Radio Brews News

On Radio Brews News the Brews News editorial team discuss the beer news of the week. This week we welcome back editor James Atkinson and hear a little about his travels through Japan as well as his visit to Melbourne for Goose Island's Migration Week activities. In the news we look at Coopers volumes up but draught sales down, Hawkers signs a deal to export beer to the UK and Pink Boots brewday. James gives some insight both into Goose Island's plans for Australia and also Coopers has run the ruler over a number of craft breweries with a view to making a purchase themselves. And much, much more.

This week on Beer is a Conversation we catch up with Dave Phillips and Liam Pereira from Sydney Beer Week. Dave is the name behind the growing multi-faceted beer tours and events business that is Dave's Events, while Liam is the General Manager of one of those events, Sydney Beer Week. This was the first year that Dave's has managed Sydney Beer Week, so we check in with Dave and Liam to find out the background to taking over Sydney's week of beer and how the event went. And congratulations to the team at Dave's Events which last night won the Gold Award at the NSW Tourism Awards for Tour & Transport Operators. 

This week on Beer is a Conversation we chat with Chris McNamara, Executive Officer at the Independent Brewers Association. In our chat we get the IBA’s thoughts on the upcoming container deposit scheme and the effect it is going to have on Australia’s small brewers and what the association is doing to try and mitigate those changes. We also chat briefly about the IBA’s upcoming strategic review and the membership changes in wake of the recent independent brewery takeovers.

This week on Radio Brews News the Brews News editorial team discuss the beer news of the week. This week we discuss: The impending Container Deposit Scheme Sauce Brewing's Planning woes Whether craft beer's next big thing is being small  And much, much more. You can contact us here.

This week on Beer is a Conversation we chat with Richard Knight, marketing manager for XXXX. This conversation was originally planned as a short chat about XXXX’s sponsorship of the Ashes to drop in as a brief segment in next week’s Radio Brews News but it turned into a much longer – and quite interesting - chat about the mainstream beer market generally so we’re running it as a stand alone discussion here… There are fascinating changes occurring in the beer market generally and what is happening in the craft beer segment can't be seen as being unrelated to what is happening in the broader part of the market. It was was interesting to hear what is driving the marketing behind some of Lion’s biggest brands. Beer is a Conversation is presented by Cryer Malt and Brewpack

This week on Radio Brews News we are joined by guest host Ian Watson from Brisbane's Slipstream Brewery to discuss the beer news of the week. We discuss how beer travels for beer awards, Tuatatara claiming to have 'spawned' the New Zealand Pilsner, the most environmentally friendly way to drink beer, $120 keg pricing and much more. Thanks to Slipstream Brewing for hosting us.

Today on Beer is a Conversation we chat with Hop Products Australia’s Owen Johnston. OJ as he is better known,  is no stranger to Radio Brews News listeners, both through his role as HPA’s Sales and Marketing Manager, or his previous roles as Director with the Craft Beer Industry Association and Head Brewer and General Manager at Tasmania’s Moo Brew brewery. While we have had a number of chats with OJ about all manner of hop topics, this is the first time we have discussed advanced hop products. Long a feature of mainstream brewing, advanced hop products are starting to generate interest in the world of small brewers for the functional benefits they provide the brewer. At the same time, they are creating a discussion around what their use means for notions of ‘craft’ in brewing. It’s a great chat about an interesting topic. Enjoy the conversation.

This week on Radio Brews News' Pete Mitcham and Matt Kirkegaard are joined by Ale of a Time’s Luke Robertson to cover the beer news of the week ending 28 October. In this episode we discuss: Beer prices in the wake of a Sydney venue charging $25.50 for a Schooner of BrewDog Punk IPA. Although the venue eventually said it was a mistake, price is an ongoing issue for craft beer. Also: The price of BrewDog craft beer in supermarkets Cloudwater boss defends craft beer prices after 13 a pint uproar Craft beer boom pushes number of UK breweries past 2,000 Gage Roads profits down but share price up When is Barrel Aged not Barrel Aged? Luke also gives his thoughts on such big topics as brewery takeovers and calling beer booze. And much much more.

