“That nostalgia is really hitting super-hard after COVID because everyone really misses going to the pub.”

Regular podcast hosts James and Will are on home turf for the last state-based episode of The Year In Beer 2025 series before we wrap up the series in the Territories.

While trying not to retread topics covered in the National Trends article and episode, we discuss the year’s openings, closures, sales and expansions, the success of smaller festivals, good pubs and taproom activations, acknowledge the breweries in or entering their third decade as independent small businesses, awards triumphs and more – while also doffing our caps to all the people who’ve helped make the show possible in 2025.

James is then joined by Ben Carwyn and Ben Duval from Carwyn Cellars to hear about their ongoing efforts to recover from the collapse of Fox Friday and their plans for 2026.

Last but not least is Conna Mallett, one of Love Shack’s founders, who joins us from the front bar of his Castlemaine brewpub hot on the heels of a highly entertaining collab with Tropical Fuck Storm. We touch upon luck, nostalgia, branding, community, good hospo and more.

Mid-show we also unveil the identity of the last good beer citizen to be crowned this year in Have You Done A Rallings? And as the podcast wraps up for the year, we’re keen for feedback via this survey.

Start of segments:

• 0:00 – James & Will
• 27:27 – Ben Carwyn & Ben Duval
• 43:53 – Have You Done A Rallings?
• 47:30 – Conna Mallett

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