The Cool Room

It's the second part of our interview with Matthias Trum from wonderful Schlenkerla Brewery in Bamburg - if you haven't checked out the previous episode make sure you do so before diving into this one! In this episode we taste more of Matthias' beers [grab them wherever you can and listen in] and hear all about the techniques used to make them and the innovations he's brought to the centuries old family brewery. We learn a heap more helpful Franconian phrases, learn the history of refrigeration and where coolrooms were born, and all about Smoked Beer Appreciation Day. A huge thanks to Matthias for spending time with all the Coolroom crowd at the Flem/Ken Bowls Club and to the excellent people from Phoenix Beers who made the event possible!

It's a very special live show as Matthias Trum from legendary German Brewery Schlenkerla joins us for a tasting and chat at the Flem/Ken Bowls Club! He takes us on an aural tour around the brewery, the city of Bamberg and in fact many other parts of Western Europe too as he explains the origins of the many beers styles he produces and the history of German beer. And of course there's a heap of discussion about the brewing techniques that Schlenkerla use to make their distinctive beers and how Matthias strives to meld elements of the modern to their traditional methods. Don't forget to join us over the Kings Birthday long weekend back at the Bowls Club as we're spinning the Wheel of Beery Mystery - for just $9 you never know which fun beers you might land!

It's the second part of our interview with Emile from Vertere Brewing in Japan and we kick off our discussion tasting an amazing pastry stout. You can grab it and the beers we discussed in the previous episode from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/vertere-brewery-jpn-mixed-4-pack or you can head in to Benchwarmers in North Melbourne where Lachie has Vertere and a heap of other great Japanese beers in his fridges. In this episode we learn more about Emile's brewing journey, get some insights into Vertere's amazing can designs and get a very Canadian answer to the worst thing he's ever seen in a coolroom....

It's a huge episode today as Evin from Bright Brewery joins us to preview this year's Darker Days Festival and then it's the second part of our convesation with Jade from Adelaide's Wheatsheaf Hotel & Brewery. Evin not only gives us a special code word for a discount on this year's ticket for Darker Days but he whets our appetites for this year's festivities by giving us the scoop on which breweries are attending and what beer styles they've been collabing on. We'll be doing a live show from Bright again this year so make sure that you grab your tickets while they are still available! Then we return to Adelaide's Wheatsheaf Hotel for the second part of our discussion with Jade this time featuring 2 beers using experimental NZ Hops - naturally there's a heap of hop talk and plenty of insights into the techniques she uses to get the most out of these new styles and just how she gets to be part of these experimental processes in the first place. But we also hear more of her love of pubs and hospo in general and how she stays positive and motivated in an industry with so many up and downs. We've sold out of Wheaty beers in our online store but make sure you head in to the pub next time you're in Adelaide!

This week we venture to Okutama in Japan to meet Emile Leblanc from Vertere brewing to taste a truly exceptional line up of beers and to hear all about his journey in brewing. You don't have to book a flight if you want to taste these beers though - they're available from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/vertere-brewery-jpn-mixed-4-pack Or you can head down to Benchwarmer in North Melbourne to taste them on tap thanks to Lachie and his team as part of their Japanese Pint of Origin! Emile has had a fascinating path to becoming a brewer crossing different professions and continents and is now helping to produce some wonderfully imaginative and delicious beers. Grab the beers and settle in for a fascinating episode!

It's a special treat as we are joined by Jade Flavell from Adelaide's Wheatsheaf Hotel to hear all about her amazing journey running the venue and brewing some truly amazing beers. We are all sold out on beers for this tasting session but you can always visit the Wheaty to grab some great takeaway brews or find the tasting packs for our upcoming sessions here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/ Jade has so much enthusiasm and knowledge about the industry that we've had to turn this into 2 episodes - if you enjoy what you hear please share our social media posts about them or tell your friends to listen in. In this episode we learn how Jade got her start in hospo, what inspired her to take on the Wheatsheaf Hotel as a project and some of hurdles and highlights in her journey. We start our exploration of lagers and find out how Adelaide's craft beer scene has grown and changed alongside the Wheatsheaf over the years.

It's a packed episode and we dive straight into things with Tom Madden from Ballarat's Obsidian Beer Festival giving us a sneak peek at what we can look forward to in the 2025 edition. You can grab your tickets for the festival here: https://hullabalooevents.com.au/obsidian-dark-beer-fest and don't forget to follow their socials for more announcements as we get closer to the date. Then we return to our chat with Cornella Brewery and this time it's their dry Irish stout. Don't forget you can grab that beer and the others we discussed in the previous episode from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/cornella-brewery-mixed-9-pack Matt and Spencer discuss all things stout including what it's like to make a style that has such iconic versions as Guiness and other malt driven styles that inspire them. We get the scoops with our traditional Coolroom questions and then it's over to the audience keep the questions coming!

It's the first of two episodes with Cornella Brewery and luckily Warren Wu is back in the Coolroom to help out with tricky questions about wineries and terpenes! Matt and Spencer take us on a guided tour of some of their best beers while telling us all of the stories behind them - you can buy a tasting pack of the beers we discuss with them here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/cornella-brewery-mixed-9-pack We learn about the inspiration they took from their overseas travels, their origins with the real ale movement and how Cornella has evolved as a destination and venue. We learn more about terpenes and how to use them in brewing and how all good beers begin with a punny name before they're even brewed!

