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Local Brewing Family Buys 4 Hearts Brewing

​4 Hearts Brewing and Pumpyard Bar have been bought by the local family behind Stony Creek Brewing. Mick Wüst spoke to those involved about what it means for the longstanding Ipswich operation.

Crafty Crawls: Hobart – The Breweries

Tasmania and its capital are wonderlands when it comes to delicious things and that's certainly true for beer. Here, Jono Outred serves as our guide to the breweries of Hobart where you can enjoy a bounty of locally-brewed beers.

Creating A Winning Brewery Experience

Breweries have transformed warehouses into social spaces and created new kinds of hospitality experiences. But what makes a good brewery venue and what do founders think about before they start building?

Growing With Intention

Craft beer is a fast-paced industry in which small breweries tend to be nimble operations. Now, in a time of economic uncertainty, many are adapting and changing, but what's it like to change course? And why do it?

A Full Colour Life: From Brewer To Leader

Most people open a brewery or become brewers because they love making and drinking beer. Yet, as businesses grow and careers progress, brewing can play second fiddle to management tasks requiring very different skills.

Spotty Dog's Hobart Home Is Here At Last

It's been a long road for Spotty Dog but the Tassie brewers who launched their first beer in 2016 finally have a home in Hobart. Co-founder Klimt Donohoe told us all about their new venue and what beer lovers can expect.

The Collaborators: Candy Warhol's Colouring Cans

If a colouring book featuring 148 beer cans from breweries across Greater Sydney appeals to you, then you're in luck – ex-graphic designer Connor Dempsey has made one to scratch his own creative itch and support good mental health.

Beer Cartel To Be Online Only In 2023

Beer Cartel are closing their physical store in Sydney at the start of next year, with the popular beer retailer deciding to move their operation entirely online. We spoke to co-founder Richard Kelsey about the decision and their future plans.

Moo Brew To Open A New Hobart Brewpub

Moo Brew have announced plans to open a new home in Hobart. Tasmania's longest-established independent brewery has signed a lease on a site in Salamanca where they hope to open a brewpub before the end of 2022.

Dean Can Draw – Bringing Crushed Cans To Life

To some, a crushed tinnie is a piece of rubbish ready to be recycled. To artist Dean Spinks, it's inspiration for a 30-hour photorealistic drawing.

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The 2022 Australian Craft Beer Survey Launches

The largest survey of consumer trends and attitudes in the local beer industry is back. The Beer Cartel Australian Craft Beer Survey last took place in 2020, and this time has a focus on alc-free and GF beer plus purchasing habits.

Firies-Supporting Brewing Company Wins Brew Rocket Grant

A brewing company created to support emergency service workers has won the first Brew Rocket grant designed to reward sustainability and social responsibility. Firehouse 51 was selected by a panel put together by Craft Instinct.

Dave Heads Deep South

Former Moo Brew head brewer Dave Macgill finally threw open the doors to his new brewpub venture this month.We called in to see what's on offer at Deep South Brewing Co as they join North Hobart's beer community.

The Dark & Disgusting Minds of The Scratch

No one's ever accused the folk at The Scratch of being normal. Their festivals have cult followings, and the videos they make to promote them can be downright disgusting. We sat down with manager Becca King to find out more.

Who Brews Smart Brothers Beers?

The Smart Brothers were born in England, but started brewing after moving to Australia. We chatted to them about their small batch operation on the Mornington Peninsula where they look to blend both their homes in one.

Going Green: Brew Rocket Launches

A new grant designed to encourage new brewing companies to put an environmental and/or social enterprise focus at the heart of their business has just launched. We spoke to the woman behind Brew Rocket to find out more.

Boekamp Bier Relaunches As The Albert Brewery

Boekamp Bier's sudden closure in December last year was sad news for Tassie craft drinkers and lager lovers. Now co-founder Mark French has relaunched with a new look and name but with the same dedication to lager. 

A Book About Beer Geeks. For Beer Geeks. By A Beer Geek

SA beer writer Matt King has just released his first book. The Chronicles of Nelson Smart: Beer Connoisseur/Geek is a novel based loosely on Matt's experiences in the Aussie craft beer world over the past decade and is out now.

2020: The Year In Beer

Well, who saw that coming? We kick off our end of 2020 coverage with a look back at some of the biggest trends and standout moments of the past twelve months.

Manuka Oval's Crafty Takeover

In an historic decision, BentSpoke, Capital and Lion have each been given two bars each at the ACT's Manuka Oval for the upcoming 2020 cricket season.


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How Do You Build A Brewery?

What do you do if you want to start a brewery, but can't find the information you need? If you're Chris Hayton, you interview brewers and other industry professionals, make a podcast, and share it with the world.

Black Hops & Love For Local Dominate Beer Cartel's 2020 Survey

Support for local beer rose sharply in 2020 as drinkers rallied behind their locals during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Beer Cartel's annual survey. It also says Black Hops replace Balter as the country's favourite brewery.

Mid Strength, Max Satire

Jason Mangelsdorf is a Brisbane local who's regularly hosted art shows at legendary bar The Scratch and has also combined his love for MAD Magazines and XXXX to create MID Magazine. George Levi sat down with him to find out more.

Aussie Beerstagrammers: Sticking With Beer

Our Aussie Beerstagrammers series with a young account that's quickly become one of the country's most popular thanks to its creator's unique concept and humorous approach.

