Radio Brews News

This week on Radio Brews News we have a quick catch up with Simon Coghlan, one of the team behind the Ballarat Beer Festival that is being held for the first time in January 2012. Then we catch up with Brendan Varis from Feral Brewing. Brendan was on the steering committee involved in setting up Craft Beer Limited, the new national association of craft brewers. Brendan talks about the association and what they aim to achieve in craft beer over the next five years. We then talk about Feral Brewing and Brendan's beer plans. We learn about his impending King Brown Ale, aged in 60-year-old cognac casks, that he has a new 50 hectolitre brewery on order which will be coming on-stream around March next year and also learn that Hop Hog and White may not be the beers that Brendan himself drinks… For more show notes and links, head on over to Australian Brews News.

Today on Radio Brews News, we meet British beer writer and historian Martyn Cornell. Martyn is the creator of the Zythophile site through which he writes about beer and beer history and, along the way, debunks a few myths. Martyn has gained some attention recently for suggestion the new Oxford Companion to Beer may be "a dreadful disaster" for perpetuating myths and inaccuracies about beer. He drew criticism from the book's editor in chief, Garrett Oliver, for his comments. Martyn is also the author of the excellent book Amber, Gold and Black, a history of great English beer styles. Martyn talks about beer history, beer myths and his spat with Garrett Oliver. This is a must listen for anyone who had ever uttered the words 'IPA' and 'invented' in a sentence. For additional show notes and links, head over to Australian Brews News.

This week Matt & Pete chat with parallel beer importer, Sean Neylon, who runs the website saveonliquor.com.au and have a robust discussion about the ins-and-outs of importing international beer through secondary channels. In the intro we talk about about Pete's visit to the Wheaty for the Beer Wars screening, Carlton Draught's 'The Publican' campaign, and discuss why there are always four blokes in a boat in beer commercials. Matt mentions the Gruen Transfer's look at beer advertising. As always, head on over to Australian Brews News for fulll show notes and links.

Radio Brews News goes straight to the top of the hops…or at least the top of Hop Products Australia, speaking with Managing Director Tim Lord. In the intro, Pete and Matt have a little chat about the SABMiller takeover of Fosters then Tim tells us about what’s happening in the world of hops including the gradual decline of high alpha hops, what they’ve got lined up for us in the flavour and aroma hop department, how they test hops and has a little go at debunking the notion of hop terrior. The winner of the “Matt lost the Brendan Varis Episode” was Mark Dodd from Queensland.  A four pack of Feral Hop Hog will be hand delivered shortly. Beer War screenings will now be held in Adelaide (Wheatsheaf Hotel) on 12 October, with Tasmania, Brisbane and Newcastle dates and details to be announced soon.

On today’s episode of Radio Brews News Pete and Matt are joined by Steve Jeffares from the Local Taphouse and Beer Diva Kirrily Waldhorn to talk about Steve’s plans for the SpecTAPulars, Barley’s Angels, the Women of Beer brew and all sorts of other beer-related stuff. Head over to Australian Brrews News for show notes and links.

In this show we meet Professor Charles Bamforth. Professor Bamforth has been in the brewing industry for 32 years, including 13 years in research, 11 in academia and 8 with the famed brewing company Bass. After an international search, he was selected as UC Davis' first Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences. He is also the author of books and articles about beer and brewing far too numerous to mention, particularly Grain v Grape and Beer is Proof  God Loves Us: Reaching for the Soul of Beer and Brewing. He was a wonderfully engaging guest who provided some thoughtful insights into brewing and drinking beer. Both books are highly recommended. If you don’t have time to read old-school books but like podcasts, consider Audible’s audio version. You can get it FREE with an Audible 30-day free trial, that you can access by clicking the  Amazon link to the right. (s with everything on Australian Brews News - this is a genuine recommendation, not an ad.) For links and show notes, head ov

In a wide ranging discussion with Malt Shovel’s Dr Chuck Hahn, we take a stab at the thorny issues of tap contracts, some new Squire beers and the history of the James Squire brand. Portions of a discussion that took place after we finished the interview have been edited into the show as they were relevant to the discussions. These portions are those that relate to the Local Taphouse and the history of the Squires brand. They have been edited in to maintain the flow of the show and do not change their context or the nature of the discussion. We invited representatives from both major breweries to discuss this issue, as well as a number of small brewers, however Chuck was the only one willing to take up our offer. We thank Lion Nathan for being willing to discuss the issue. It’s a discussion that has plenty of life left in it and we welcome listeners to join the conversation on the discussion board below. I would welcome people involved in the brewing and hotel industries to get in touch if you would like to

Radio Brews News Episode 4 is now available online here and on iTunes. It was recorded on 21 June 2011. Due to your feedback, Matt has learned how to mix the track down to mono. Please keep your feedback coming. This week there were no sound issues (at least not to my untrained ear) and we had a great chat to former Mountain Goat brewer Jayne Lewis who is about to launch her own beer brand, Two Birds Brewing. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter. In addition to speaking with Jayne, you will hear Matt & Pete discuss: 1:00 – The reaction to Pete’s article about contract brewing. 3:15 – Matt uses Waikikamukau as if it was a real place…apologies to our many NZ listeners for any offence, I couldn’t think of a real name. 9:30 – That sound you hear throughout is Matt rubbing his hands. It was cold, what can I say. 10:00 – Beer Lover’s Guide to Australia beer writing comp results. 10:45 – We get the show back on track and speak with Jayne Lewis 30:00 – A look at upcoming shows, including a discussion of the fac

The second episode of Radio Brews News is a long one and we take a look back at Good Beer Week with James ‘The Crafty Pint’ Smith, as well as have a look at the vexed issue of contract brewing with Ben Kraus, founder and head brewer at Bridge Road Brewers, and Adam Trippe-Smith, founder and CEO of McLaren Vale Beer Company. As always, the show is hosted by Australian Brews News editor Matt Kirkegaard and Pete ‘Prof Pilsner’ Mitcham. Head over to Australian Brews News for show notes and discussion.

Welcome to the first edition of Radio Brews News in which beer gurus Pete 'Prof Pilsner' Mitcham, James 'The Crafty Pint' Smith aka  and Kirrily ‘The Beer Diva’ Waldhorn discuss all things beer, hosted by Australian Brews News editor, Matt Kirkegaard. Topics covered in this episode include: The Royal Wedding beer ban Crown Ambassador Reserve Cascade First Harvest and seasonal beers Collaboration brews Little Creatures Marzen Australian International Beer Awards Good Beer Week preview Head over to Australian Brews News for show notes and discussion.