lockdown

Open And Shut: Omicron Crushes Hospo's Summer Comeback

Far from the new year bringing new hope, the beer and hospo industries face arguably their toughest period of the pandemic – and without government support. We spoke to business owners across the country as Omicron runs rampant.

Back To The Bar, Melbourne

Today, after making it through a world record number of days in lockdown, Melbourne is open again. James Smith and Will Ziebell spoke to brewery and venue owners and returning customers to assess the vibe.

Dr Benny's Crafty Fixes: Lockdown Loneliness

Stuck in lockdown and over Zoom events and refreshing your Instagram feed? Well, so is Dr Benny, who's here with some ideas on how to make it through to the other side – maybe with some new beer-loving mates to boot.

Keeping Local Alive '21

With the winter 2021 lockdowns spreading and looking likely to stick around in some places for a while, we've rebooted the resources section of the Keeping Local Alive campaign to help people wanting to support their locked down locals.

Postcards From The Edge Revisited

We hoped we wouldn't have to resurrect this series, but with most of Australia back in some form of lockdown or restrictions, we chatted to two Sydney brewers who've pivoted back into action since the weekend.

Communitinnies Return As Victoria Locks Down Again

As Melbourne's lockdown is extended, and Victorians face their own restrictions, Hop Nation have brought back their collaborative Communitinnies boxes, first launched during the early days of the pandemic.

A Year On The COVID Roller-Coaster – Part I

It was a year nobody could foresee and nobody wanted, yet the worst fears of March 2020 haven't been realised. Over two features, we take on in-depth look at the local beer industry 12 months on from the nationwide lockdown.

Back On The Craft Beers Pt II

Many of Melbourne's historic pubs have been closed this year longer than they were during even the world wars. Among them is the Rainbow Hotel in Fitzroy. As they prepare to reopen after 180 days closed, we ask how it's been.

Back On The Craft Beers Pt I

As Melbourne's venues prepare to reopen, we return to the pub with which we kicked off our Postcards from the Edge series on March 23. We joined Cherry Tree staff and a local to see how they've survived two lockdowns.

Postcards from the Edge No.46: Lockdown Life

Streets are emptier, bottleshops and cellar doors are quieter, masks – and a greater sense of fear – are everywhere. Midway through the scheduled six weeks of Lockdown Mk II, we chat to two reps about life in Melbourne's beer world.

AIBA 2024 dinner B2 BONUS
Postcards from the Edge No.43: Open & Shut Case

It's a scenario all venue owners have feared since Australia started to move towards reopening: a second lockdown. And it came to Ascot Vale on the day Jimmy's Tap & Barrel was set to open for the first time since March.