Postcards from the Edge No.17: Winston's Winners

The Winston name is one that shares a close connection to craft beer in Tasmania and, while the North Hobart pub might be temporarily shut, Winston Cellars has opened with some slightly serendipitous timing.

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.

There's A New Fox In Town

The sale of Hobart brewery Fox Friday went under the radar for most, but the hazy IPAs the new owners are producing are starting to create a stir. Dorian Broomhall caught up with the American brewer keeping hopheads happy.

Who Brews Boekamp Biers?

It can be tough to stand out in today's busy beer landscape but the duo behind Boekamp Bier in Hobart are offering something different. They're eschewing contemporary trends to focus on Bavarian lagers and wheat beers.

Behind Bars: Harts Pub At Ten

Inside a 130-year-old building in The Rocks, Harts Pub is a ten-year-old bar that's won the gratitude of Sydney beer drinkers and Australian independent breweries alike as one of the city's earliest adopters of craft beer.

Crafty's Advent Calendar: Kris Miles

From a bottleshop in Brisbane to hop-infused spirits in Melbourne then MONA and finally a pub and brewery, Kris Miles has taken on many roles in the local beer world. Here he is on day 21 of our end-of-decade Advent Calendar series.

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Behind Bars: Beer Cartel At Ten

What started as two guys hand-packing boxes of beer to put in the mail has grown into one of Australia's largest online beer retailers. It's fair to say Beer Cartel have come a long way in ten years.

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.

Artisan Brewing: Five Years In Five Beers

They're one of the smallest brewing operations in Australia but Artisan and their Belgian-inspired ales punch well above their weight. As they celebrate a half decade of brewing, we look back over those five years via five beers.

Balter Top Australia's Biggest Craft Beer Survey

Balter have been voted Australia's best brewery in the biggest ever survey of craft beer drinkers. More than 23,000 people took part in Beer Cartel's annual survey, which is now in its fourth year.

Aussie Beerstagrammers: beerstagram_au

As users explore the possibilities within Instagram, beer-loving users are becoming ever more creative. A fine example is Sergio Montenegro, who has started bringing beer labels to vivid live at @beerstagram_au.

Three Cheers For Shepparton

Shepparton is a regional Victorian city that hasn't had its own brewery for a hundred years. So what will it look like now three new breweries are set to come to town within 12 months of each other?

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.

Have Your Say On Australian Beer

The fourth edition of Beer Cartel's annual Australian Craft Beer Survey kicks off today, seeking to create a snapshot of trends within the local beer world. It's the biggest survey of its kind and you're invited to take part.

Crafty Crawls: Melbourne CBD – South

The beer offering in Melbourne's CBD has come a long way since we ran our first Crafty Crawl guide. So it's time to rework it into a two-parter. Here, we kick off in the city's southern half.

Brew & A: Ken Friend

He went from homebrewing in the Air Force to trainee brewer to head brewer in just a year. Now settled in at the helm of 4 Hearts in Ipswich, we invited Ken Friend to be part of our Brew & A series.

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Black Arts: Brand New. Kinda.

The beer scene in Melbourne's west – and the country's cluster of barrel-ageing and blending specialists – is set to grow again this week with the launch of Black Arts. Luke Robertson called in.

Boatrocker: Ten Lessons From Ten Years

April 2009 sees Melbourne brewery Boatrocker celebrate ten years of brewing. They've gone from early gypsies to barrel-ageing innovators, so we asked them to reflect on what their first decade has taught them.

Crafty Crawls: Hobart – The Breweries

In early spring, we revisited our Crafty Crawl guide to Hobart. The first article focused on the city's best beer venues and bottleshops. Now, in part two, we turn the focus to the small breweries and brewing companies that call the city home.

Crafty Crawls: Hobart – The Venues

Whether it's classic pubs with great beer on tap, sparkling new brewpubs, journeys into beer's past or brewing by the waterfront, there's plenty to enjoy in Hobart these days. In our updated Crafty Crawl, part one takes in the city's beer venues.

The 2018 Australian Craft Beer Survey Launches

Since launching two years ago, the Beer Cartel annual craft beer survey has rapidly become a great gauge of the local beer scene. In 2017, more than 17,000 people responded and now you have a chance to take part as the 2018 version launches.

Starting A Brewery: Brisbane's New Kids

The beer industry in South East Queensland has witnessed a remarkable number of new openings in the past couple of years. We spoke to the founders of five that are less than a year old to see how they plan to succeed in today's ever busier marketplace.

From Canvas to Can

If you head to the Good Beer Week Festival Hub as it launches this weekend, you might stumble across a State Of Origin battle between two artists. You can vote for your favourite piece, which Moo Brew will then put on cans before the festival is over.

Howzat! 4 Pines Hits The SCG

New partnerships that would have been unthinkable a few years ago continued to be forged. 4 Pines has followed its deal with Manly Ferries by creating its own bar at the SCG, while Newstead will have its beers served on Queensland's long distance trains.

Starting A Brewery: If I Could Turn Back Time

There's a wealth of knowledge in the Australian beer world today and plenty of people starting their own brewing companies too. We approached the owners of ten brewing companies to find out what they would tell themselves if they were starting again.

A Beer Drinker's Guide To The Commonwealth Games

With the Commonwealth Games in full swing and the Gold Coast home to much in the way of great beer, expat Kiwi Steffan Paton serves up his first article for The Crafty Pint.