Radio Brews News

This week we meet Nick Boots, who we last spoke with in early 2020 after his appointment as General Manager at Stone & Wood. Nick recently moved on from Stone & Wood having fulfilled his commitment following the sale to Lion and, after a break, he has recently set up a business consulting to breweries called The Business of Beer. It’s an interesting beer podcast when you’re quoting the from the William Goldman book The Princess Bride…but it was apt for a podcast with a consultant. To paraphrase it, "the brewing business is hard, anyone who tells you differently is selling something" and in this podcast we look at the challenges that breweries are facing in the maturing and highly competitive market post covid. It was refreshing to hear Nick talk openly about the challenges of brewing and the need to know your business.  We don’t promise answers in this episode - as they say in finance podcasts, this is general advice only - but I think we raise some of the questions that brewers should be asking themselves ab

This week the team discuss Black Hops loss post crowdfund and what was the real impact of Covid. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Leave us a voicemail that we can share on the podcast brewsnews.com.au/get-involved Creditors approve Tribe DOCA Black Hops reveals large loss post-crowdfund COVID, floods and growth costs impact BrewDog results Pregnancy labelling changes approved Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The place to advertise brewing ingredients, equipment, services and and more from Australia and abroad. Brews News Brewer Database

This week we continue our accidental series on construction professionals who started a brewery as we meet Sonia and Guy Schweitzer from Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co. Scarborough Harbour made a bit of a splash recently at the The Royal Queensland Beer Awards, winning best new brewery and champion brewpub in addition to a number of gold medals. It was a strong result for a new brewery, especially one that didn’t ride the hype train as it launched and we wanted to check it out and hear their story.  And I discovered a gem. It’s a great story about how changing circumstances saw Sonia became the driver of the brewery that beer-loving Guy wanted to build, but has had to enjoy from a continent away.  Enjoy this conversation with Sonia and Guy Schweitzer. If you like what we do at Radio Brews News you can help us out by: Sponsoring the show Reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcasting service Emailing us at producer@brewsnews.com.au to share your thoughts

This week the team discuss how to spot an independent craft beer and updates to the recommended pregnancy label. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Leave us a voicemail that we can share on the podcast brewsnews.com.au/get-involved Asashi to close Green Beacon production brewery, retain brew pub How to Spot an Independent Craft Beer FSANZ recommends change to pregnancy label Introducing the Bintani Nut Bar Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The place to advertise brewing ingredients, equipment, services and and more from Australia and abroad. Brew

This week we meet Cheyne Meehan, who opened Happy Valley brewery in Brisbane three years ago.  Cheyne, who was making a pretty good living as a crane driver, was bitten hard by the homebrew bug and, like many before him, decided it would be a great idea to open a brewery. As you’ll hear, underfunded, underplanned, and with COVID swirling, he went ahead. It was hard, and mistakes were made, as they say, but when you listen to him it’s hard to hear any regret amidst his love of what he’s doing and his passion for beer.  If you like what we do at Radio Brews News you can help us out by: Sponsoring the show Reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcasting service Emailing us at producer@brewsnews.com.au to share your thoughts

This week the team discuss lactose labelling requirements, Lion to close Tiny Mountain and we say goodbye to Neil 'Pops' Whittorn. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Leave us a voicemail that we can share on the podcast brewsnews.com.au/get-involved Vale: Neil ‘Pops’ Whittorn Might Craft raises $5m for growth Lion to Tiny Mountain Lactose labelling requirements: FSANZ Heaps Normal Achieves B Corp Certification  Barret Burston and Cryer Malt launch Australian Extra Pale Malt Double Beer Brand Buy for ALM Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The pl

This week on Beer is a Conversation we meet Dr Ron Beatson. It’s not many people who get to have the impact on a country’s industry that Ron has had on the hops industry in New Zealand. His research has been credited as having transformed NZ Hops from a cottage industry supplying hops to NZ-based brewers to a sophisticated export product with more than 85% of production now exported to the some of the world's leading beer producing nations. In Nectaron he has also had a hop named after him. I was in Nelson for the first time and had the chance to speak with Dr Beatson about a career that saw him move from research into tobacco into hops, what he loves about the industry and also where he sees hops and hop research going. If you like what we do at Radio Brews News you can help us out by: Sponsoring the show Reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcasting service Emailing us at producer@brewsnews.com.au to share your thoughts

