The Cool Room

215 - Hawkers Part 3 and Nigel Ayling

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.

 

 

214 - Bakery Hill & Ramblers Ale House

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!

213 - Hawkers 2 & Daniel from Beer Reflections

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/

 

212 - Braeside Brewing & Valhalla

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!

211 - Hawkers 2023 1 of 3!

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

210 - Adroit Theory [US]

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...

209 - Willie the Boatman

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!

208 - Kaiju & Noodledoof

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! 

 

 

207 - Hopocrisy, Coconspirators & Urban Alley

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.

206 - Madocke Brewing

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...]