It's the second part of our chat with Michael Stanzel from Devilbend Farm and this time we're focusing on his amazing rauchbier - you can grab it and the rest of the Oktoberfest inspired beers we discuss from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/devilbend-oktoberfest-6-pack

We hear all about the planning for the brewery, including things that didn't go to plan in good and bad ways, what Michael sees as the future of the craft beer industry in Australia and then chaos breaks out as discussion of Comic Sans font begins!

A reminder that if you aren't already on our mailing list to reach out to us as soon as possible so that you don't miss out on the opportunity to grab the last couple of bottles we have left from our Cantillon allocation!

It's a big episode featuring the World's Smallest Beer Festival and the return of one of our favorite brewers Michael Stanzel who is now at Devilbend Farm.

You can grab the beers we discuss with Michael from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/devilbend-oktoberfest-6-pack

Old friends Ian McNally, Nick Capper and Pocket Beagles' Clint Weaver arrive in the Coolroom for the world's longest promo for the world's smallest beer festival which will take place at Brewmanity on Saturday November 30.

Just how many small things can you jam into one festival, will Ian jump a fiery BMX and just how did Clint find himself involved in all of this - listen in to find out!

And then it's the first of 2 chats with Michael who is now brewing at Devilbend farm about his amazing Oktoberfest beers and much much more. 

What's it like to start with a blank canvas brewery, what memories of German Oktoberfests does he bring to his brewing and what's the right way to pronounce Aldi?

We learn how Devilbend grow their own grains, hops and cows, have a heap of enzyme talk and about the joys of roof trapdoors.

In the second part of their visit to the the Thursday night Zoom Room Ollie, Ross and Hamish from Rocky Ridge share more stories of the their journey in both the West Australian and Victorian craft beer scenes.

In this episode we sip the amazing Hoppel Bock which is available as part of the tasting pack from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/rocky-ridge-mixed-6-pack We learn all about the original doppelbock style and then how the team worked with hop growers on this adaptation.

Then we go behind the scenes to find out what the guys wish they'd known earlier in their journey, the realities of the craft beer market in 2024 and why they are optimistic and expanding into Victoria.

In the first of two episodes Hamish, Ross and Ollie from Rocky Ridge join Davydd to discuss their amazing beers and the stories behind them.

In this episode we compare and contrast Rocky Juice V14.1 and V14.2 which you can purchase from the Rocky Ridge website or directly from the Coolroom shopify here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/rocky-ridge-mixed-6-pack

In this episode we meet the team and hear about the origin story of the brewery and the ethos that underpins all that they do. We learn about their core beers how they decide which beers make it into the range.

With beers like these there is plenty of hop nerd talk as we taste two versions of the same beer, one made with hop pellets and one made with hop liquid.

Stay tuned for the second part of their visit in the next episode!

To celebrate the 6th birthday of the podcast Davydd and Warren head off to join the new Kenzo Crawl which winds through the streets of Kensington from Bakery Hill, to Nubilum Distilling and finally finishing up with our old friends from Bonehead Brewing.

We learn all about the emerging hospo scene in Kensington, the different collaborations between the 3 venues and what they hope it will bring to the area. 

At Bakery Hill we sip their new blended Whisky and hear why they decided to produce this style for the first time and what they hope this will do for the brand.

At Nubilum we meet Elle and Andrew and learn what brought both of them into the Nubilum family and why they're looking forward to the looming "10 Days of Grappa"!

And we finish up on the big stage with the smoke machines at Bonehead Brewing with Anthony and Travis. We learn about what has changed and what's stayed the same over the many years since the first time they appeared on the podcast and what keeps them excited and motivated to stay in the industry.

You can learn more about Bonehead's "Lighter Than You Think" mid-strength dark and the mental health resources funds raised from its sales contribute to here: https://www.boneheadbrewing.com.au/pages/lighter-than-you-think

And to learn more about joining the Kenzo Crawl go here: https://www.nubilum.com.au/kenzo-crawl

It's the second part of our interview with Damien from Dangerous Ales as we indulge in the Dead Man Tell No Tales Imperial Chocolate Rum n Raisin Stout.

You can grab that all the beers we discussed in episode 243 with Damien at our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/dangerous-ales-mixed-6-pack

In this episode we hear all about the process Damien went through when stepping up to the production brewery, which new brewing products excite him and what he's experienced inside coolrooms.

We get some excellent audience questions and even have to delete a little bit of the interview just so no one gets into any trouble!

Davydd and Warren catch up with Damien from Dangerous Ales to chat about some amazing beers and hear the story of his journey in brewing.

You can buy the beers that accompany this podcast from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/dangerous-ales-mixed-6-pack

Warren kicks off with trying to do a little podcast banter before we dive into the core range and a discussion of Damien's transition from chef to brewer and what made him so "dangerous" in the first place.

Then it's time for Warren to pronounce "Nelson Ha Ha" and to discuss both the fantastic art on the outside of the can and the unique way that the nelson sauvin presents inside.

We hear Damien's advice for home brewers, his favorite piece of equipment and all about the importance of avoiding making boring generic beers.

Stay tuned for part 2 of his visit soon!

A special episode featuring interviews from our visit to the 2024 Bendigo on the Hop Festival - a huge thanks to the BOTH team for inviting us up and helping us to organise some super fun interviews. 

We kick off with Brett from the Brewers Collective, hearing not just what they have planned for the festival but all about his journey from barman to helping to run a brewery and venue!

Then it's off to the Cambrian's headquarters in the centre of town to chat with Maggie from Co-conspirators about "The Ringleader" and to learn a few secrets about what they have planned for spring and summer [that she probably shouldn't have revealed just yet...]

Next is our first ever visit to Bendigo Brewing where we meet Head Brewer Evan Hunter inside a pagoda! We hear all about his journey to Bendigo and truly hectic week getting everything ready to be open for the festival.

Finally the tradition of bad audio for an interview with King River's Nathan Munt continues - if you listen closely you can hear him apologise for the audio from the last time he was on the show and perhaps a big scoop about future plans!

It's the second part of our discussion with Duncan's Brewing and Ian McNally is still with Davydd to add to the hijinks!

Make sure you check out our previous episode 240 for the start of the conversations and grab the accompanying tasting pack from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/duncans-mixed-6-pack

In this episode Llew Bardecki shares more of the behind the scenes stories from Duncan's and of his own experiences in craft brewing including the extraordinary lengths the brewery goes to to make their fresh hopped beers.

We learn about memorable mistakes, fun times in cool rooms and have a thorough discussion about 80s rock stars called Brett.

Davydd is joined first by Desmond from Melbourne's Drinking History Tours, then the inimitable Ian McNally for the first of two episodes featuring Duncan's Brewing Company.

Make sure you grab the tasting pack that accompanies today's episode from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/duncans-mixed-6-pack

Desmond shares a fun taster of what a tour with Melbourne Drinking History Tours involves, including some of his current favorite Melbourne bars, a brief history of some famous establishments and even a ghost story or two.

We'd love to hear from listeners which pubs and bars around Melbourne you'd like to hear more stories about!

Then Ian McNally enters the Thursday zoom room for a chat with George and Llew from Duncan's about their approach to sour beers, the benefits and challenges of being based in New Zealand and lots and lots of hop talk!