The Cool Room

228 - Black Tide Brewing [JPN]

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?

227 - Evin Craney from Bright Brewery Returns Part 2

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

226 - Evin Craney from Bright Brewery Returns

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!

225 - 3 Ravens Return

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

224 - Carwyn/CoolroomT Black Box Preview!

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

223 - Blake Willoughby - Local Brewing Co

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!

222 - Hop Hen Brewing

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.

221 - Fixation Returns Part 2

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!

220 - Fixation Returns Part 1

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!

219 - Modus Operandi &.Melbourne Celtic Club

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/