Articles by Will Ziebell
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.
Bodriggy Fire Up Their Brewery Home
It's taken longer than they planned, but the Bodriggy team are finally able to open their brewery to the public. And we're pretty sure visitors will judge it worth the wait as it's one of the most striking of its kind in the country.
Who Brews BoJaK Beers?
The name is inspired by their two sons rather than the world's most depressed horse and they pour up to a dozen beers at their Dandenong brewpub. As they move into cans, we find out more about BoJaK Brewing.
BrewCon 2019 Program Announced
The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) have lined up some big names from overseas for this year’s BrewCon, which is taking place at the Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Centre in the first week of September.
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CUB Bought By Asahi
AB InBev have announced they are to sell Australia's CUB to Asahi for $16 billion Australian dollars.
The Collaborators: Rockstar Brewing
His trophy-winning brewing company BrewCult might have folded but Steve "Hendo" Henderson is now involved in making more beers than ever. We caught up with him to find out about his diverse Rockstar Brewer operation.
Capital Landing At Canberra Airport
Capital Brewing announced today they're to open a 12-tap bar at Canberra Airport. The news bookends a week in which Stomping Ground announced their own plans to build a brewpub at Melbourne Airport.
Behind Bars: Big Ears
Big Ears is one of the bars working hard to bring better beer - along with tasty meatballs - to the people of Geelong. Ainsley Killingback is chief beer proselytist and here tells us about Geelong's crafty credentials.
Billson's Brews From The Archives
The new owners of a brewery with a history stretching back a century-and-a-half are bringing old beers back to life. Already Billson's have released an ale and a stout with origins in the late 19th century with more to follow.
Who Brews Hoppy Puppy Beers?
The brewing industry seems to be obsessed with dogs more than most and now has another canine-themed operation in its midst. As their first beer hits taps, we find out more about Brisbane's Hoppy Puppy.
A Fresh Blast On The FogHorn
Fans of FogHorn beers may not have to travel to the source for much longer after the brewery unveiled plans to expand horizons and release their first cans as part of a relaunch from FogHorn Brewhouse to FogHorn Brewery.
Brew & A: Mattias Isaksson
Mattias Isaksson has a dual role heading up the brewing at Queenscliff Brewhouse while also part of Old Wives Ales – two very different operations making very different beers. We caught up with him to see how he does it.
What Do Today's Excise Changes Mean?
Changes to alcohol excise for breweries announced in May 2018 come into effect on July 1, 2019. We asked people in the business of brewing, selling and moving beer about the impact the changes will have.
Aussie Export: Dave Rooney
After a midlife crisis led Dave Rooney to Buenos Aires, he soon found himself falling for the city's craft beer venues and local breweries. Now he runs tours for those who want to discover Argentina's good beer scene.
Who Brews Ornith Beers?
Daniel Venema is a bird photographer and beer lover who brews for two Brisbane brewing companies. We caught up with him to find out how his love of birds and brewing led him from homebrewing to his dual brewing role.
Who Brews As Paper Scissors Rock?
Breweries have been popping up in small tourist towns across Australia for years. Thanks to Paper Scissors Rock, anyone visiting Victoria's Halls Gaps can now enjoy a local beer while in The Grampians too.
The Collaborators: Craft Instinct
Jessie Jungalwalla has spent close to three years leading Craft Instinct, a branding agency dedicated to making the craft beverage world look better. We caught up with her to talk branding and beer.
Stomping Ground 2 To Open Early 2020
Stomping Ground are off to put their mark on new territory after announcing they'll be opening a second brewpub in Moorabbin in Melbourne's South Eastern suburbs early in 2020.
Who Brews Humpback Beers?
Towards the end of 2016, Cliff Wallis started taking the pokies out of the Tathra Hotel and laid the foundations for a brewery. Now Humpback Brewery is up and running, we thought we'd find out more.
BrewDog Brisbane Set To Open Late 2019
BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie is in Australia checking on progress of their Brisbane brewery. Will Ziebell chatted to him about their plans for Australia, including the use of local hops and barrels.
