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The Writer Behind The Beer Drinker's Toolkit
Mick Wüst is one of the most recognisable names on The Crafty Pint; now the award-winning writer is launching his first book. Here he tells us about the Beer Drinker's Toolkit and his longstanding love for the written word.
Dollar Bill Triumph At The Australian International Beer Awards Again
Tiny Ballarat operation Dollar Bill, who specialise in barrel-aged and wild ales, have claimed Champion Australian Beer at the Australian International Beer Awards just two years on from their first triumph.
The Australian International Beer Awards At 30 – Part II
In part two of our mini-series marking 30 years of the Australian International Beer Awards, we invite some of those with long and significant involvement to share their memories and photos, and trace just how much it's changed.
The Australian International Beer Awards at 30
The country's biggest beer competition, the Australian International Beer Awards, takes place for the 30th time this May. Here, we take a stroll down Memory Lane with some of the key figures from the past three decades.
Clare Burnett's Award-Winning Journey
Clare Burnett spent years covering the beer industry for Brews News so her name and voice will be familiar to many. As entries open for the 2023 AIBAs, she tells us about her journey from the UK to winning last year's Best Media trophy.
Under Pressure: A Perfect Storm Brewing For Beer
Today's excise tax hike completes the biggest financial year rise in decades, yet it's just one of myriad pressures on the local industry. We examine the "perfect storm" engulfing a beer world facing a fourth straight year of harsh challenges.
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.
IBA Unveils New Look Indies Awards
Last year, an audit of recent Indies awards saw a number of state trophies change hands. It led to a review of the entire judging process, which has now concluded with significant changes including new categories and a mentoring program.
Australian International Beer Awards 2022 – The Winners
There was plenty of home state glory at the 2022 AIBAs as Hawkers, Stomping Ground and Dollar Bill took out three of the four Champion Australian Brewery titles. Moffat Beach completed the set, with a pastry sour winning Champion Beer.
James Atkinson's Ever-Evolving Drinks Adventures
James Atkinson has spent years covering the drinks industry for various publications and his Drinks Adventures podcast has seen him pick up multiple awards, including the Best Media trophy at last year's AIBA. Ahead of this year's awards, we caught up with the drinks writer to hear what the award means and where his focus lies.
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No Good Beer Week Or BrewCon In 2022
Sad news for beer lovers and many in the beer and hospitality industries today with the announcement that Good Beer Week won't be going ahead in May. The Independent Brewers Association have also postponed BrewCon to 2023.
A Vision For Indie Beer
Late last year, Young Henrys co-founder Richard Adamson was elected chair of the Independent Brewers Association. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the industry, we chatted to him about his vision for indie beer.
Young Henrys Founder Becomes IBA Chair
Following its AGM this week, the Independent Brewers Association has unveiled its new board. Richard Adamson of Young Henrys takes over as chair, joined on the board by members of Ballistic, KAIJU! and BentSpoke.
The IBA Launches A Code Of Conduct
Australia's Independent Brewers Association has today unveiled its new code of conduct. It has been created on the back of allegations of sexual assault, harassment and discrimination in the beer industry both here and overseas.
Australian International Beer Awards Winners 2021
Dollar Bill proved hugely popular winners when they took out Champion Australian Beer at the 2021 Australian International Beer Awards as the beer industry gathered en masse again after missing out in 2020.
Federal Government Increases Excise Refund For Brewers
The Federal Government today announced that the excise refund cap for breweries and distilleries will increase from $100,000 to $350,000, with the decision welcomed by the Independent Breweries Association.
Quantum Physicist, Champion Beer Writer, Brewer
The country's biggest beer competition might have skipped a year due to COVID but the Australian International Beer Awards are back. With entries open, we caught up with the last winner of the Best Media Trophy, Marie Claire Jarratt.
Postcards From The Edge No.59: The Indies Reinvented
Most major beer events have been cancelled in Australia this year. But, having had to cull most of theirs, the IBA was determined the Indies awards would survive. We found out how they reworked it for our COVID times.
More Good News For Victoria's Brewers
The day after they were able to open for the first time since July, Victoria's brewers have received more good news by the state government. Those with producer's licenses are now eligible for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund.
Budget Delivers Little For Indie Beer
The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) has welcomed some aspects of the Federal Government "recession-busting", jobs-focused budget, but many of the industry's request do not appear to have been addressed.
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BrewCon 2020 Cancelled Due To COVID
The Independent Brewers Association has today announced the cancellation of their annual industry conference due to the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19. BrewCon is now set to return in 2021.
Indie Brewers Score NSW Government Support
The indie brewing industry received welcome news today as the NSW State Government announced it was injecting close to $200,000 into Independent Brewers Association coffers to aid in their recovery from COVID-19.
AIBA 2020 ISO Edition Winners
With this year's awards proper postponed, the Australian International Beer Awards went online for a special ISO Brewer's Choice Edition. The industry was invited to vote in a new set of categories, with CUB's brands cleaning up.
Crafty's Advent Calendar: Kate & Shev
They're the dictionary definition of work hard, play hard and continue to make an indelible mark on the Melbourne and wider Australian beer community. Behind door 16, it's the irrepressible Kate and Shev.
Indie Beer Gets Its Own National Day
October 26, 2019, is to become the inaugural Indie Beer Day, with supporters of independent Aussie beer encouraged to raise a glass in support of the local industry.
