The Crafty Pint Podcast

"I don't see any ceiling for non-alc beer." It's fair to say there were plenty of skeptics when non-alcoholic beer first started to appear in earnest in the local beer scene. Yet, in the half-decade-plus since we ran a blind tasting featuring early entrants to the market, the sector has grown and grown. While some brands have come and gone, there's a growing number of established brands and many other breweries for whom their non-alc range forms a significant part of their sales. What's more, Bridge Road Brewers and, more recently, Heaps Normal have started putting non-alc beer on tap [https://craftypint.com/news/3981/tapping-into-non-alcs]. To assess where the market sits, where it could be heading, and why it's come so far already, we pulled together a panel from different facets of the beer world. Molly Rose [https://craftypint.com/brewery/457/molly-rose-brewing] founder Nic Sandery is the brewer behind both Molly Rose and Hiatus non-alcs, Sam Bethune is a former brewer who's now a technical sales specialist at Bintani [https://craftypint.com/business/581/bintani-australia], and former Fixation main man Tom Delmont brings a sales and brand perspective from his role at Hop Nation [https://craftypint.com/brewery/285/hop-nation], who produce a broad range of alcohol-free beers. We look at advances in technology, processes and ingredients, the dos and don'ts of non-alc brewing, take lessons from overseas, and attempt a spot of crystal ball-gazing. This week's opening is a global affair with James recently landed in London amid a European heatwave that looks a lot like Australia in January – albeit without aircon... We discuss two venue openings in the Yarra Valley [https://craftypint.com/news/4111/the-beer-slingers-woori-yallock-tap-house] and the Sunshine Coast [https://craftypint.com/news/4112/10-toes-reach-for-the-loft], the relaunch of the Tasmanian Beer Trail [https://craftypint.com/news/4110/tasmanian-beer-trail-to-be-relaunched-by-the-iba], and our plans for a hiatus of sorts of our own. Throughout July, we'll still be reviewing the week in beer on the show, but instead of featuring new longform interviews we'll be running some of our favourites from the past two years. With James in the UK and our producer heading to the US soon – plus a major new project coming to a head – we didn't want to risk breaking ourselves any more than we already do! Start of segments: * 0:00 – The Week On Crafty * 16:21 – Price Screen & Digital [https://craftypint.com/business/1505/price-screen-and-digital] * 17:26 – Non-Alc Panel Part 1 * 39:08 – Industry Insights With American Canning Machines [https://craftypint.com/business/1465/american-canning-machines] * 40:15 – Non-Alc Panel Part 2 To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.

"How rock n' roll to take our largest space and fill it with 20,000 litres of barrel-aged beer." There's little in Australian beer like Felons Brewing [https://craftypint.com/brewery/443/felons-brewing-co]. First appearing as part of the Howard Smith Wharves (now Artemus Group) development on the Brisbane River as it flows under the iconic Story Bridge, the brewery's home has steadily gobbled up more of the riverbank to the point its multiple venues can host thousands. Since late 2024, they've been steadily taking over [https://craftypint.com/bar/1469/felons-manly] the equally iconic Manly Wharf, most recently opening the Barrel Room live music venue (in addition to the Barrel Hall [https://craftypint.com/bar/1171/felons-barrel-hall] in Brisbane) and a seafood restaurant for which they've devised a way to pour their lager at sub-zero temperatures for maximum crispiness. Such grandiosity, especially in an era of frugality for many, might seem at odds with much of the indie beer industry. Yet, as our chat with head brewer Tom Champion and brand director Dean Romeo – two of the Little Creatures alumni brought into the business before it launched – shows, they're community players, in beer and elsewhere, driven by a belief that a rising tide lifts all boats. Or, in this case, indie brewers. What's more, there are few breweries in Australia with similar potential to act as a first point of contact for newcomers to craft beer. Our conversation takes in their story to date, their approach to hospitality, events and collaborations, maintaining one of the country's largest barrel programs within such a large commercial entity, their thoughts on the wider beer industry, beer tourism and more. On the eve of a trip to New South Wales to record more podcasts, catch up with beer world mates old and new, and host an event with Wildflower and Garage Project, Will and James open the show with a look at the week on Crafty: a new Crafty Crawl [https://craftypint.com/news/3990/crafty-crawls-melbournes-metro-tunnel-part-1] via Melbourne's new Metro Tunnel; an entertaining tenth anniversary Brew & A with Young Henrys' head brewer [https://craftypint.com/news/3991/brew-and-a-jesse-searls-marks-a-decade-at-young-henrys]; and the launch of Allday Brewing [https://craftypint.com/news/3989/who-brews-allday-beers] by the mates behind Forward Hops beer importers. Start of segments: * 0:00 – The Week On Crafty * 14:05 – Dean & Tom Part 1 * 44:08 – Pint of Origin Festival 2026 Promo * 45:00 – Dean & Tom Part 2 To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.