In this week's Beer is a Conversation meet Dave Bonighton and Ian Morgan from Mountain Goat Beer as the brewery celebrates its 20th anniversary. Dave Bonighton is a co-founder of Mountain Goat and has stayed on board as a brewing consultant since the brewery's acquisition by by Asahi almost two years ago. Mountain Goat's current head brewer, Ian Morgan has brewed at Holgate Brewhouse and Asahi. In this conversation we discuss 20 years of Mountain Goat, the lead up to the sale to Asahi, what has changed since the takeover and the future plans for the brewery.

On Radio Brews News, the Brews News editorial team discuss the news of the week. This week we look at: The fallout from the Feral takeover The US Brewers Association 'Take Back Craft Beer' campaign XXXX launches the Summer of Cricket Sydney Beer Week Keep up with the news and the best conversations in Australian beer by subscribing to Australian Brews News.  

This week we chat with Jade Flavell, Publican at Adelaide's Wheatsheaf Hotel, one of Australia's great good beer pubs. Jade is also the head brewer The Wheaty Brewing Corp, which this year was named Hopco Champion Small Brewery at the Craft Beer Awards. Jade is a passionate publican and brewer and discusses her approach to brewing, as well as independence, selling out and calling beer booze. Contact us producer@brewsnews.com.au  

In a beer week of beer news, we discuss the breaking news that Feral has been sold to CCA. Coca-Cola Amatil the best fit for Feral: Brendan Varis We look at New Zealand brewer Renaissance's entry into Voluntary Administration. Renaissance looking for rebirth And also the Brewers Guild of New Zealand awards Garage Project named New Zealand’s Champion Brewer Listener José Perez sends through some information about the New Caledonian brewery, Les 3 Brasseurs, Pete spoke about last week. Le 3 Brasseurs website French / English

This week on Beer is a Conversation we have a frank conversation with Feral Brewing founder and, as of today,  former  owner, Brendan Varis. Brendan discusses the sale, why he made the decision to sell, why sell to Coca-Cola Amatil and what it means for the brewery and for the broader beer industry.

This week on Radio Brews News we welcome Pete Mitcham back to the hosts chair and catch up with him about the news the broke during his holidays. We learn a little about the South Pacific beer scene, discuss whether you can taste independence, whether accidental sourness is a fault or a feature and plenty more.  

This week on Beer is a Conversation we talk trade marks with intellectual property expert James Omond. A registered Trade Mark Attorney with extensive experience in the drinks industry, James established his own law firm - Omond & Co - in 2002. He specialises in providing IP advice to wine, beer and spirits producers through a dedicated Trade Marks arm, Australian Beverage Trade Marks. Trade Marks have been a contentious matter in the we-are-all-friends world of small brewing and we discuss the importance of intellectual property and how and when to register it.

This week on Radio Brews News, Matt Kirkegaard and James Atkinson discuss the news for the week ending 29 September 2017. Among the topics we cover: Brisbane's inaugural Beeries awards and the Beer InCider festival 4 Pines Sale to ABI (and here) Beer Sponsorships: Commonwealth Games goes to Lion, while Singapore Airlines picks up craft beer from Cheeky Monkey, Green Beacon and Bent Spoke, and Perth Stadium goes Gage Roads. Get in touch Send us your feedback, or leave a voice mail by calling (07) 3040 1508, that we’ll play on our next show.

This week on Beer is a Conversation, we play James Atkinson's recent conversation with Brooklyn Brewery's head brewer and author of The Brewmaster's Table, Garrett Oliver.

Australian Brews News' Matt Kirkegaard and James Atkinson discuss the news of the week ending 22 September 2017.

On the day 4 Pines annouces its sale to global brewing giant ABI we chat with 4 Pines' Jaron Mitchell and CUB's Peter Filopvic.

This week on Beer is a Conversation we meet brewer Neil Whittorn. Neil, known to some as Pops, has been a brewer for over 45 years, starting at CUB in 1971. He has brewed for Matilda Bay and currently brews and mentors the brewing team at Stone & Wood.