This week the team have an update on the Ballistic Beer situation, Better Beer are seeking capital and there's a confusing recall. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Leave us a voicemail that we can share on the podcast brewsnews.com.au/get-involved Ballistic Beer avoid liquidation Better Beer seeks $20-million for expansion Product Recall: Counter Culture Eirinn Irish Cream Stout Young Henrys opens brewing scholarship for 2023 Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The place to advertise brewing ingredients, equipment, services and and more from Austr

This week we have something a little different as we meet Bede Durbidge, one of the founders of Balter Brewing Company. Balter is sometimes - and I think unfairly - referred to as the surfers brewery, on account of the four very visible faces who were behind the business. While the profile of the surfers behind Balter undoubtedly helped garner some attention and stand out in an increasingly crowded market when it launched, the drinks industry is littered with brands that failed despite much more evident star power. Having heard Bede speak about his career and the origins of the brewery, I always wondered whether the people behind the brand, actually played a part in its success in ways more than just celebrity. That's what I explore in this episode. If you like what we do at Radio Brews News you can help us out by: Sponsoring the show Reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcasting service Emailing us at producer@brewsnews.com.au to share your thoughts

This week the team discuss Asahi's deal with Live Nation, VBs high ABV play and one brewpub raises the drinking age. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Leave us a voicemail that we can share on the podcast brewsnews.com.au/get-involved Asahi signs exclusive Live Nation deal ASIC raises concerns over CSF non-compliance Product recall: Your Mates Watermelon Sour Victoria Bitter makes ABV play with Xtra Lord Nelson raises the legal drinking age Merri-bek council launches brewery and music trails 2022 Australian Craft Beer Survey results revealed Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast.

This week we have a great conversation with brewer Matt Brynildson.  Matt is Brewmaster at California’s Firestone Walker Brewery. He is one of those brewers that is quietly revered by other brewers and we were lucky to get to catch up with him advance of his upcoming visit to Australia. He will here for HPA’s hop harvest and, of interest to Australian brewers, speaking at the High Country Hop Technical Symposium where he will be speaking on the topic of Hop Quality and Optimising Hop Impact - A field to glass approach. Matt is perfectly placed to speak about this. He moved into brewing from a job as a hop chemist and has been heavily involved in teaching about hops through the Master Brewers Association of America and the US-based Hop Quality Group…something that we discuss in this conversation.  Such is a life of and commitment to hops, last year he was awarded the Order of the Hop at the at the International Hop Congress in Prague, only the second US brewer to be so honoured.  In this conversation you will

This week the team discuss growth up but profits down for Good Drinks, Tribe enters administration and how you can leave us a voicemail for the podcast. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Moffat Beach wins best beer at Royal Queensland Beer Awards Growth up, profit down for Good Drinks Better Beer drives Mighty Craft half year results Tribe Breweries Enters Administration 37th Asia Pacific IBD Convention Leave us a voicemail that we can share on the podcast brewsnews.com.au/get-involved Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The place to advertise bre

English beer writer Pete Brown probably needs no introduction to our listeners. Apart from having been a guest on the podcast a number of times, his many books would be well known to anyone with an interest in beer.  Earlier this year, Pete tweeted about the dire state of craft brewing in the UK and the number of breweries closing. I wanted to hear more about the challenges being faced there to see what was relevant in our own market. We also talk about the evolution of the craft beer market and how we got to this point in the craft beer cycle. We also discuss his latest book, Clubland, looking at the intoxicating history of the working men’s clubs in the UK. As always with Pete, it’s a very thoughtful conversation about beer. If you like what we do at Radio Brews News you can help us out by: Sponsoring the show Reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcasting service Emailing us at producer@brewsnews.com.au to share your thoughts

This week the team discuss how container deposit schemes could be better and a great new ad for the industry. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Lager recall commences Liquor ‘cycles’ down for Coles Group despite 3 year growth Australian International Beer Awards Entries Open Brewcon tickets on sale Calls for national container deposit scheme to stop ‘discouraging innovation’ of small producers Balter's new ad Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The place to advertise brewing ingredients, equipment, services and and more from Australia and abroad