"We want to pay proper homage to the ten years of people that have come and made this their home." When Wildflower co-founder and visionary Topher Boehm announced he was to close the Marrickville venue [https://craftypint.com/news/3980/au-revoir-not-goodbye-wildflower-to-close-marrickville-home-in-may] the brewers and blenders had called home for a decade, it didn't just send ripples through the beer world – the story was picked up by mainstream media too. Perhaps that's only to be expected: in terms of impact made per litre of beer sold, there can be few operations anywhere on the planet that would come close to this magical corner of the Australian beer world. That impact can be measured by the quality and sheer delightfulness of their many releases, the transformative nature of their Marrickville base, the team's advocacy for other producers and growers, as well as for better ways of producing and growing [https://craftypint.com/news/3910/episode-068-going-with-the-grain], and in the generous manner in which they would share their experiences, knowledge and learnings. As soon as we got word Wildflower was to close at the end of May – at least for now, and in its current form – there was no question we'd invite him back onto the show. So grab a glass – or bottle – of your favourite mixed-culture beer and settle in as Topher tells us what led him here, how he thinks Wildflower might evolve, and shares stories and reflections from the past decade-plus. It's our longest episode to date – which won't surprise anyone who knows our guest – but we're sure you won't be calling stumps early. Before we get to Topher, James and Will discuss the impending opening of a venue [https://craftypint.com/news/3979/sobremesa-to-open-reservoir-taproom] by an operation with similarities to Wildflower, the ongoing rise of non-alc beers [https://craftypint.com/news/3981/tapping-into-non-alcs], the arrival in the Crafty directory of Melbourne bars Rose Island [https://craftypint.com/bar-bottleshop/1498/rose-island] and mates. [https://craftypint.com/bar-bottleshop/1267/mates-bar-and-bottleshop], plus the opening of entries [https://craftypint.com/event/13963/entries-open-for-the-2026-australian-international-beer-awards] for the 2026 Australian International Beer Awards, and the latest events and giveaways for our Crafty Cabal beer club members. Please like, subscribe and tell your beer-loving mates if you enjoy the show too! Start of segments: * 16:18 – Topher Boehm Part 1 * 54:04 – The High Country Hop 2026 [https://thehighcountryhop.com.au/] Preview 1 * 59:31 – Topher Boehm Part 2 To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.

"Anything that's happening in our area we try to be a part of." The Crafty Pint Podcast returns for 2026 in the company of Renn Blackman, one half of the powerhouse husband-and-wife team behind one of the sunniest and funnest breweries in the country. The family influence at Blackman's [https://craftypint.com/brewery/250/blackmans-brewery] runs deeper than just Renn and Jess too: parents and others helped get the business up and running – quite literally when it's come to knocking their venues into shape – and some are acknowledged in core range beer names. They're also big on community, sponsoring many causes and clubs, as well as partnering with events big and small throughout the Surf Coast and Geelong region. They've brewed beer for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and you can now enjoy their beers at the Cats' stadium – a major achievement for lifelong Geelong fan Renn. As well as discussing the ethos that's helped Blackman's evolve to where they are today, Renn tells us how he and Jess first met while working a snow season, about their travels both within Australia and overseas, the genesis of the brewery, their decision to operate multiple venues before such an approach started becoming commonplace, diversifying, running fun events, and the secret (or not-so-secret) to making great beer. At the start of the show, Will and James round up the stories we've published so far this year: the return of a Hop Nation founder to his winemaking roots [https://craftypint.com/news/3965/hop-nation-co-founder-duncan-gibson-departs-to-return-to-his-roots]; the launch of one hospo pioneer's new venue [https://craftypint.com/news/3967/creating-a-venue-iv-huzzah-at-last]; a bucolic experience on Phillip Island [https://craftypint.com/news/3966/green-gully-get-greenlight-for-their-phillip-island-farm-bar]; and a new culture club in Tassie [https://craftypint.com/news/3968/fermenthq-tasmanias-new-culture-club]. If you enjoy the show, please like, subscribe, rate and review on whichever podcast platform you use. Start of segments: * 18:44 – Renn Blackman Part 1 * 39:36 – Enter the Royal Queensland Beer Awards * 40:40 – Renn Blackman Part 2 To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.