It's a big episode featuring the World's Smallest Beer Festival and the return of one of our favorite brewers Michael Stanzel who is now at Devilbend Farm. You can grab the beers we discuss with Michael from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/devilbend-oktoberfest-6-pack Old friends Ian McNally, Nick Capper and Pocket Beagles' Clint Weaver arrive in the Coolroom for the world's longest promo for the world's smallest beer festival which will take place at Brewmanity on Saturday November 30. Just how many small things can you jam into one festival, will Ian jump a fiery BMX and just how did Clint find himself involved in all of this - listen in to find out! And then it's the first of 2 chats with Michael who is now brewing at Devilbend farm about his amazing Oktoberfest beers and much much more.  What's it like to start with a blank canvas brewery, what memories of German Oktoberfests does he bring to his brewing and what's the right way to pronounce Aldi? We learn how Devilbend grow their own grains, hops and cows, have a heap of enzyme talk and about the joys of roof trapdoors.

In the second part of their visit to the the Thursday night Zoom Room Ollie, Ross and Hamish from Rocky Ridge share more stories of the their journey in both the West Australian and Victorian craft beer scenes. In this episode we sip the amazing Hoppel Bock which is available as part of the tasting pack from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/rocky-ridge-mixed-6-pack We learn all about the original doppelbock style and then how the team worked with hop growers on this adaptation. Then we go behind the scenes to find out what the guys wish they'd known earlier in their journey, the realities of the craft beer market in 2024 and why they are optimistic and expanding into Victoria.

In the first of two episodes Hamish, Ross and Ollie from Rocky Ridge join Davydd to discuss their amazing beers and the stories behind them. In this episode we compare and contrast Rocky Juice V14.1 and V14.2 which you can purchase from the Rocky Ridge website or directly from the Coolroom shopify here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/rocky-ridge-mixed-6-pack In this episode we meet the team and hear about the origin story of the brewery and the ethos that underpins all that they do. We learn about their core beers how they decide which beers make it into the range. With beers like these there is plenty of hop nerd talk as we taste two versions of the same beer, one made with hop pellets and one made with hop liquid. Stay tuned for the second part of their visit in the next episode!

To celebrate the 6th birthday of the podcast Davydd and Warren head off to join the new Kenzo Crawl which winds through the streets of Kensington from Bakery Hill, to Nubilum Distilling and finally finishing up with our old friends from Bonehead Brewing. We learn all about the emerging hospo scene in Kensington, the different collaborations between the 3 venues and what they hope it will bring to the area.  At Bakery Hill we sip their new blended Whisky and hear why they decided to produce this style for the first time and what they hope this will do for the brand. At Nubilum we meet Elle and Andrew and learn what brought both of them into the Nubilum family and why they're looking forward to the looming "10 Days of Grappa"! And we finish up on the big stage with the smoke machines at Bonehead Brewing with Anthony and Travis. We learn about what has changed and what's stayed the same over the many years since the first time they appeared on the podcast and what keeps them excited and motivated to stay in the industry. You can learn more about Bonehead's "Lighter Than You Think" mid-strength dark and the mental health resources funds raised from its sales contribute to here: https://www.boneheadbrewing.com.au/pages/lighter-than-you-think And to learn more about joining the Kenzo Crawl go here: https://www.nubilum.com.au/kenzo-crawl

It's the second part of our interview with Damien from Dangerous Ales as we indulge in the Dead Man Tell No Tales Imperial Chocolate Rum n Raisin Stout. You can grab that all the beers we discussed in episode 243 with Damien at our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/dangerous-ales-mixed-6-pack In this episode we hear all about the process Damien went through when stepping up to the production brewery, which new brewing products excite him and what he's experienced inside coolrooms. We get some excellent audience questions and even have to delete a little bit of the interview just so no one gets into any trouble!

Davydd and Warren catch up with Damien from Dangerous Ales to chat about some amazing beers and hear the story of his journey in brewing. You can buy the beers that accompany this podcast from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/dangerous-ales-mixed-6-pack Warren kicks off with trying to do a little podcast banter before we dive into the core range and a discussion of Damien's transition from chef to brewer and what made him so "dangerous" in the first place. Then it's time for Warren to pronounce "Nelson Ha Ha" and to discuss both the fantastic art on the outside of the can and the unique way that the nelson sauvin presents inside. We hear Damien's advice for home brewers, his favorite piece of equipment and all about the importance of avoiding making boring generic beers. Stay tuned for part 2 of his visit soon!

