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Black Arts: Brand New. Kinda.
The beer scene in Melbourne's west – and the country's cluster of barrel-ageing and blending specialists – is set to grow again this week with the launch of Black Arts. Luke Robertson called in.
A Critical Hit: Beer & Games
Dedicated gamer and homebrewing beer geek Judd Owen looks at the flourishing bond between those two worlds in the company of the owners of Brisbane's Netherworld and Sydney's 1989.
Blizzard's Birthday Sale
Blizzard Brewery's third birthday celebrations will likely bring mixed feelings for owner Mark Hubbard. Following serious health issues, he's decided to put the venue in the Victorian High Country up for sale.
Boatrocker: Ten Lessons From Ten Years
April 2009 sees Melbourne brewery Boatrocker celebrate ten years of brewing. They've gone from early gypsies to barrel-ageing innovators, so we asked them to reflect on what their first decade has taught them.
Aussie Exports: Penyllan Brewery
It was while working in the Melbourne beer industry Jessica Andersen first met her husband, Christian Andersen of Beer Here. Having moved with him to Denmark, she now brews wood-aged beers on the island of Bornholm.
Brewing On The Banana Farm
Spend time in South East Queensland talking about new and interesting beers and it's not long before Currumbin Valley Brewing comes up. We joined Smokey and Luke on the former's banana farm to find out why.
Future Shock
Australia's family of barrel-ageing and blending breweries gained a new member in autumn 2019 with the opening of Future Mountain in Reservoir. We called in ahead of launch date to chat to founders Ian and Shane.
Hard Times
Ginger beers have enjoyed some time in the sun in recent years, but what of hard lemonades? Avowed fan Hannah Louise Grugel spoke to two local producers, asking where such drinks sit in relation to beer and how far they might go.
Now That's Good Drinking
We all know that beer can be good and, for a number of Aussie beer businesses, it's also being used for good. Mick Wust got in touch with five people using beer to raise funds and awareness around a number of causes.
Gold Coast Brewers Dominate Queensland's Beer Awards
It was another day of triumph for Gold Coast brewers as Burleigh Brewing, Black Hops and Balter all picked up trophies at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show Beer Awards, with Burleigh's new Bock taking out Champion Beer.
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Brewmanity Go On Another March
After raising more than $35,000 for Fight MND with their first Beer March, the team at Brewmanity is preparing to go again, enlisting around 30 venues on the East Coast for a month-long fundraiser. We caught up with the duo behind it.
Going Green: SolaBrew
When Scott Shomer designed Helios Brewing in Brisbane with his business partners, the aim was to produce the most energy efficient brewery he could. Under the SolaBrew banner, he's keen to help other brewery owners do the same.
Hopping Into The Wild
The burgeoning beer scene in the South West of WA grew again this week with the opening of Wild Hop. Jono Outred joined the team on their family farm to find out more about one of the most highly-anticipated new operations in the state.
Mine's A Sunshine State
Thanks to the launch of small hop farms, a local operation producing yeast for brewers and the production of malt with Queensland provenance, Archer in Brisbane have created QPA, which they believe is the first modern, all-Queensland beer.
Who Brews On Kangaroo Island?
Matt King takes a ferry ride to Kangaroo Island where he caught up with Mike Holden, the man behind the brewery of the same name, for our Who Brews...? series.
Join The Club
The wartime munitions still hang on the walls, the old members still share stories on the greens outside, yet at many RSLs and bowlos around Australia craft beer is playing a role in attracting new members and keeping the joints alive.
All In Goodieson Time
One of the longest-established of South Australia's microbreweries turns ten this year. Yet, thanks to a desire to keep things small, local and family-focused, Goodieson have plotted a path that's kept them happily under the radar.
Who Brews Hop Hen Beers?
A new year brings a new brewery for the Yarra Valley as a former primary school headmaster switches to brewmaster. Hop Hen opened just ahead of the Australia Day long weekend so we wasted no time finding out more.
New Year. Lucky Beer
It's fair to say the Australian beer world isn't the most culturally diverse of places. But, as Chinese New Year approaches, the team at Temple is hoping to showcase aspects of that country's culture through a new "lucky ale".
Brew & A: Jack Purser
Indian Ocean Brewing Co, found in a marina on Perth's northern fringe, is a much-changed brewery from three years ago. Much of that is down to head brewer Jack Purser, so we decided to find out more about him.
A Decade Of Oscar's Glory
Ten years ago, one of the best places to find a wide range of craft beer around Melbourne was a little bar in the Dandenongs. As Oscar's Alehouse's owners embark on a new beery venture, we invite them to reflect on a decade of beers.
Who Brews Styx Beers?
Styx is one of the smallest and newest breweries in New South Wales, brewing out of an old coal testing shed in Newcastle. We got in touch with the team there to find out more about them for our Who Brews...? series.
Best New ACT Beers Of 2018
We wrap up our look at the year in beer for 2018 in the nation's capital as Mat Farrington, the man behind CanBEERra, collates the thoughts of two dozen ACT beer aficionados to see what's impressed most in the past 12 months.
Best New NSW Beers Of 2018
In his last Best New Beers roundup before he heads back to New Zealand, Nick Oscilowski commandeers the votes of many to land upon a list that flits from barrels to peat to the rainforest and back – and even includes a humble pilsner.
Big Years In Beer – 2018
It's been a big year for beer in Australia, but some have had bigger years than other. Here, we invite people from each state and territory who've had momentous years in one way or another to reflect on the past 12 months.
