Episode 028: Innovative Off-Grid Brewing On The Limestone Coast

January 23, 2025, by James Smith

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Episode 028: Innovative Off-Grid Brewing On The Limestone Coast

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Innovative Off-Grid Brewing On The Limestone Coast


We return to normal programming – temporarily at least ahead of our GABS Hottest 100 Countdown livestream – for Episode 028 of The Crafty Pint Podcast, featuring one of the interviews we recorded on the road in South Australia in late 2024.

That said, it's arguably a little harsh to refer to Loophole Brewing as normal. Sure, it's a brewery that makes beer, but there's more to distinguish Loophole from your run-of-the-mill breweries than most. The entire operation is off grid. It's based on the grounds of a winery (but is no token beer brand designed to offer a modicum of choice at the cellar door). They grow barley they've used in their beers. They've won trophies for beer-wine hybrids and beer featuring local saltwater, and fermented the winery's grapes with nothing but Brettanomyces.

In short, there was plenty to talk about when we pulled up at Cape Jaffa Wines – the first to plant vines on this stretch of the Limestone Coast – half an hour north of Robe.

We were there to catch up with Tom O'Reilly, head brewer and also the man who designed and built the brewery for the Hooper family, the pioneers who could see the potential for producing wine in the region back in the 1990s. After homebrewing at university, Tom started out as a pro brewer at Stone & Wood before setting out to see the world.

He didn't get very far. In fact, Cape Jaffa Wines was his first stop after he applied to work a vintage there to gain insight into their biodynamic practices. Rather than finish vintage and move onto the next adventure, the next adventure became creating Loophole with his hosts; years later, he's still there overseeing the brewery's organic and intriguing evolution.

As well as discussing the brewery and winery's innovative and sustainable approach and regular cross-pollination of ideas and ingredients, we chat about Sunlight Liquor, Tom's mead brand, making a positive impact on the wider beer industry, the importance of educating drinkers, and how a mishap on his first night shift at Stone & Wood led to the creation of a Molly Rose favourite.

Prior to the chat with Tom, we look at some of the positive news stories of the past week or so, including the imminent arrival of a Bridge Road Brewers bar at Melbourne Airport – hot on the heels of a Stone & Wood bar opening at Sydney Airport, the acquisition of Port Mac brewery Moorebeer by its long-term head brewer, and the arrival of Subculture Brewing in Brunswick.

We've enjoyed a great start to our campaign shining a light on good beer citizens, "Have you done a Rallings?", while applications are now open for this year's Young Henrys IWD Brewing Scholarship supporting women and non-binary individuals aiming to get into the industry too. This week's episode also features a new segment featuring Steve "Hendo" Henderson of Rockstar Brewer with tips on brewing better beer.

Start of segments:

  • 12:43 – Tom O’Reilly (part one)
  • 29:43 – Rockstar Brewer
  • 35:28 – Tom O’Reilly (part two)

You can watch or listen to the episode here or on Spotify, Apple PodcastsYouTube and other podcast platforms. Please like and subscribe – and if you are enjoying the show, feel free to rate and review it too.



To find out more about supporting the show or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.

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