A special episode featuring interviews from our visit to the 2024 Bendigo on the Hop Festival - a huge thanks to the BOTH team for inviting us up and helping us to organise some super fun interviews.  We kick off with Brett from the Brewers Collective, hearing not just what they have planned for the festival but all about his journey from barman to helping to run a brewery and venue! Then it's off to the Cambrian's headquarters in the centre of town to chat with Maggie from Co-conspirators about "The Ringleader" and to learn a few secrets about what they have planned for spring and summer [that she probably shouldn't have revealed just yet...] Next is our first ever visit to Bendigo Brewing where we meet Head Brewer Evan Hunter inside a pagoda! We hear all about his journey to Bendigo and truly hectic week getting everything ready to be open for the festival. Finally the tradition of bad audio for an interview with King River's Nathan Munt continues - if you listen closely you can hear him apologise for the audio from the last time he was on the show and perhaps a big scoop about future plans!

It's the second part of our discussion with Duncan's Brewing and Ian McNally is still with Davydd to add to the hijinks! Make sure you check out our previous episode 240 for the start of the conversations and grab the accompanying tasting pack from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/duncans-mixed-6-pack In this episode Llew Bardecki shares more of the behind the scenes stories from Duncan's and of his own experiences in craft brewing including the extraordinary lengths the brewery goes to to make their fresh hopped beers. We learn about memorable mistakes, fun times in cool rooms and have a thorough discussion about 80s rock stars called Brett.

Davydd is joined first by Desmond from Melbourne's Drinking History Tours, then the inimitable Ian McNally for the first of two episodes featuring Duncan's Brewing Company. Make sure you grab the tasting pack that accompanies today's episode from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/duncans-mixed-6-pack Desmond shares a fun taster of what a tour with Melbourne Drinking History Tours involves, including some of his current favorite Melbourne bars, a brief history of some famous establishments and even a ghost story or two. We'd love to hear from listeners which pubs and bars around Melbourne you'd like to hear more stories about! Then Ian McNally enters the Thursday zoom room for a chat with George and Llew from Duncan's about their approach to sour beers, the benefits and challenges of being based in New Zealand and lots and lots of hop talk!

Davydd is joined by "rival podcaster" Ian McNally for an amazing day at the inaugural Obsidian Dark Beer Festival in Ballarat.  They are joined by a stellar line up of brewers who are all at different stages of their journeys and with a range of insights into what's happening in the Australian craft beer industry.  Joe from Good Knight and Matt from Aunty Jacks tell us everything that's happening in the Ballarat Beer Scene at the moment, what got them interested in brewing and the beer styles they love the most.  Maz from Hawkers joins us to reveal the non-Hawkers beer he keeps in his fridge, some of his first experiences with selling beer in Lebanon and what's wrong with the government's approach to the craft beer industry. Finally we're joined by Ed from Dollar Bill who shares a couple of amazing beers and tells us all about how they made and what makes a good sour beer. And we hear the very latest about their plans to open their own venue in Ballarat! A huge thank you to Tom and the team from the Obsidian Dark Beer Festival - if you missed this year's event make sure you grab your tickets early next year!

It's the second part of our online tasting with Paul Holgate and Chris Brady from legendary Australian brewery Holgate! But before we get to that we also have the ATO's answers to the questions you submitted to us! Don't forget you can grab the beers we discuss with Holgate from our website here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/holgate-mixed-6-pack Paul and Chris share their approach to barrel-aging beers and why they choose to use local barrels, we learn all about the beer they've collaborated on for Bendigo on the Hop, the challenges of making 25 special beers to celebrate 25 years of brewing and what "beery mountains" they still have to climb. Oh, and they tell us all about their 125 year old Coolroom!  

It's the fourth and final of our Carwyn Cellars / Coolroom Black Box Series for 2024 featuring the return of some of our favorite Australian brewers talking about their contributions to this amazing project. Lewis Kerr from Bright Brewery, joins Alex Lovelock from Hawkers and Jimmy and Jesse Krekelberg from Good Land to share their thoughts on each others beers and the stories behind them. We learn the secrets of their barrel programs, their favorite brewing gizmos, the ideas that went into the designs on the cans for the black box and which band t-shirts would automatically get you a job at their brewery.  A huge thank you to all of the brewers who have been part of Black Box 2024, and of course to Carwyn for inviting us to be part of the adventure, And also a massive cheers to everyone who helped us sell out of the packs - we hope you've loved the beers and our chats about them!

It's the third episode of our series for the Carwyn / Coolroom Black Box for 2024 and we kick off by celebrating the news that Tito from Carwyn is now one of only 3 Advanced Cicerones in Australia! Then it's quickly on to the Black IIIPA from Seeker Brewing and a discussion about how the brewery and its output have changed in the first two years of its existence. We hear how the guys first met and absolutely everything that's happened since that day. Then it's Duncan from Hop Nation's turn to talk about the Jammy Dodger. We discuss the dangers of using cinnamon in a brew, where the inspiration for the artwork came from and what keeps him and the brewery inspired, and the terrible curse that afflicts Hop Nation / Carwyn collaborations. Then we are joined from Adelaide [and yes the sound is a little dodgy at times] by Nathan from King River Brewing and his Adambier. Tito and Nathan discuss the origins of the beer style and the joys of researching forgotten styles.  We have some fantastic chats as the brewers sample each others beers and talk about the techniques and tricks of making such complex offerings.

