Articles by Will Ziebell

Postcards from the Edge No.5: Isolation Island

Two figures from Tasmania's beer industry have launched the Isolation Beer Festival, a celebration of the state's independent breweries and beers designed to connect people at a time when we need to remain apart.

Postcards From The Edge No.2: GoFeedMe

What do you do if you're one of the thousands of beer and hospo people forced out of work by the COVID-19 pandemic? In the case of Deb Lieu and James Balboni, you launch a mission to feed others in your position.

Australians Join Brewgooder's Global Gathering

Brewgooder is a Scottish brewing company that diverts all profits towards clean water projects in Africa. Last year, they invite breweries around the world to join them and this weekend sees a bunch of Aussies launch their beers.

Going Green: switcH2

Breweries produce a lot of wastewater, so what if they could use it in beneficial ways, such as creating heat or power for their brewery? Sydney-based tech startup switcH2 aims to help them do just that.

My Bonny Lies Over In Fitzroy

The beer offering along Fitzroy's main strip of Brunswick Street continues to improve as Bonny joins Near & Far as a welcome new arrival. At its heart are some well known faces from the local booze scene and 27 taps.

Podcast People: Step Brewers

The Step Brewers Podcast brings banter, beers and brewing along with diversions into pop culture and plenty of laughs. We caught up with the Tasmanian trio ahead of their trip to host events at Brewsvegas 2020.

The Beer Professor

Sam Holloway has combined his passion for craft beer (which includes owning a brewery) with his academic career in business management and entrepreneurship to help advise small brewery owners on building sustainable businesses.

Downsizing: The Global Looking Local

The rise of the brewpub and taproom model is one of the most striking aspects of the changing beer landscape in Australia. And it's an area in which the world's biggest brewing companies and their brands are playing too.

Crafty Crawls: Abbotsford

In three years, the beer offering in Richmond and Abbotsford has changed so much we've split what was a combined Crafty Crawl into two. Here's our guide to the best breweries, bars and bottleshops in the home of CUB.

Hard Seltzer: The Alcopopalypse Cometh?

Hard seltzer has taken the US by storm in the past few years and early examples are starting to appear here. But what is it, why has it exploded Stateside, and will it have the same impact with Aussie drinkers?

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Who Brews Project Beers?

A visit to Watts River Brewing on opening day proved the catalyst for Braden and Caitlin Beggs to launch their own brewery. Today, Project Brewing brings locally-brewed beer to the people of Rowville in Melbourne's south-east.

All Hands Changes Hands

All Hands Brewing House claimed the Champion Brewpub title at the 2019 Indies. And now it's become the latest brewery to change hands with Signature adding it to a portfolio that includes TGI Fridays and Foresters in Brisbane.

Sprocket Dock

It's seven years since Sean and Andrea Ryan launched their first beers as Killer Sprocket. Now, after one lengthy gestation period, they're set to officially open their own brewery in Melbourne's east.

Latest News from The Crafty Cabal - February 2020

More than $5,000 in festival tickets, $1,500 worth of beer, one very cool event (with more to be confirmed soon) and more deals taking the total to 150 across Australia... There's new benefits aplenty for Crafty Cabalistas this month.

Golden Recovery

The efforts of the Australian beer community to support those affected by bushfires continue apace, with two fundraising beers released by brewers in Victoria and New South Wales this weekend.

Back To The Future - The Rise Of Small Festivals

There's a new breed of beer festival on the rise, one that combines elements of those from craft beer's earlier days with a more tightly-curated program of beers and brewers.

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.

Who Brews Cattleyard Beers?

Cattleyard Brewing Co was launched to serve thirsty festival-goers at Grooving the Moo but, with JJ Baker at the helm, has taken on a life of its own. We caught up with JJ to find out more?

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.

Conspiring On A Home

After a long search, the team at CoConspirators have found a home in Brunswick. We caught up with all four of them to hear about the plans.

Mornington Peninsula’s New Old Brewery

Less than eighteen months after selling the business to Tribe Breweries, Mornington Peninsula Brewery founder Matt Bebe is back where he started – and with a new brewery and distillery on the way too.

Help From Afar

From Buenos Aires to Bethnal Green, people in all parts of the global beer community are doing their part in support of bushfire relief. Will Ziebell spoke to two people leading fundraising and awareness far from the fires.

Who Brews Alchemy Beers?

Alchemy Brewing opened at the end of 2019, adding another option to Brunswick East's already impressive list of craft beer destinations. We caught up with the pair behind the brewery for our Who Brews...? series.

Crafty's Advent Calendar: Mulga

The Northern Territory has a few local beers to call its own these days, but one man who's been working to bring flavour to NT drinkers for almost two decades is Matt Mulga, who now runs three crafty bars in Alice and Darwin.

Who Brews Grassy Knoll Beers?

Beer and music have a wonderful ability to bring people together, and both lie at the heart of Grassy Knoll. The gypsy operation was founded by three mates, with head brewer Jeff Argent also a drummer with indie quartet Pirra.

Crafty's Advent Calendar: Richard Adamson

From playing in bands to brewing with native ingredients at Barons, from kickstarting the Inner West's beer revolution in Sydney to becoming an educator, Richard Adamson has brought much to the local beer world.

