News & Feature Stories
Fourteen Years Of Fresh Hop Beers
The hop harvest is underway in Australia, which means fresh hop beers are on their way. One brewery has been brewing them longer than most: Bridge Road Brewers, so we chatted to co-owner Ben Kraus about 14 years of harvest ales.
Who Brews Txoko Beers?
From a small takeaway pizza joint to a farm-brewery with an eye on a future filled with organic ingredients and wild ales, family-run Txoko has come a long way since homebrewing son started sharing his beers with his dad.
BecauseWeCAN Vol.6: Sour Power
There's little in beer as divisive as sours: often people love ‘em or can’t bloody stand ‘em in any way, shape or form. So, for the sixth edition of BecauseWeCAN we tackle three of the kookier offerings to hit stores over summer.
Two Mates Launch Fundraiser Following Devastating Floods
Lismore's Two Mates have been heavily impacted by NSW's devastating floods. To help them rebuild, they've set up a GoFundMe. We spoke to co-founder Andrew Newtown to find out about the last week and their determination to move forward.
Tassie's T-Bone Take A Big Bite
T-Bone built their brewpub largely to focus on keg beer but the success of their cans has seen them struggle to meet demand. That's set to change in the near future, however, with work underway on a new production facility.
Jan Bruckner: A Life In Brewing
For three decades, Last Drop Brewery has been serving traditional beers to WA's beer lovers and for the vast majority of that time, Jan Bruckner has been at the helm. As he marks 30 years in Australia, we reflect on a life in beer.
Breaking The Bias
The theme of International Women's Day 2022 is #breakthebias. In this article, MC Jarratt speaks to some of the people doing just that in the beer industry about their experiences and how others can follow suit.
Who Brews As The Boys?
From embarking on a project to stay sane during COVID to dreams of brewing with Shaq, we get the lowdown on The Boys and Scott Wyatt and Tim French's brewing journey in this instalment of Who Brews...?
Matilda Bay Roll Out The Rejects
By the time Matilda Bay released their first new beer following the return of founder Phil Sexton, they'd tipped 27 trial batches down the drain. Now they're offering drinkers a chance to try four of the beers that didn't quite make the grade.
24 Hour Barley People
They've brewed barleywines and plenty of double digit ABV beers before, but never anything like this. In what's likely to be an Aussie first, Rocky Ridge have created a 24-hour boil beer to see how far they can push a local farmer's pale malt.
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Alright, Alright, Alriiight! How Mr Banks Lost The Mr
Mr Banks recently rebranded, dropping the "Mr" from their name, but the story behind the name change is a wild ride involving brewery co-founder Chris Farmer's love for puns and one of America's most famous actors.
How Good Is Pint Of Origin?!?
There's precious little good news around at the minute, so let's try this: Pint of Origin is going ahead in Melbourne this May. With Good Beer Week cancelled for 2022, we've rallied with the #poo22 venues and are going bigger than ever!
Stomping Ground Enjoy More Awards Success In Queensland
Stomping Ground enjoyed another fine beer awards today, claiming Grand Champion Beer in Queensland. There were big wins for Ballistic, Black Hops, Felons and Moffat Beach, with the last of these claiming another swag of trophies.
Batch Buy Bucket Boys
Batch Brewing Co have acquired Bucket Boys. They will transition the latter's Darling Square venue into a Batch outpost in Sydney's CBD, with Bucket Boys Marrickville and its related online store retaining the existing name.
An Alliance Forms In The South West
South West WA has long been home to one of Australia's most vibrant craft brewing scenes. And now many of the region's brewers have come together to form an Alliance with the aim of achieving even more as a collective.
Behind Bars: Miles Hull
It's more than two decades since Miles Hull was brought in as GM of a new brewery in Freo called Little Creatures. With his latest hospo venture, Ruinbar, now open in Perth, we sat down for a chat about the evolving beer scene.
Floods Hit The Breweries Of SEQ And Beyond
The floods in South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales have caused all kinds of devastation. Here are some of the beer businesses that have been affected.
Dr Benny's Crafty Fixes: Homebrand Beers
With major retailers stocking more of their own crafty-looking brands, how does a passionate indie beer lover encourage their mates to support local brewers rather than stocking up on homebrand offerings?
Breheny Bros Bring Aussie Brewing History Back To Life
The "most influential family in Australian brewing history" is making beer again – from 100-year-old recipes. We got in touch with the team at Breheny Bros to find out about their plans.
Brew & A: Rhys Lopez
At the end of 2021, our WA team chose Otherside as the state's standout brewery of the year. We figured that was a great excuse to invite head brewer Rhys Lopez to take us on a tour through his life in beer and beyond.
Who Brews at Auckland House?
What's green on one side, blue on the other, and shiny and pastel in the middle? Auckland House, that's what. Meet brewer Cam McMillan and hear the story of Gladstone's first microbrewery in this instalment of Who Brews...?
Voyager Craft Malt Win Gold In The US
Voyager Craft Malt enjoyed major awards success at the weekend, with the craft maltsters picking up gold at the Malt Cup – the first time a gold medal has gone to any malthouse outside the US.
Reckless To Set Up Home In Bathurst
After a couple of years building a brand via the contract brewing route in Sydney’s Inner West, Reckless Brewing have found a home – in a heritage-listed flour mill in Bathurst that formerly housed Two Heads Brewing.
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.
Fake Merch Enters The Beer Bubble
Much like metalheads and footy club fans, craft beer lovers often like wearing merch from their favourite breweries. But online marketplace Redbubble has created concern for some breweries with non-approved items appearing on the site.