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.
Best New Victorian Beers Of 2018
It's been another monstrous year for beer in Victoria, with more breweries launching, more beers in more styles released than ever before and competition fierce as anything. Here, we try to cut through the noise and highlight some standout beers.
Best New SA Beers Of 2018
At the current rate of development, there will be few corners of South Australia without a brewery to call their own. So, as another big year for beer in the state comes to a close, our SA team looks back at the new releases that impressed.
Best New Queensland Beers Of 2018
At the end of another momentous year for beer in Queensland, we look to pluck the shiniest gems from a grotto's worth of gems in our 2018 Best New Beers feature, ably stewarded by Mick Wust.
Best New Tasmanian Beers Of 2018
The beer scene in Tasmania continues to evolve, with the state's brewers as happy taking inspiration from overseas as they are showcasing local produce. But which beers impressed most in 2018? Bert Spinks endeavoured to find out...
Best New WA Beers Of 2018
It's been a phenomenal year for beer in WA in 2018, however you look at it. Here, Guy Southern looks back at the past 12 months and puts together a rundown of the year's best beers as selected by contributors from across the state.
Small Brewers. Bigger Beers
There could be good news on the horizon for Newcastle's small brewers following an announcement that a trial from Sydney's Inner West is set for the city and would allow them to sell full-sized beers instead of just tasters to customers.
Beer Garden Brews
After a career in the mines, the Butterworths moved to Port Lincoln with their kids for a seachange. They took over a mothballed bakery and now the grain deliveries are flowing again to fill the mash tun at Beer Garden Brewing.
Sensing Something New
Meadmaker Joel Robinson suffered a brain injury while setting up his business that has left him with an incredibly rare condition that makes everything smell rotten. But he's battled through and started winning fans for his unique meads.
Crafty Crawls: Hobart – The Breweries
In early spring, we revisited our Crafty Crawl guide to Hobart. The first article focused on the city's best beer venues and bottleshops. Now, in part two, we turn the focus to the small breweries and brewing companies that call the city home.
SA's Beer Industry Pays Tribute To Marco Bona
Marco Bona, the founder of Libation Army and a hugely popular figure in the SA beer scene passed away suddenly recently. The local beer industry has come together to create Marco Hour in support of his family.
Sydney – A Winning Perspective
At this year's Sydney Beer Week awards, two local businesses took out two trophies. We spoke to the man behind Akasha and Dylan Hayes, barman at Bitter Phew, about their triumph and the changing landscape for beer in the city.
Solid Philosophy
As the number of breweries dotted along the South Coast of New South Wales starts to swell, the splendid little seaside town of Gerringong is the latest to get one of its own following the opening of Stoic Brewing.
Who Brews Left Barrel Beers?
Brad Bown is on a mission to bring more farmhouse style beers to the Australian beer scene from his brewery home in the Adelaide Hills. Matt King caught up with him to find out more for our Who Brews...? series.
Going Green: Carbon Reduction
Brewing beer is intensive in many ways, from the amount of energy required to the use of water. Hannah Louise Grugel caught up with the team at Batch to find out how they're working to be a more sustainable brewery.
From The Pacific To The Forest
The man who created the most successful Aussie craft beer of the past decade has been back on the tools. Stone & Wood co-founder Brad Rogers has returned to hands-on brewing with the launch of the new farmhouse range Forest For The Trees.
Crafty Crawls: The Breweries Of Marrickville
Two years on from publishing our Crafty Crawl guide to Sydney's Inner West, things have grown so fast we're having to revisit it. Here's a new hyper-local one focused on Marrickville with a broader Crafty Sprawl to follow.
The Collaborators: Provenance Flour And Malt
Provenance Flour And Malt works with farmers using regenerative techniques to supply single source flour and malt to Australian producers. Hannah Louise Grugel spoke to founder John Campbell and one of the brewers using his malt.
Spirituous Away
The rise of craft brewers and distillers is creating ever more chances for cross-pollination. As Wolf of the Willows launches its Barrel Exchange Program with Lark, we speak to them as well as the small Gippsland operation blending boozes in house.
The Winemaker, The Chef & The Brewer
Victor's Place is a brewery, winery and kitchen that represents the realisation of a dream for three mates. Matt King called into the rustic McLaren Vale venue to catch up with one of the owners to find out more.
Crafty Crawls: Hobart – The Venues
Whether it's classic pubs with great beer on tap, sparkling new brewpubs, journeys into beer's past or brewing by the waterfront, there's plenty to enjoy in Hobart these days. In our updated Crafty Crawl, part one takes in the city's beer venues.
Festive Adventage
Since their debut in Australia just a handful of years ago, beer-filled advent calendars have become remarkably popular, with thousands expected to be sold this year. Will Ziebell spoke to some of the people putting them together.
Behind Bars: Hopheads
Back in the early days of The Crafty Pint, Adrian Chong was one of the keenest beer lovers we'd see at events across Melbourne. Since then, he's opened craft beer bars in Malaysia and recently added a second Hopheads in Melbourne's west.
Beeries Winners 2018
The wider Brisbane beer community came together last night for the annual celebration going by the name The Beeries. There were popular wins aplenty on a night Cameron Dick MP was christened the "Minister for Craft Beer".
Golden Glory For Aussie Brewers In Japan
It's been another successful excursion to the International Beer Cup in Japan for Australian brewers. Both Mountain Goat and Edge picked up gold, silver and bronzes with Brisbane's White Lies completing the picture with a bronze.