This week we catch up with Paul Daley, Craft Beer Ambassador Leader, Education & Experiences at Lion. Paul recently travelled to the US where he passed his Advanced Cicerone exam, making him one of the handful of advanced Cicerones in Australia.  As you’ll hear, Paul has had a lengthy career in hospitality and liquor, but he is one of those people that has found a passion for beer and craft beer in particular and is a tireless advocate for changing the way people think about it. I never tire talking beer with Paul, and his enthusiasm and drive to share the best of what beer can be often reignites my own enthusiasm and I wanted to capture a little of that in this conversation. This episode of Beer is a Conversation is presented by HPA. Australia’s leading hop grower offers a huge range of Aussie, international and innovative hop products that can help breweries of all sizes become more efficient, more sustainable, and more profitable. Check out their new product catalogue at www.hops.com.au/product-catalogue/

This week is a big one for news including Konvoy's equity raise, and market fears end the Stomping Ground, Good Drinks deal. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Konvoy announces equity raise and GABS partnership GDA & Stomping Ground pull out of planned acquisition Market fears end Stomping Ground/ Good Drinks deal Endeavour Group revenue grows; retail sales decline NZ Hops Ltd unveils Superdelic New CEO as Triple-1-Three rebuilds post COVID Black Hops announces new CEO as founder departs 2023 AIBA Entries Open New beer trail launches tour offerings New brewery lures former Green Beacon brewer Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or ca

Mountain Culture rocketed to the top of the GABS Hottest 100 just a few weeks ago, but that was the latest achievement for a brewery that has been exceeding expectations ever since it launched in late 2019, just before the world felt the grip of COVID. COVID put a huge dent in what were initially outlined as modest plans for a humble Blue Mountains brewpub. Their covid pivot seems to have paid off and they have been on a tear ever since, one that has seen contant expansion of their expanded brewhouse. Managing growth is often seen as big a challenge for craft breweries as not growing, and I really wanted to find out what the Mountain Culture secret sauce is…especially as to the outsider Harriet & DJ give off some pretty laid-back, it’s all fun craft beer vibes that feel the opposite of a serious, growth-minded businesses negotiating a maturing market place. It’s a great chat and I hope I managed to get a look under the hood of of the engine that’s driving the business. This episode of Beer is a Conversation i

This week the team discuss the Better Beer v Brick Lane court battle, the downside of Dan Murphy's price promise and the latest update in the Ballistic Beer situation. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! Better Beer wins Federal Court battle Brewers bear brunt of Dan Murphy’s price promise IBA concerned about impact of Endeavour fee on brewers Revenue grows at Good Drinks Australia Good Drinks announces new appointments CUB Formally launches Power’s return Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The place to advertise brewing ingredients, equipment, s

Just about everywhere we go, we hear opinions on the IBA. How it’s doing, what it should be doing, what it shouldn’t be doing and what it should be doing differently.  We have opined on this ourselves. But we also hear a lot about why breweries consider it’s not worth joining or why they are leaving, and this often involves suggestions that the association isn’t doing enough in some areas, or is focusing on the wrong areas. Often there’s little understanding of the enormity of the association’s task just in dealing with governments at all levels on issues that are critical to the daily operation of every brewery, whether a member of the association or not.  While we were in Canberra for the Hottest 100 Countdown, we took the opportunity to sit down with Richard and Kylie to try to understand what the IBA does, outside of its most visible work on the Indie Seal, the Indies and BrewCon just to give listeners an understanding of why having an association that represents the interests of brewers is so important.

This week the team discuss the grant to keep Boags alive, growth for Mighty Craft and the Brewing in New Zealand report. Please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcasting app. It costs nothing and helps other beer lovers discover the podcast! GABS Hottest 100 results announced Government grant sees Lion reverse Boag’s closure Growth for Mighty Craft despite decline in craft beer Brewing in New Zealand Report Lessons Learned: Two Mates Brewing Check out the Brewery Pro Podcast. Our partners Rallings Labels and Stickers - Leading provider of high quality Labels, Stickers and Packaging products. Call 1300 852 235. Bluestone Yeast - Bluestone yeast has you covered. You can reach out to them at info@bluestoneyeast.com.au or call Derek on (03) 8518 3172 and talk all things yeast. Brews News Business Directory - The place to advertise brewing ingredients, equipment, services and and more from Australia and abroad. Brews News Brewer Database