It's the second of our 2024 Carwyn Cellars / Coolroom Black Box sessions with a truly extraordinary line up of beers and brewers - a huge thank you to everyone who joined us online on the day! We kick things off with Ben Duval revealing some of the behind-the-scenes gossip of putting together the black box before Adam from Rocky Ridge takes us through the Imperial Ken Oats Pastry Stout. He reveals what the brewery has planned for their new Victorian adventure and what the best tricks for brewing with coffee are! Then Ned from Fox Friday brings us the "One Friday" BBA Imperial stout made in collaboration with One Drop. We learn all about the nascent Fox barrel program and just how a collaboration between two breweries works. Then it's time for "The Final Deed", a BBA Imperial Stout resulting from the visit of Carwyn, the Coolroom and a heap of beery influencers to Deeds just days before they closed. We're incredibly lucky to be joined by Curtis Uhryn who shares the techniques that went into the making of this beer, his feelings about the closure of the brewery and his plans for the future. The interactions between the brewers as they taste each others beers and reflect on their experiences in the craft beer industry makes this one of our most interesting episodes ever! Thanks again to them all for being so open and honest with their answers!

It's a truly epic start to this year's Carwyn Cellars / Coolroom Black Box as some of the most innovative brewers from Australia join us to talk about their beers. Tito from Carwyn gives us some insights into how the breweries for the box are chosen and organised and then we are underway with Brendan from 3 Ravens and an absolutely amazing barrel-aged barley wine. We change styles completely for beer #2 as Ross from Bacchus Brewing talks us through the Gingerdead Man, at the same time bringing us to speed with everything that's happened at the brewery since he joined us almost exactly one year ago. And then for the first time ever we welcome Working Title Brewing Co into the Coolroom with "In Bruges" which has some amazing intricate flavours and a great fun attitude from the brewers to accompany it. The Coolroom are all sold out of this year's Black Boxes but you can try the beers on tap at Carwyn Cellars in Thornbury or you can grab the very last releases of the pack from their website here: https://carwyncellars.com.au/products/the-black-box-2024

Celebrating 25 years of great craft beers Paul Holgate and Head Brewer Chris Brady join us for a tasting of some best known beers while sharing stories of their journey in brewing. You can buy the beers we discuss from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/holgate-mixed-6-pack Don't forget you can join the podcast and Holgate at this year's Obsidian Beer Festival being held in Ballarat on June 29 - tickets are available here: https://hullabalooevents.com.au/obsidian-dark-beer-fest In this episode we hear the story of the Mt Macedon Pale Ale, how it has changed over the years yet remains at the heart of their core range and the legendary Millennium Falcon - one of the most anticipated craft beer releases each year in Australia. Stay tuned for the second half of the interview coming soon in Episode 234!

It's a massive episode today as we're deep in the heart of Winter Beer Festivals in Australia and we kick off with Jacqui from Coconspirators telling us all about this year's Famiglia Affairs Festival - check out our Facebook page for information about how you can 2 free tickets to the event! Then we're up to Darker Days Festival at Bright Brewery with special guest co-host Evin Craney. We get all the goss on what goes into organising a festival like this, and what he's most looking forward to this year.  Then Bright head brewer Lewis Kerr joins the table and we taste our way through the collaboration beers from this year's festival while chatting with each of the brewers who participated. There's 250kg of banana puree, 2500 oysters, one perturbed Pocket beagle, an intense discussion on the differences between feijoas and pineapple guavas, a lot of work for our legal department and Davydd gets excited by the idea of giant wicker chicken...

It's a tale of two city's beer festivals as we chat to the teams behind Ballarat's new Obsidian Dark Beer Festival and Bendigo On The Hop. Tom Madden gives us the down low on everything we can expect at the brand new Obsidian Dark Beer Festival taking place on the heated floors of Ballarat's Mining Exchange at the end of June. We hear what inspired him to start a new festival during a tricky time in the industry, which breweries will be attending and which beers he's most looking forward to trying. Then Chris from Bendigo Beer returns to the show to preview this year's 10th anniversary Bendigo On The Hop which has now extended into a week of fun events at the end of August. We not only learn about the history of the festival and of some returning craft brewery stalwarts but also of new breweries and venues joining in for the first time. You can learn more about Obsidian here: https://hullabalooevents.com.au/obsidian-dark-beer-fest  And Bendigo On The Hop here: https://www.bendigobeer.com/both-2024