It's a packed show as Evin Craney returns to the Coolroom to discuss his role as Chair of the Australia's Independent Brewers Association and Jonathon and Leo from Westside Ale Works wrap up their tasting with a delicious Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout. You can grab the stout as well as the other Westside beers that we discussed in our previous episode from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/westside-ale-works-mixed-6-pack With a Federal election around the corner Evin explains what the IBA is talking about with Australia's politicians and he sees as the opportunities and challenges for the country's craft beer industry. But it wouldn't be a Coolroom episode with a tangent or two and Davydd immediately gets things offtrack by asking about Bright Brewery's recent purchase of the Prince Alfred Hotel in Carlton and what made that the right choice for their expansion into Melbourne's hospo scene. We then pick up the conversation from last week with Westside hearing about all the fun collaborations they are undertaking with local businesses, their experiences in coolrooms and Davydd plays "Guess the Nut".   

There's been a lot of change in and around Melbourne's Westside Ale Works lately and we get to explore it all in this episode with Jonathon and Leo. You can buy all the beers we discuss in our episode here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/westside-ale-works-mixed-6-pack We last had Westside on back on Episode 103 with Casey but today we learn all about the new owner Jonathon and his journey from keen home brewer to making the leap to actually buying a brewery.  What made Westside the right fit for him, what will change and what will stay the same under his ownership and how does he feel about the current state of Australia's craft beer scene? But the change doesn't stop there! We also meet new brewer Leo who has journeyed from winemaker, to spirits distiller to now being a brewer? What has she learned at each stage along the way, where does she get her inspiration from and what made her the right choice for Jonathon?

After a little taste on our Bendigo on the Hop visit, Brett from Brewers Collective joins us for a full episode to discuss everything about his journey from home brewery to living the dream of running a brewery. We discuss how Bendigo's craft beer scene has come on in leaps and bounds and how the Collective has been part of that push alongside many other friends of the podcast! We hear about the years of planning that preceded the opening of the brewery, and how the plans compared to reality once the doors had opened. We hear about his favorite brewing gadget, his efforts to make great tasting lower alcohol beers and all about a large pig in a small Coolroom...

It's the second part of our January live show at Subculture Brewing where owner/founder Luke shares more of the story of his journey from home brewer to professional! In this episode we learn more about the local breweries who have helped out in his journey, the lessons he's learned and the collaborations he's been part of. We find out which bits of equipment make him happy, and which bits make him sad and discover more than we ever knew about buffer tanks. And for reasons that remain remarkably unclear Warren wants to put a bowling ball into liquid nitrogen...

It's the third and final instalment from our live show with Maz at Hawkers and we're into the audience QandA session with questions about "Hopefully Beirut", his karaoke skills and the Henty St Ale. Make sure you check out the previous 2 episodes with Maz and don't forget you can buy their beers online here: https://hawkers.beer/collections/our-beers But first Davydd and Warren head out with the Coolroom faithful to visit a new Melbourne brewery - Subculture!  We meet the owner/brewer Luke Forster and hear all about his journey from homebrewer to to professional with all of the ups and downs along the way. We learn about the hidden secrets in the brewery's logo, what styles inspired him to brew and we call get a bit confused about the space/time continuum. PS We've done our best to clean up the audio in this episode but with a live recording things can go a little quiet from time to time...] 

It's the second episode of our traditional end of year celebration recorded live at Hawkers with the inimitable Mazen Hajjar and there's some massive news if you listen carefully to this one. NB - There's some pretty strong language in this one so if you're listening with the kiddies in the car you might want to wait till you've dropped them off at the pool! If you want to sip some great Hawkers beer while you listen to the episode make sure to visit their online store here: https://hawkers.beer/collections/our-beers  We cover a heap of ground in this episode and there are some massive scoops about the future of the brewery, beers we can expect from Hawkers in 2025, the issues the industry is facing but also the things that make him inspired and excited for the year ahead. Maz is also amazingly open about the voluntary administration process that the brewery underwent in 2024 explaining not just the mechanics of the process but also the personal impact of owning a business that goes into VA. And he also drops us a massive scoop about how the business will be structured in 2025. We also discuss his favourite beers of the year, his thoughts on brewing competitions, pinstriped cans and the origins of Mediterranean Pilsners! Make sure you listen in for Episode 252 featuring the audience questions part of the conversation which will drop soon!

It's our traditional end of year celebration recorded live at Hawkers with the inimitable Mazen Hajjar and as ever there's a heap to talk about.  NB - There's some pretty strong language in this one so if you're listening with the kiddies in the car you might want to wait till you've dropped them off at the pool! If you want to sip some great Hawkers beer while you listen to the episode make sure to visit their online store here: https://hawkers.beer/collections/our-beers  We cover a heap of ground in this episode and there are some massive scoops about the future of the brewery, beers we can expect from Hawkers in 2025, the issues the industry is facing but also the things that make him inspired and excited for the year ahead. Maz is also amazingly open about the voluntary administration process that the brewery underwent in 2024 explaining not just the mechanics of the process but also the personal impact of owning a business that goes into VA. Make sure you listen in for Episode 251 featuring the second part of the conversation which will drop soon!

It's the second part of our chat with Michael Stanzel from Devilbend Farm and this time we're focusing on his amazing rauchbier - you can grab it and the rest of the Oktoberfest inspired beers we discuss from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/devilbend-oktoberfest-6-pack We hear all about the planning for the brewery, including things that didn't go to plan in good and bad ways, what Michael sees as the future of the craft beer industry in Australia and then chaos breaks out as discussion of Comic Sans font begins! A reminder that if you aren't already on our mailing list to reach out to us as soon as possible so that you don't miss out on the opportunity to grab the last couple of bottles we have left from our Cantillon allocation!

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!