With hop harvest underway, we asked some international brewers for their thoughts on our hops.
The Garage Project Story
Garage Project and their beers are much-loved on both sides of The Ditch, with the Wellington-based brewery making a mark on a global scale too. Here, Pursuit of Hoppiness editor Michael Donaldson explores their incredible story.
Who Brews On King Island?
King Island is rugged and isolated but, just like a growing number of small communities, it's also home to a brewery. We caught up with the family behind King Island Brewhouse to find out about living and making beer in the Bass Strait.
Crafty Crawls: Freo Beer-Ho II – Day Two
All aboard the Freo Beer Bus! Graham Frizzell completes his jaunt around Fremantle's beeriest haunts by hopping on the Blue CAT for a trip featuring a brewery-distillery, an OG crafty bottlo, a hotdog hotspot and more.
Sam Sets Sails For Bali
One of Australia's best-known and most-awarded brewers is setting sail on a new adventure. Sam Füss is off to Bali to become chief brewer at Beaches Brewing Co Bali, where she hopes to help develop the exciting young beer scene.
South Coast NSW: Frothier Than Ever
The NSW South Coast is now home to a dozen breweries, leading one local to launch the South Coast Ale Trail. We chatted to him, and the founder of Dangerous Ales as they unveil their brewery expansion, about a region on the rise.
Follow The Beer Pioneer
William Buckley's tale of survival is one that's stuck with Australians thanks to one iconic phrase. Now, a Melbourne comedian is tracing Buckley's path while visiting as many local breweries as he can.
Beer Travel With Bright Eyes
How long do you think it would take to visit every single one of Australia's hundreds of breweries? Chelsea Bright is embarking on a mission to do just that – and plans to hit her target by Good Beer Week 2023.
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Tell 'Em Benny Sent Ya
How does joining an award-winning comedy writer attempting to channel Anthony Bourdain on a tour of breweries (and beaches, big things, and kebab shops) sound? We caught up with the man behind new web series Benny Sent Ya.
Crafty Crawls: Ballarat
Ballarat is a city with a fine heritage when it comes to beer and brewing. It's one that continues today, where pioneering experimentalists rub shoulders with blenders, brewpubs and classic boozers.
Beer Travel: The High Country Breweries Pt 2
In part two of our guide to the High Country breweries, we start off in Myrtleford before taking the long, winding and beer-soaked road back to Melbourne. Join us!
Beer Travel: The High Country Breweries Pt 1
No less than eight months on from when we planned to run our post-bushfires guide to the High Country, and with COVID-19 seemingly under control, the rig of steel down, and the NSW border opening, it's finally time...
Postcards From The Edge No.57: Back In The Van
Beer tourism was hit hard during the COVID-19 shutdowns, but now venues are open and borders are closed, local customers are keeping Hop On Brewery Tours busy. We chatted to them about beer tourism in a pandemic.
Crafty Crawls: The Barossa
It's known globally for its wine, but over the years the offering from local breweries has grown. With a few venues supporting local beer and even a craft maltster in the region, the Barossa has plenty to offer beer tourist now too.
Crafty Crawls: South West WA Part I
The South West of WA is increasingly fertile ground for beer lovers. With so many breweries and good beer venues to explore, we took a weekend break to put together an extended Crafty Crawl featuring much of the best the region has to offer.
Crafty Crawls: South West WA Part II
In part two of our guide to the beer-soaked delights of the South West of WA, we head into the heart of the Margaret River region. There, amid the natural beauty, you find a wealth of small breweries and a passion for supporting local.
Beer Travel: South Gippsland
It might be best known for its pinot noir, dairy industry and stunning coastlines but head to South Gippsland these days and you'll never be too far from a local brewery eager to share their wares.
Territory Brews
With Purple Mango returning to brewing, the beer scene in the NT continues to grow. We got in touch with the owners of One Mile, Beaver and Alice Springs Brewing Co to see how they're travelling as the new decade starts.
Beer Travel: Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie might be best known for its pristine beaches, surrounding natural beauty and koalas. But there's three breweries that call the town home too. Will Ziebell called in at them all – plus Port Mac's other beery outlets.