Duncan from Hop Nation joins Warren and special guest host Travis for a discussion about all the latest news and views from the brewery. You can taste along with the beers discussed in the podcast by grabbing a tasting pack from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/hop-nation-8-pack Duncan explains where the idea for Hop Nation came from and what it was like when the brewery started out, as well as his own journey from wine maker to brewer. We learn how old favorites like the J Juice have changed over time [and what's changed back] his approach to collaborations with the likes of Wildflower and the hops that inspire him. And of course we get some inside scoops on what's planned for the Carwyn/Coolroom Black Box, their visit to Bright Brewery's Darker Days Festival and the imminent release of this year's Kalash Imperial Stout

It's the Hair of the Dog Breakfast at Beer Deluxe in Fed Square and accompanied by some amazing food from Telina Menzies we share some amazing brews and some great stories with 4 fantastic brewers. We kick off with Ed and Fiona from Dollar Bill who have some fantastic news to share [no spoilers - but it involves local government talk!] We learn what new trophies they have on their sideboard and the inner-Bendigonian in Davydd comes out as he discusses Lake Wendouree. Then it's on to Nick from Local Brewing Co who tells us all about the beers they've brought to the breakfast and how they've just passed 400,000 meals donated to Second Bite. We learn how they source their ingredients and some of the special measures they need to take when using them. Then Coconspirators return and after a rather confusing start we establish when they started to brew the legendary Matriarch and how many versions they've brewed [and what's planned for the future]. Then Olmo reveals the secrets of making the very special beer that we enjoy with dessert. We finish off with Ashley from 2 Metre Tall in an interview that you're not going to want to miss. We learn why tigers at the zoo aren't really wild, all about the early feedback emails he received and why he believes we've hit peak glad wrap...

For the first time ever a Japanese Brewery, Black Tide, joins us for our Thursday night Meet the Brewers Series - and there's some fascinating stories to share! You can grab the beers we discuss in this episode from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/black-tide-mixed-4-pack If you're quick you can also head down to Benchwarmer Bar in North Melbourne and find them on tap - a big thanks to Locky from Benchwarmer [who pops up in the podcast a couple of times] for all his help in making this episode happen! James from Black Tide has an amazing story to share starting in a home-brew store in Portland Oregon and leading to running a brewery in a Japanese fishing town with lots of lessons and insights along the way. We find out what he's learned from internships at Japanese breweries, the similarities and differences of how things are done compared to the US and how the Japanese craft beer market is faring generally. There's a detailed discussion about the amazing art that appears on Black Tide cans and of course there's a coolroom experience or two to share - and did Locky really dress up a couple of kegs in a trench coat to get them through a Japanese airport?

It's the second half of our interview with Evin from Bright [and also the Independent Brewers Association] as we delve into the story behind the North East Victorian IPA. We get the lowdown on the upcoming Darker Days festival where the Coolroom will be the guest podcaster alongside some great brewers and musical guests The Delta Riggs - you can grab your tickets here: https://darkerdays.com.au/ - don't forget to use the codeword Coolroom10 for a nice discount! We also get some insights into this year's hop harvest and the close links between the local suppliers and Bright, as well the latest part of the Bright Brewery family - Infinite Barrelworks. We finish off with a chat about last year's Black Box beer "Mushroom Bear" and get a tiny preview of what they are planning for this year's contribution - we even get a little behind the scenes story of the chaos caused when Tito from Carwyn last visited the brewery. Don't forget you can get your 2024 Black Box here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/2024-carwyn-coolroom-black-box

Evin Craney from Bright Brewery is a regular visitor to the Coolroom and he returns with the Puteketeke Pilsner [thanks John Oliver] under his wing for a chat about all that's happening in the Australian Craft Beer scene. Before we get to Evin there's a quick chat out at Deeds Brewing where some lucky listeners got to join the brew team, Davydd and Tito from Carwyn Cellars to help blend their contribution to this year's Carwyn/Coolroom Black Box. Obviously at the time we didn't know that Deeds would be announcing just a couple of days later that they were ceasing operations and we again want to pass on to the Deeds team our thanks for some awesome beers over the years and wish them all luck in their future endeavours. If you'd like to purchase one of the black boxes including the beer we created at Deeds you can do so here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/2024-carwyn-coolroom-black-box We recorded with Evin before the news about Deeds came out but with his Independent Brewers Association hat on we still got to chat about the challenges that he sees for the industry at the moment but also the things that make him optimistic for the future. There's plenty of market and design chat, commentary on the work of our friend Mr Pocket Beagles and a special code word to help you get 10% off your Bright Brewery Darker Days Festival tickets! Look out for Episode 227 coming soon with the second half of our chat with Evin!

