"I got the feedback and it was brutal. But I didn’t get upset; I just took it on the chin."

Who better to feature on the podcast the week after the country's biggest beer awards than the man whose beers have won more trophies in recent years than any other?

Moffat Beach Brewing Co might have had to make do with a clutch of gold, silver and bronze medals at this year's Australian International Beer Awards but the small Sunshine Coast brewery's name has become as synonymous with trophy glory as any.

To find out how the operation that was born in a beachside café reached this point, we sat down with co-founder Matt Wilson at their Caloundra Production House to trace the story from his days growing up playing rugby in regional Australia via the armed forces to becoming a trader in Sydney. That's where he met wife Shaz, the driving force behind the decision to buy said café pretty much sight unseen, from where they'd embark on a whole new odyssey.

Matt takes us back to his earliest brews, the "brutal" feedback from awards judges that set him on the right track, subsequent glories, expansion, and the roller-coaster ride of life as a brewery owner in a region where they were the second to open and in which you now find more than 20.

Prior to the main interview, Craig and James reflect on what appears to have been the most successful Pint of Origin to date, last week’s awards, and the Aussie Hop Series we launched with HPA earlier this month.

There’s a reminder to celebrate the country’s brewers and good beer citizens in our Have You Done A Rallings? and Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month campaigns. And, if you took part in Pint of Origin, to share your feedback so we can aim to make it even better in the future. We did, however, record it too early to include the news that Mountain Culture have bought Fox Friday and associated assets.

Start of segments:

• 17:36 – Matt Wilson Part 1
• 44:33 – Matt Wilson Part 2

Relevant links:

• Moffat Beach Brewing Co
• The Story Of Moff's Summer Ale
• Pint of Origin Consumer Survey
• Aussie Hop Series
• Nominate a Good Beer Citizen
• Nominate a Brewery of the Month
• Mountain Culture Acquire Fox Friday
• Roxset Australia

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