Scomo Becomes An Assclown
Ahead of the 2019 federal election there's a new ScoMo in town. G'day, My Name Is ScoMo is the first release from new Melbourne-based beer brand Assclown, launched by the team at Chapel St Cellars.
Crafty Crawls: Melbourne CBD – North
In part two of our guide to the best places to grab a good beer in Melbourne's CBD, we take in the northern half above Bourke Street, where you'll find boilermakers, container bars, Viking horns and history dripping from the walls.
Golden Days Before They End
A few years ago, as the Australian craft beer scene started to move into overdrive, golden ales looked like being one of the driving forces. Today, they're rarely found on tap or in fridges. So, what's changed?
Who Brews Burra Beers?
The local brewing industry in South Gippsland continues to grow, with Burra Brewing launching in Korumburra last August. We got in touch with the founder and head brewer to find out more.
Meet The Hop Doctor
Dr Tom Shellhammer is a world-leading expert in hop chemistry helping brewers understand how better to use hops. We caught up with him in Tasmania as he gives a series of talks in Australia.
Brew & A: Stu Grant
As he embarks on a new head brewer role with plans for more of his beers to be sent into the world, we invited Ocho founder Stu Grant to feature in our Brew & A series.
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.
Podcast People: Aussie Beer Explorers
It was sparked over a few beers in a Melbourne pub and has turned into a podcast by two Daves chatting about beer. We got in touch with them, the Aussie Beer Explorers, for our Podcast People series.
Crafty Cabal Update - April 2019
As ever, there's plenty going on in the world of The Crafty Cabal, where Crafty Pint supporters gain access to thousands of bucks worth of goodies and events throughout the local beer world.
Who Brews Buttons Beers?
Inspired to turn their dream into reality by the birth of their first son, Josh and Cora Roberts launched Buttons Brewing last year. Now their cellar door is open in Ulverstone, we got in touch to find out more.
Pinnacle Of The Community
One of Melbourne's most distinctive pubs has issued a call to arms, warning it could cease to operate. We chatted to Pinnacle owner Leigh Wilkes as well as The Old Bar about how they survived their own tough times.
Hoppy Campers
Ahead of the fifth High Country Hops festival in Beechworth, Bridge Road have hosted their first Beer Glamp, inviting winemakers and brewers to town to collaborate on beers (and sleep in yurts).
Punky Brewsters
Swedish punks Millencolin have toured Australia many times over the years. But their most recent visit was a little different as their frontman is now a brewer – and laid down a few collabs between shows.
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.
Brew & A: Mick O'Rance
Sunday Road are soon to open the doors of their brewery in Sydney's south. As the day nears, we chatted to their new head brewer, Mick O'Rance, who's taken a colourful route through beer, working for breweries big and small.
Brisbane Gets A Mikkeller Bar
A Brisbane bar is bringing a slice of Scandinavia to Brewsvegas this year as Saccharomyces Beer Café is turned into a Mikkeller bar for the week. We got in touch with owner Simon Booy to find out more.
Crafty Cabal Update - March 2019
As ever, there's plenty going on in the world of The Crafty Cabal, the place for readers of The Crafty Pint to become supporters and gain access to thousands of bucks worth of goodies around the local beer world.
Who Brews Heads of Noosa Beers?
When they worked the stock market, they enjoyed craft beers at the end of the day. So, a few years back, brothers Lance and Craig Masterton decided to embark on a brewing adventure of their own, with Heads of Noosa opening in early 2019.
The Big Issue: Withdrawing The Line
There's been a clutch of product withdrawals in the local craft beer and cider industry in recent months. Here, we ask why, look at what steps brewery owners are taking and why knowing how to handle a quality issue is key.
New Model Modus
They rebranded within months of opening, were the first local brewery to use CANimals, pioneered single design cans with labels and were early proponents of packaged on dates. So, as they unveil a new look lineup, we asked Modus Operandi why.
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.
Beer Nuts: Deb Lieu
They're up there as one of the most unusual and inspired ideas in the local beer world: beer-themed cookies and desserts. We chatted to the woman behind them, Deb Lieu, for our Beer Nuts series.