Brendan and Geoff from 3 Ravens join the Coolroom crew for a chat about some of their amazing beers and everything that's happening in the Australian craft beer scene. If you want to taste along with the beers the guys are chatting about then you can grab them from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/3-ravens-4-pack A lot has changed since the guys first met in Perth at Phoenix beers but that means they are uniquely placed to talk about how the beer scene has evolved, what trends they see emerging and what makes them feel positive about the future. We sip and discuss a sour beer, an oatmeal stout, a dark chocolate old ale before finishing off with the James Bean, a 13.6% barrel-aged barley wine made for last year's Carwyn/Coolroom Black Box. Will we get an insight into what they're contributing to this year's Black Box? You'll have to listen in to find out - and to make sure you don't miss this year's Black Box here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/2024-carwyn-coolroom-black-box

The Coolroom and Carwyn Cellars are once again collaborating with 12 amazing Australian breweries to bring you exclusive dark and barrel-aged beers which will blow your minds! The packs will be available from the Coolroom's shopify store from noon on April 24th: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/ Tito and Ben from Carwyn chat with Davydd and Warren about their favorite beers from last year's pack, which breweries will be included in 2024 and which brewers they're most looking forward to talking to as part of the live shows with the brewers in the packs! A really limited number of single cans from last year's pack are still available here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/collections/treats-from-the-black-box

Davydd has a new guest co-host and goes to visit longtime friend of the podcast Blake Willoughby who is now Manager of Sales at Local Brewing Company. They discuss preparations for this year's Hair of the Dog Breakfast where Local's beers will be featured alongside Dollar Bill, Coconspirators and 2 Metre Tall - you can grab your tickets here: Ticketsbeerdeluxefedsquare.com.au/events/hair-of-the-dog Blake shares how his journey has led to working at Local, all about the philanthropic philosophy which underpins the brewery and all of the new beers that they're exploring. Blake declares which he thinks is "Australia's Favorite Hop", Cam recalls his experiences with drip trays when working in pubs and Davydd completely forgets to ask the traditional Coolroom question!

Warren and Davydd are joined by Mike Leonard from Hop Hen Brewing to hear all about his journey from home brewer [and home hop grower] to running his own brewery! As ever you can maximise your listening experience by purchasing the beers we discuss from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/hop-hen-mixed-6-pack How does a mild-manner school principal make the jump into not just owning a brewery but also running his own venue - well it's quite a story and Mike shares it with us along with plenty of advice for anyone who'd like to make a similar journey themselves. We hear about the styles he loves, the hops he grows and prefers to use in his brews, and the challenges and joys of operating at his brewery size. He has a surprising answer for which bit of equipment he likes best [SPOILER it's not a centrifuge], Warren gets distracted by chicken suppliers and Davydd keeps hinting that he might have been a teacher in the past.

It's the second part of our chat with Tom Delmont from Fixation Brewing and there's a heap of fun things to discuss! You can maximise your listening experience by making sure that you have the beers we discuss in your hand by visiting our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/fixation-7-pack  In this episode we explore which hops Tom loves to brew with, which ones he sees emerging into the market and which new hop he just can't stand. We also learn which world brewery he'd love to collaborate with and why he admires the way that they've repositioned themselves in the international beer market. We talk tax, because who isn't at the moment, and which beer trends he thinks are doing the most damage to the industry - and Davydd defends the noble carrot - king of the root vegetables!

It's been 5 years and over 200 episodes since Tom Delmont last had a feature episode but he's back with a whole heap of great beers and fascinating stories to share! To make sure you get the most from this episode grab the beers from our online shop here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/fixation-7-pack Tom has worked in the Melbourne craft beer scene for 17 years, starting out as the first onroad rep for Mountain Goat before making the jump and starting his own brewery - in that time he's seen a world of change in terms of beer styles, marketing and even just changes in the city. We talk about Tom's ability to pick market trends like establishing the brewery's own venue, the creation and eventual sale of Fermentum and how beers have moved in and out of the core range of the portfolio. There was so much to discuss with Tom that we've broken his visit into 2 episodes - make sure you look out for Episode 221 which will be out in a few days time!

We kick off today's show catching up with Sam Evans from Modus Operandi Brewing who have collaborated with Ten Men Brewing in Ukraine.  Russia's invasion of Ukraine has meant that the brewery has had to relocate and sales of this beer help to raise funds for the move - you can grab the beers from Modus' website here: https://www.mobrewing.com.au/product/can-it-hazy-pale-modus-x-ten-men/ And of course we catch up with all the other news from the brewery including their recent collaboration with the Trash Taste Podcast. [A brewery teaming up with a podcast - we like that idea!] And then it's over to the Melbourne Celtic Club to hear about their search for a new home - is buying a pub as much fun as it sounds, and just how does the process actually work? The club's new home is the pub formerly known as the Sarah Sands Hotel - now titled The Wild Geese - to find out more and get your booking for St Patrick's Day sorted check out their website here: https://www.thewildgeesehotel.com.au/

Emerging from Monash University's Brewlab the team from The Zythologist bring a unique approach to their brewing and having a fascinating story to share. You can enjoy the beers we discuss in the podcast by visiting our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/zythologist-mixed-6-pack We learn how the team met at Monash before deciding to brew together and their plans for their own brewery and venue. Shivam, Daniel and Doug share  stories of their earliest craft beer memories and of course stories of cool rooms! We get advice for home brewers on making lagers and sours and all the tricks of using ingredients like raspberries and rose oils.  There is local government planning talk and plenty of bad scientific puns from Davydd and a return to traditional values as Warren Wu arrives very very late!