All Aboard The Beer Quality Motorhome

In recent months, Lallemand Brewing's technical manager Dan McCulloch has been taking a motorhome around Australia visiting breweries. Will Ziebell jumped on board to find out what he was doing and, more importantly, ask why.

Crafty Crawls: South & Port Melbourne

The contrast in beer offerings north and south of the Yarra is no longer as stark as it was. To prove it, join us as we set sail on a Crafty Crawl through the best beer spots in South and Port Melbourne.

The Balter Sale: Analysis

Following today's Balter sale to CUB, we spoke to an expert in the business of beer about the potential ramifications for the industry as the IBA puts out a statement about independence.

The Collaborators: Louie SK

There's plenty of common ground between the worlds of craft beer and gaming, both of which collide at Bar SK in Collingwood. Will Ziebell caught up with co-owner Louie Roots about his mission to bring gaming to local beer.

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Space Yeast, Rare Fruit & Roving Coolships

Dozens of international breweries send their beers to Australia, but there's only one we know of using yeast harvested at 70,000 feet and a roving coolship. Will Ziebell chatted to the man behind Lanikai's Hawaiian beers to find out more.

Sailing On A Black Flag

When the 75th Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race takes place this summer, the local beer world will have skin in the game. Gold Coast brewery Black Hops are sponsoring 114-year-old spinnaker Katwincher.

Founders First Continue To Accelerate

Founders First, the "craft accelerator" that started out with an investment in Jetty Road, today they'll announced they're adding SA beverage company Sparkke to their portfolio, continuing a frantic burst of activity ahead of their IPO.

BrewDog Brisbane Opens

BrewDog's long-mooted DogTap venue finally opened today with the Scottish brewing company pledging to donate all earnings from their first day to bushfire relief as the Queensland State Government launched two new ventures too.

Wildflower Top The First Drink Easy Awards

A beer from Wildflower has been voted Best Drink In Australia at the inaugural Drink Easy awards. It was judged the finest entry from around 1,250 entries spanning beer, cider, wine, spirits and soft drinks.

Hop Nation Movin' On Up

Hop Nation are to embark on a major expansion project in 2020. They've secured a new site close to, but far larger than their existing home in Footscray and plan to build a 25 hec brewery and 100-plus capacity venue.

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.

Podcast People: The Chosen Brew

If you work in beer or just have a passion for it, chances are there are key beers that brought you to this point. That's the topic at the heart of The Chosen Brew, a podcast that's celebrating its third anniversary this week.

Behind Bars: East of Everything & Rosalita's

Gen and Michael Cotter started bringing good booze to Melbourne's eastern suburbs a decade and a half ago. As they prepare to open Rosalita's – a third venue in the same building – we caught up with the team.

The Collaborators: Bluestone Yeast

From brewing yeast pioneer Chris White to an Aussie startup looking to bring locally produced yeast to Aussie brewers, in this Collaborators feature we find out all about the brothers behind Melbourne's Bluestone Yeast.

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Crafty Cabal Update - October 2019

Want to know what's going on with The Crafty Cabal, our beer lovers bonus scheme? In this update, there's more giveaways, more specials and info on an upcoming event too.

Who Brews Old Slang Beers?

Idioms and old sayings are a popular source for breweries seeking inspiration for beer names and that's where new Victorian operation Old Slang have gone too. We caught up with the man behind the beers to find out more.

The Booze World's Crowdfunding Barassi Line

Since it became an option in Australia late last year, a number of breweries have launched equity crowdfunding campaigns. But none of them have been in WA or SA and, according to crowdfunding platform Birchal, that's because they can't.

Supermarket Success At The World Beer Awards

One of Coles' beer brands has picked up a trophy in the World Beer Awards in London. Tinnies Pale Ale was one of two Aussie category winners, with Sydney's Redoak collecting the other for their Chateau Sour.

Karma Kegs For The Climate

Ahead of the Global Climate Strike​, the Good Beer Co have announced they’ll be bringing people together over beer to help raise money for the Great Barrier Reef. Will Ziebell spoke to brewing company founder James Grugeon.

Aussie Exports: Pat Keeble

Stone & Wood have made an impression in the UK like few other genuinely Aussie brands in recent years. Much of that is down to one man, their London jack of all trades, Pat Keeble. Will Ziebell joined him for a Pac Ale in Fitzrovia.

The Blackhearts Family Story

The success of local producers is regularly lauded on these pages and elsewhere. But the achievements of Paul and Jess Ghaie in the world of good booze retail are as worthy of recognition as any indie brewer or winemaker.

The Big Issue: Cracking The Code

A number of well publicised cases has brought the role of ABAC in setting the standards for alcohol advertising to the fore. We speak to ABAC's chair and industry figures to find out how businesses can avoid running into trouble.

Beer 'n' Spice & All Things Nice

No beer lovers trip to Bendigo is complete without a stop at Flight Bar for some spicy food and a restock of hot sauce. Now the owners have a burger joint too we caught up with them – and nicked their hot sauce recipe.

The Great British Beer Writer

Pete Brown started out in beer marketing before becoming one of Britain's best-loved writers on beer and wider booze and pub culture. We caught up with him in London ahead of his keynote address at BrewCon.