Who Brews In The Woolstore?
Sitting in a WA brewery's beer garden watching people of all ages – and their dogs – have a great time saw Kylie and Chris Ind pledge to bring those vibes to Mount Gambier. Now, with the Woolstore Brewery, they're doing just that.
Short Back And Sour, Please!
It's not uncommon to enjoy a free beer while getting a haircut but La Bodega is taking things further. We caught up with the people behind the barbershop-meets-beer bar for a chat about their plan to bring craft beer to Williamstown.
South Coast NSW: Frothier Than Ever
The NSW South Coast is now home to a dozen breweries, leading one local to launch the South Coast Ale Trail. We chatted to him, and the founder of Dangerous Ales as they unveil their brewery expansion, about a region on the rise.
The Collaborators: Denver & Liely
You may already own too many beer glasses but Carwyn Cellars hope to entice you to buy one more. They've teamed up with the glass designers at Denver & Liely to create a specialty beer glass for craft beer's finest.
Who Brews Parched Beers?
Carl Hallion's dream of owning a small bar blew up into the reality of a two-storey brewpub in Brisbane's West End. Here, we find out all about the beers and the brewpub from Carl himself in this instalment of Who Brews...?
Aussie Exports: Australia's First Master Cicerone
Late last year, Shane McNamara joined a very small group of beer experts with the title Master Cicerone. As the first Australian to take on the title, he's also in a minority of one. We got in touch to find out more for our Aussie Export series.
Australia's Generation XPA
From humble beginnings – and no little confusion as to what they actually are – XPAs have made a pitch to be regarded as the modern Australian pale. We examine their rise from obscurity to uniquity.
The Social Brewers: Beer In The Blood
Small breweries have been turning suburban industrial estates into community hubs for years so when Beau Curtis realised his local area didn't have a brewery of its own, he decided to do fix it, creating The Social Brewers.
Who Brews As Brewcha Libre?
Just two-and-a-half years ago, Ryan Walker wasn't even into beer, then a gift of a homebrew kit changed everything. As he prepares to launch his first two beers, we chatted to him about his Mexican wrestling-themed brewing company.
Local Brewing Co To Open Clifton Hill Taproom
Melbourne-based Local Brewing Co are set to move into a home of their own in coming months. The brewing company with a focus on driving sustainable social change has today unveiled plans for a Clifton Hill taproom.
Behind Bars: Wilbury & Sons
Prahran and Moorabbin aren't the first suburbs that come to mind when you think Melbourne craft beer. Yet Byron Barrowclough has been working to broaden tastes in both. We had a chat with him as his latest bar, Wilbury & Sons, turns one.
Who Brews As Lora?
Wild ales featuring ingredients foraged in inner Sydney with individually hand-painted labels? As he prepares to return to the US after COVID saw him become Wildflower's head brewer for two years, we catch up with the man behind Lora.
BentSpoke Top The GABS H100 Again
BentSpoke have gone back-to-back in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll, with their Crankshaft IPA holding onto top spot. The Canberra brewery's flagship beer finished ahead of the former winner Balter XPA.
Aunty Gets Crafty In New ABC Show
An upcoming episode of ABC's flagship science program Catalyst puts craft beer and the science of brewing and the agriculture that supports it front and centre. We chatted to some of those involved in The Great Brew Challenge.
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.
Who Brews Five Aces Beers?
Adam Sheehan was inspired to start a brewery while running a High Country bar. Late in 2021, after overcoming a series of challenges and a name change from Outlaw Brewing to Five Aces, he finally opened the doors of his Gippsland brewpub.
Gage Roads Freo Set To Open
Sixteen years after launching, Gage Roads are days away from opening their “spiritual home” on Freo’s Walyalup Waterfront. Guy Southern caught up with CSO Aaron Heary to find out what it means for them and WA's beer lovers.
Beer On The Blockchain
Blockchains. Crypto. The metaverse. They're terms we hear about a lot these days but do they have much common ground with the world of beer? We spoke to two Australian brewing companies embracing digital currencies to find out.
Ministry Of Beer Welcomes A New Congregation
In five years, Brett Reimann has gone from brewing with a single barrel in a shed on his farm to opening an impressive cellar door in the Barossa Valley. Matt King called in to sample from its 16 taps.
Who Brews YEPP Beers?
Yeppoon is known for its beautiful beaches and as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef but one local couple hope the coastal town will soon be known for beer too. We caught up with Tanya and Justin Adam to find out more about YEPP Brewing.
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.
The Year Of No Booze
In 2020, Australia witnessed the launch of a number of alcohol-free brewing companies and brands, and in 2021 sales rocketed, quality rose and options blossomed. As 2022 starts, look at why booze-free beer has struck such a chord.
Brisbane's Rising Brewtide
Brewtide is a new brewery venue created within one of Brisbane's most high profile new developments. We caught up with head brewer Gavin Croft to find out more about his plans for the brewing arm of Craft'd Grounds in Albion.
The Crafty Pint's Biggest Stories Of 2021
From brewery sales to the rise of hazy pales, homebrand beers to wild frontiers, and winners to those tackling sinners, here's a look back at some of the biggest stories to appear on The Crafty Pint in 2021.
The Best Of The Territories In 2021
Time to wrap up our state by state by territories wrap of the year in beer that was 2021 with a look back over the past 12 months in the ACT and NT, a time in which the beer scenes in both territories have been expanding.