Warren and Davydd are joined by Lein Jenkins from Hard Road Brewing to learn all about his craft brewing adventures. You can purchase the beers we discuss in the podcast from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/hard-road-brewing-mixed-6-pack We hear how a trip to a Californian brewers convention led to Lein and his wife entering the world of brewing, then to running a production brewery and finally to Hard Road itself. There were lots of learnings along the way and we discuss the highs and lows of the process as well as the difficulty of just finding a good name for a brewery. We learn about Lein's love of building his own equipment, Warren invites hate mail from Sierra Nevada and Davydd goes all English-teachery about the origins of the word 'drongo'.

Davydd is back out on the road visiting old friends at Carwyn Cellars and new ones at Nubilum Distilling in Kensington. Preparation for the 2024 Black Box are beginning and you can catch up with the very earliest gossip about that and all the other fun things that Ben, Ben & Tito have been planning for the year including Hawkers 9th Birthday and Local Beer Day. Then Davydd walks down the road to Kensington's newest distillery - Nubilum. We learn all about their backstory and the wide range of spirits they are distilling and all about their plans for the venue they've built. Don't forget to join us live in the zoom room for the next 3 Thursday nights as we are joined by Hard Road Brewing, The Zythologist and then Tom from Fixation!

It's the third of our trilogy with Maz from Hawkers Beer and if that wasn't enough Nigel from https://www.we-love-craft.beer/ is back to talk about what's going on in the Australian craft beer scene at the start of 2024. Don't forget to support the podcast by buying some beer and merch from our online store! https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/ Nigel and Davydd discuss the end of Brews News, the best ways to market breweries and the effectiveness of the GABS Hottest 100 and social media campaigns. Then it's time to finish off our interviews recorded with Maz at Hawkers just before the new year - accompanied by a truly fantastic Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged Strong Ale. We learn all about the secrets of strong ales and white stouts, why Maz didn't collect his trophy from the Indies which wines and whiskeys he enjoys most. Before we finish off with an impassioned plea to support the industry.    

We're back with two great chats this week, Bakery Hill Distillery who are about to open a venue in Kensington and Ramblers Ale Works in Hawthorn. You can grab the tasting pack for the Ramblers Beers from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/ramblers-ale-works-mixed-8-pack We learn all about the history of Bakery Hill Distillery from David and Andrew Baker, and why they've decided that Kensington is the perfect place to open a venue. And as a special little treat we get some insights into the processes that involve their barrels making Hop Nation's Kalash one of the most loved beers in Australia. Then it's off to meet Ben & Ben from Ramblers Ale Works in our Thursday night zoom room. We hear all about their journey from homebrew enthusiasts to opening a venue and brewery with all the ups and downs that the journey brings. We get insights into their brewing tricks particularly when making European styles or using coconut in a way that doesn't taste like Sabro.  We find out what it means to be selected as an Up and Coming Brewer for the next GABS festival, Warren gets excited by the use of lasers in creating nanotechnology while Davydd predictably goes down a rabbit hole of local government plebiscite formulations. Stay tuned for the third instalment of our trilogy with Hawkers Beer out next week!

In two interviews Davydd is joined by Maz from Hawkers Brewing and Daniel from Beer Reflections to talk about many of the current issues in the Australian craft beer scene. If you want to help keep the podcast up and running why not head over to our online store and grab a t-shirt or hoodie! https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/collections/merch Daniel has produced a really interesting analysis of which beers you'll find in your local bottleshop and how that's changed in the last couple of years. We discuss the rise of white labels [ie beers that supermarkets produce that are designed to mimic craft beer labels], what CUB and Lion have done to respond and how the numbers of independent craft beers on offer has reduced. We also get a tiny sneak peak at preparations for this years Bendigo On the Hop Festival. You can read more of Daniel's work including his 2024 GABS Hottest 100 Predictions here: https://www.beerreflections.com.au/ Then it's back out to Hawkers to continue our chat with Maz while sipping his West Coast IPA and Stout - if you haven't already heard the first part of the interview back in Episode 211 we suggest you go back and check that out first!  Again a quick reminder that there is a fair bit of swearing in the interview with Maz so if that's not your thing you might want to give this part of the episode a miss. As well as discussing the beers we go a deep dive of how government policy impacts the craft beer industry including positive assistance programs, the impost of excise and the new container deposit scheme in Victoria.  We discuss where the money you pay for your slab really goes and find out what Maz thinks of the Independent Beer Association and their awards. You can support Hawkers by grabbing some of their beer online here: https://hawkers.beer/  