Beer Travel: Auckland
For years, Auckland's beer scene was left in the wake by Wellington and Christchurch. But that's all been changing in a city that even has its own Beer Mile. Jono Galuszka checked it out in the company of its beer-loving inhabitants.
Melbourne Airport Lands A Brewery
Melbourne Airport is to get its own brewery, with Stomping Ground set to open their third venue there this coming summer. It's part of a revamp of the airport's offering designed to showcase Melbourne's food and drink scene.
Aussie Export: Dave Rooney
After a midlife crisis led Dave Rooney to Buenos Aires, he soon found himself falling for the city's craft beer venues and local breweries. Now he runs tours for those who want to discover Argentina's good beer scene.
Beer Travel: Vancouver
The US tends to consume most column inches when it comes to discussions of the North American beer scene, but there's plenty going on in Canada. Here, Marie Claire Jarratt takes us on a guide through Vancouver.
Beer Travel: A Taste Of Mexico City
Dark beer lover Ann Deslandes moved from Australia to Mexico City and has been exploring the growing local craft beer scene. Here, she gives us an insight into the flavours of the day.
Beer Travel: The Breweries Of The Sunshine Coast
Not that long ago, the Sunshine Coast was home to just one brewery. Now, there's more than a dozen of one sort or another dotting the coast and Hinterland and more on the way.
Mission To Mahrs
Stephan Michel from Mahrs Bräu makes some of the best lagers in Germany. So, when he visited Australia recently, Mick Wust chatted with him about lagers and their place in a craft beer market.
Beer Travel: 48 Hours In Rome
While you shouldn't make your hunt for beer too much of a distraction from the city's iconic charms, Rome does have plenty to offer the visitor with a penchant for tasty local beer.
Beer Nuts: Ode To The Road
Oh, to hit the road with the end game being just that: the road. The couple behind Ode To The Road, Erin and Carmel, have been touring Australia more than a year, sampling as many breweries as possible – growlers and dog in tow.
Beer Travel: The Adelaide Hills
Once better known for its wines, the Adelaide Hills have become a treasure trove for beer lovers. Here, Matt King takes a meandering tour through the many breweries, venues and bottleshops that are found throughout.
Unfamiliar Territory
Slowly but surely, the beer scene in the Northern Territory is coming alive. Two more breweries opened in 2018 and more venues are dabbling too. We spoke to some of the Territory's pioneers and newcomers about the scene up Top.
Beer Travel: Another Belgium
Belgian beer culture is deservedly held in the highest regard by beer lovers the world over. Many of its classic breweries are household names, but what of the younger, newer wave? Bert Spinks goes searching for another Belgium.
Our Man In NZ: Liberty Brewing
Liberty Brewing is one of the brightest stars in the New Zealand beer scene and has recently started brewing some of its beers in Melbourne for the Aussie market. Jono Galuszka called in on founder Joe Wood to see what makes him tick.
Our Man In NZ: The Game Changer
There are plenty of far larger and higher profile beer competitions in New Zealand and Australia but, arguably, none as influential. Our Man In NZ travels back in time to trace the evolution of the annual West Coast IPA Challenge.
Beer Travel: Bali, Hops, Water & Yeast II
In part one of his endeavour to hunt down good beer in Bali, Mick Wust focused on the offerings from Big Beer. In part two, he delves a little deeper, calling in to the country's only craft brewery and meeting some US importers.
Beer Travel: Bali, Hops, Water & Yeast I
"Is there any good beer in Bali?" Our intrepid writer Mick Wust followed the well-trodden path to one of the most popular holiday destinations for Australians and set out to discover whether those with crafty palates can find satisfaction.
Beer Travel: Iceland Revisited
Three years on from his last visit, Bert Spinks finds a craft beer scene in Iceland that has expanded significantly. He meets the first female led brewery, discovers a world of long happy hours and collaborations and finds common ground with home.
The Beer In North Korea
If you're a regular reader of The Crafty Pint, chances are high you've been on your fair share of brewery tours. But one in North Korea? We got in touch with the man leading the first of its kind for tourists to find out more about the DPRK beer scene.
Beer Travel: Cruising The Murray
Sinking a few beers on the banks of the Murray on a visit to the Woolshed Brewery is a pleasure in itself. But what about taking out one of the operation's houseboats, complete with two taps pouring the beers of your choice?
