It's time to hit the road again after hosting the GABS Hottest 100 Countdown livestream as Will and James call into Noodledoof in Victoria's west.

Founders Sam Rudolph and Alex Carr launched the brewpub and distillery with their partners in late 2019 – just before you-know-what hit – in Koroit, a small town a short drive inland from the western end of the Great Ocean Road.

In the years since, they've gone on to create a genuinely distinctive operation in a region that was pretty much barren land for local craft beer before they came along.

With Sam still making his way back from a beer festival in Melbourne on the day of our visit, we sat down with Alex to hear how the former homebrewing housemates from Adelaide ended up reuniting as brewers and distillers.

We find out how they turned a former mechanics in the town's main street into a community hub, where the unique name comes from, and why they've been determined to create a brand like little else in Australia – certainly among breweries found so far from any major cities.

Alex tells us about their mission to work with and celebrate local producers, foraging for native ingredients in the rich ecosystem of nearby Tower Hill whose Gunditjmara name, Koroitj, gives their adopted home its name, and creating unique spirits such as a wonderful potato vodka that pays homage to the Irish community that settled in the area in the mid-19th century.

The show features great insights and inspiration for those looking to build a community around a regional brewery, and the rewards that can come from sticking to your beliefs.

We also hear from Anne Gigney, founder and co-director of The Distillers Institute, ahead of March's IBD Convention in Hobart.

Prior to the chat with Alex, we reflect briefly on this year's Hottest 100 results, the eye-catching merger between Hawkers and White Bay, and our feature on globe-trotting Aussie brewer Nick Galton-Fenzi.

Start of segments:

• 10:54 – Alex Carr (part one)
• 30:16 – Ann Gigney 
• 38:11 – Alex Carr (part two)

Relevant links:

• Noodledoof
• GABS H100 of 2024 Livestream 
• GABS H100 of 2024: Analysis
• Hawkers & White Bay Merge 
• Aussie Exports: Nick Galton-Fenzi 
• Have You Done A Rallings? 
• The High Country Hop 
• IBD 2025

To find out more about supporting the show or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].