“You’ve got to be open to opportunities.”

Earlier this year, Cheeky Monkey announced they were opening a venue in the heart of Perth’s CBD. It will give the Margaret River-based brewery four homes in WA – and they’re not done yet, according to their director of operations, Brendan Day.

He’s our guest on this week’s podcast, beaming in from their main production facility in Vasse for a chat about the expansion of their hospitality footprint, how hospo has been in their DNA from day one, and how they’ve adapted their business strategy over the years.

We also discuss the challenges and opportunities for breweries competing against both major hospitality groups and multinational brewers, how the breweries in WA’s South West have gone from disruptors to a harmonious part of the region’s global appeal, and his desire to see greater professionalism throughout the beer industry.

Of course, this being Brendan, we also discuss Big Dumb Beers – and how they arguably need to be Big Smart Beers these days, and attempt to entice him to get the gang behind the Beer Sucks podcast back together.

First up, James joins Will from the banks of the Lower Glenelg to discuss the week's news on Crafty, including a deep dive into AI art in beer, the impending arrival of a gluten-free venue in Collingwood courtesy of TWØBAYS, and the launch of this year's Pink Boots Society Mentor Program.

• 0:00 – The Week On Crafty
• 12:52 – Brendan Day Part 1
• 38:16 – Bowimi on brewery field sales
• 43:38 – Brendan Day Part 2

To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].