Australian International Beer Awards Winners 2019
Familiar faces were among the big winners at the 2019 Australian International Beer Awards, with Balter, Green Beacon and 4 Pines adding to their swollen trophy cabinets and Blackman's claiming a big one too.
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.
Good Beer Week & The IBA Become One
The country's leading beer week and the national body representing Australia's independent brewers have today announced they are to merge with both parties confident the move will help both achieve more in the future.
Toe The Line
The Independent Brewers Association has today released an exhaustive set of labeling guidelines for brewers. The aim is to ensure they are compliant and aware of anything that could potentially get them into hot water or hold them back.
What's Wrong With Wheat Beer?
Australia's beer judges seem to love them, they're great with an array of cuisines and they have a fascinating history. Yet traditional European wheat beer styles remain unloved. Will Ziebell speaks to brewers, retailers and consumers to find out why.
Indies Winners 2018
Mismatch, Modus Operandi, Boatrocker and Moffat Beach were the big winners at the 2018 Indies awards in Sydney, taking out the champion trophies at Paddington Town Hall.
Ken Arrowsmith: From Emu Tinnies to AIBA Trophies
One of the biggest stories to emerge from Australia's biggest beer competition was the success for Beerland Brewing, which operates two brewpubs in Perth. Its head brewer is a man with 40 years experience and his face on cans of Emu Bitter.
Australian International Beer Awards Winners 2018
It was an eclectic collection of winners at the 2018 Australian International Beer Awards, with WA's Beerland taking out Champion Australian Beer and other major trophies for Mountain Goat, Green Beacon, Black Hops, Fixation, Brownstone, Philter and even one of our own.
Designed Seal Delivered
The Independent Brewers Association has followed the example of peers in the US and UK and launched an seal with which brewers and their supporters can declare their support for local, independent beer.
The Big Issue: Ownership Revisited
Back in 2015, we looked at brewing company ownership, which was becoming a topic for regular discussion in the industry. Now, following a slew of acquisitions last year and with the launch of an independence seal, we take another deep dive.
Big Budget Bonus For Brewers
Friday knockoff beers for small brewers and their supporters will taste a whole lot better this week after the Government announced proposals in next week's Budget that could save them tens of thousands of dollars in excise tax each year.
BrewCon 2018 Program Announced
There's a new name, new location, new categories and new entries for this year's craft brewers conference and craft beer awards. Now called BrewCon and The Indies, they take place in Sydney in June and the program and tickets are out now.
Confusion Deposit Scheme
New legislation designed to tackle litter in New South Wales is set to go live this Friday. Yet there are serious and growing concerns throughout the craft beer industry that the scheme is flawed and is set to affect small brewers disproportionately.
The Big Issue: Brewer Shortage
As the craft beer industry continues to expand at a rate of knots, it's experiencing growing pains. Among them is a shortage of experienced brewers, an issue that can prove costly, time-consuming and, potentially, dangerous.
Brew & A: Charlie Hodgson
The rapid growth of the beer industry in and around Brisbane continues apace. Among the newcomers is Helios Brewing, a Yeerongpilly based operation that made a great signing before launch, snapping up Mash's trophy-winning brewer Charlie Hodgson.
Goat At 20 – Part II
Time to bring the story up to date. In part II of our look back at two decades of Mountain Goat, we tell the last 11 of the 20 stories of people, moments and beers that helped build the Melbourne legend.
Box Clever
With the fourth Bendigo On The Hop approaching, we caught up with the city's sole commercial brewer, Doug Brooke. Now into his fifth year at Brookes Beer, we picked his brains about the challenges of being small, independent and regional.
West City Brewing For Sale
West City Brewing is the latest brewing company to be put on the market. The gypsy operation based in Melbourne's west is best known for its Footscray Ale.
Craft Beer Awards Winners 2017
Dainton Family Brewery, 4 Pines, Fixation and the Wheaty Brewing Corps were the big winners at the 2017 Craft Beer Awards, collecting the major trophies at the Independent Brewers Association's big night in Adelaide.
Strength In Numbers
Just weeks after the CBIA became the Independent Brewers Association, the body has released research showing Australia’s independent beer industry now includes more than 400 breweries, generating $740 million in economic output in one year.
Who Brews Ballistic Beers?
When your name suggests an intention to go big, it doesn't hurt to walk away from your first major beer awards laden with gold. That's what happened to young Brisbane brewery Ballistic Beer Co. We find out more...
Brew & A: The Innovative Goat
Little did we know until recently, but a chance meeting with Alana Rees set her on the path to becoming a brewer. In a short space of time, she's gone from homebrewer to Innovation Brewer at Goat to AIBA trophy winner.
Australian International Beer Awards Winners 2017
Last night's beer awards in Melbourne put the seal on an incredible first year for Balter as the Gold Coast brewery took out three major trophies. They were among several multiple winners, which included several locals and Dagon from Myanmar.
Independence Day
Today, Australia's small and independent brewers voted to remove large breweries from national trade body. What was the Craft Beer Industry Association (CBIA) is now to be known as the Independent Brewers Association.
A Day In The Life Of: A Beer Judge
Next month sees brewers and beer experts from across the globe gather in Melbourne for the Australian International Beer Awards. But what goes into being a beer judge? Is it the best job in the world. Nick O find out.