Davydd sits down for a guided tasting with Charlie from Braeside Brewing and visits Scott at the new Valhalla Brewhall in Geelong. If you want to sip along as we chat with Charlie make sure that you grab the Braeside Brewing tasting pack from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/braeside-brewing-mixed-6 First off Davydd travels down to Geelong for a chat with Scott Hunt all about the new brewhall, finally getting their own brewery to work in and the new beers that are on the drawing board! Then we sit down in the Thursday night zoom room to hear all about the Braeside Brewing story as well as tasting a fun line up of beers that allow us to explore Charlie's favorite hops and styles. We learn how Hurricane Sandy revealed what he'd been getting up to in a Coolroom, his advice for home brewers and exploring selling beer in 10 and 20 litre kegs.  How is he using AI in his business, how do his local customers influence the styles he brews and what's it like to nurse a glycol machine on a hot day! By the end of the episode, as you'll hear, Davydd is losing his voice so apologies for the abrupt end! Please help us by subscribing and liking the podcast wherever you find it!

It's the first of 3 episodes we recorded as part of our visit to Hawkers at the end of 2023 - and Maz had so much to say that we couldn't possibly squeeze it into just 1 episode. Language Warning - there's quite a bit of swearing in this episode so it's probably not one to listen to in front of the kiddies. Get your hands on some delicious Hawkers beers wherever you can - like their website - in this episode we particularly discuss the pilsner and the pale ale. And don't forget to support us by shopping at our online store too: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/ We get a quick round up of the Hawkers back story [for more check the archives for episode 164] before getting the scoop on Tangent - the brand new line of "seltzers" that Maz is bringing to market. From there we explore his thoughts on non-alc beers, pinstripes on cans, why "lagers don't sell" [but he loves them anyway] and how he got by without a website for so long. We hear how he thinks the Australian brewing industry has improved over the last 10 years, how the west coast style informed changes to the core range pale ale, and the rise of the cerveza style. And that's even before the cans v bottles debate and a heap of t-shirt ideas that we could never make! Stay tuned for the second episode with Maz in a week or two and follow our socials so you don't miss it: https://www.facebook.com/coolroompodcast

It's a very special episode as Warren and Davydd are joined all the way from the US by Adroit Theory's Mark Osborne - a big thanks to the team from Forward Hops Importers for getting these beers to us in such great condition. You can enjoy all the beers we discuss in this episode by buying the tasting pack from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/adroit-theory-6-pack Mark leads us on a guided tasting of his beers including the amazing "Invisible Art" which he rates as one of the top 3 beers that the brewery has ever produced.  We learn about the first great beers he tasted in the UK, which breweries in the US he took inspiration from, and the stories of the brewers who've joined him at Adroit Theory. Davydd gets excited by the Iron Maiden tram visiting Melbourne, Warren declares he's getting his D20s out and we have an in depth discussion about Gangster Rap 1990-92.. And we may or may not tell Mark that every kangaroo in Australia has galaxy hops in its pouch...

It's our final episode of 2023 and what a great one to finish with - Pat from Willie the Boatman joins Warren and Davydd for a trip through the last 10 years of the brewery! As a little christmas bonus we've reduced the price of our last two tasting packs for the episode to just $25 - you can find them here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/willie-the-boatman-6-pack We start out the interview with Pat riding his bike around [and nearly into] Shell Harbour before we settle down with a can of Albo and the sounds of mullet and prawns leaping in the water. We hear how he brewed the first NEIPA in Australia [direct all correspondence to him], his time in reality TV and the changes he's made to some of the most iconic recipes from the brewery. Who was Willie the Boatman? Why has 2023 been his hardest year in the industry and what keeps him inspired to keep going? All these and more questions are answered in this ripper episode - with thanks to Lug+Carrie ebikes and 1980s stack hats!

It's the second episode we recorded at the 2023 Williamstown Beer & Cider Festival and again a big big thank you to Shane and the team who turned on an amazing festival! It's a live recording so there's a bit of background noise but luckily Mik from Hopocrisy is still on hand to deal with the wandering saxophonist! First off we catch up with all the news from Kaiju, where there's a new brewer in town and some well-known recipes changing! We hear all about what's changed in 2023 and their plans for 2024 and after some effort from the team Davydd learns that the Kaiju Cantina isn't a cantina anymore! And then it's time to catch up with our friends from Noodledoof who have some great new beers to chat about - but who also catch Mik's eye with some spirits!     

The first of two podcast recorded live at the 2023 Williamstown Beer and Cider Festival - huge thanks to Shane and festival team for welcoming us and putting together such an epic event. Due to this being a live show, and the roaming saxophonist who was playing at the festival, audio quality is not up to our highest standard, but we hope that you'll enjoy some great insights from some of Melbourne's best brewers.  In the absence of Mik from Hopocrisy returns to the show, this time as co-host to tell us all about the first two Willy beer festivals that he [almost] attended, as well as taking us on a little historical tour of the suburb. Then it's Tim from Coconspirators introducing us to a new creation as well as our old favourite The Hostess. We hear all about the changes he's seen in the local beer scene in 2023 and the brewery's plans for 2024 including Davydd's many guesses as to what kind of restaurant might open at the tap house. Then it's a chance to catch up again with Urban Alley, a year after we first encountered them at the last Williamstown Festival. We meet Ruth for the first time and hear about her story before arriving at UA and again get their insights into what's changed in Melbourne's beer scene in 2023.

Warren and Davydd are joined by Annelies from the Gold Coast's Madocke Brewing to hear all about her journey to become Australia's Champion Small Brewery! A very limited number of tasting packs containing the beers we discuss are available from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/madocke-7-pack We learn about Madocke's origins in Belgian styles and who they learned from before coming to Australia, and why they are so passionate about sharing their favourite aspects of their homeland. We discover the story behind the Speciale Belge style, all about beet sugar what they'd like Santa to bring the brewery. [Please note about 3.5 hours of medieval literature studies discussion have been removed from the original recording...]

Nicole and Russell Matthews from Escape Brewing join Cory and Davydd for a tasting of their beers and a chat about the stories behind them. You can grab the tasting pack for the podcast from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/escape-brewing-6-pack We learn all about how the pair met [except maybe exactly where it was], what happened in a german forest and precisely who does what around the brewery. What was it like to get a brewery lease in February 2020, where does their love of european style beers come from and is there any chance they'll be making a sour any time soon. Cory gets to ask our traditional coolroom question and we learn about a few of the brewing disasters that the team have been adjacent to!  

James from Avnge Brewing joins Warren and Davydd in the Thursday night zoom room to tell the story of his travels in beer and the creation of his brewery! To maximise your experience of the episode we suggest you get the tasting pack of the beers we discuss from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/avnge-6-pack We learn all about the origins of the brewery's name, how James found himself making beers out at Killer Sprocket even some secrets about Melbourne's street art scene. We debate definitions of "dank", discover "drybeaning" and how you can tell if your beer has oxidised or not. You might notice some heavy editing toward the end of the podcast - trust us, it's for the best!

Davydd and Warren headed out to Masterson's Bar in Moonee Ponds for a live show with Dough and Adam from Bells Beach Brewing in front of a great live audience! As ever with a live show there are a few audio issues to deal with [and a few forgetful host issues as well!] We hear the origin stories of the brewery and which they tried before finding success in the market. We enjoy a cracking yuzu beer and learn all about the fruit that makes it so special. And then it's on to a WCIPA and the opportunity to discuss the "staunch" rules the brewery follows when creating this style. Gill from Masterson's joins the chat and we explore which styles are hot at the moment, what makes a good beer rep and what are the best bits about doing a collaboration with one of your favourite breweries. Don't forget to join us for our next live show at the Williamstown Beer and Cider Festival!

Following on from Episode 201 Mik from Hopocrisy has stuck around in the zoom room with Warren and Davydd as we continue to chat with Andrew from Batch Brewing about their big rebrand! You can taste the beers we're discussing while you listen to the podcast by visiting our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/hopocrisy-wayward-batch-pack We delve into the brewery's back story and learn all about the ideas that the team had before they started to set it and their venues up - and what they would have done differently now that they've had 10 years of experience. And most importantly we learn why now is the right time for a rebrand and what the motivations were for choosing to work with Pocketbeagles' Clint Weaver who has already built up a large body of design work with other Australian breweries.

A big bumper episode today as 3 breweries enter the Thursday night Zoom Room to talk about all the news in the Australian brewing industry! If you want to support the podcast and make the most of this episode make sure you have their right beers in front of you - you can buy the tasting pack here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/hopocrisy-wayward-batch-pack We kick things off with Mik Halse from Hopocrisy Brewing who shares tales from his long career in the Melbourne hospo scene from working in fine dining at age 14, to cheffing, to front of house, to repping and now to having his own brand. We hear which breweries he visited and was inspired by, the best places to hide beers in an army kitchen and why he feels a little sense of happiness overtime he sees one of his beer cans in the gutter. Then we are joined by Wayward and Batch for an in depth discussion of Wayward's new "Recession Ale" which has some of the most innovative can art we've seen in ages. All three breweries discuss the changes they've seen in the Australian beer market since COVID lockdowns have ended and especially the differences between Sydney and Melbourne. To hear more from all 3 stay tuned for episode 202!