The Cool Room

In a very special episode Warren and Davydd are joined by one of the founders of legendary New Zealand brewery Garage Project, Peter Gillespie.

It's your final chance to join brewers like this for our annual Hair of the Dog Breakfast - you can grab your tickets here: https://beerdeluxefedsquare.com.au/events/hair-of-the-dog

If you want to sip the beers we discuss while you listen to the episode you can grab them from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/garage-project-mixed-6-pack

In this episode we learn all about Peter's...

It's episode 275! [does that count as a milestone we weren't sure] but it's a landmark episode regardless as we finally welcome Guy Greenstone and James Smith from Stomping Ground into the Thursday night zoom room!

You can grab the beers we are chatting about from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/stomping-ground-mixed-6-pack

In this episode we chat about when the team first met and where the name of the brewery comes from and how it represents the ethos that underpins all of what they do. [Check out their upcoming Auslan Interpreted...

This week we meet Nick from Hepburn Springs Brewing to learn all about his journey in brewing and everything that's been happening at the brewery.

FREE BEER: Listen out for the codeword in the intro to the podcast and send it to coolroompodcast@gmail.com before 5pm on September 11 to be in the running to win a free 6 pack of Hepburn Springs beers - we'll draw it just before our online session with Garage Project.

If you miss out you can always grab the beers online from our store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products...

A very special episode as Australian craft beer legend Ben Kraus returns to the Coolroom to share all his latest news and his thoughts on the changing scene in Australia.

One of the reasons Ben is on is to help promote Bridge Road being a part of this year's Hair of the Dog Breakfast at Beer Deluxe - tickets are on sale now:

https://beerdeluxefedsquare.com.au/events/hair-of-the-dog

But we also have a great tasting pack of beers to accompany this episode - they're the ones you're going to hear us chatting...

It's the second part of our chat with Mattias Isaksson from Great Ocean Road Brewing as we continue the story of his journey as a brewer.

You can get the beers for this episode delivered from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/great-ocean-road-6-pack

In this episode we find out what Mattias has seen in coolrooms, what toys he'd buy if he won tattslotto and we "nerd out about Saab" some more.

We have some wonderfully detailed discussions about NZ Hops and less important ones about the differences between D...

Davydd and Warren are joined by the Master Brewer from Great Ocean Road, Mattias Isaksson for a delicious tasting and discussion of his journey in brewing.

You can grab the beers for this episode from our online store and sip them as we chat! https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/great-ocean-road-6-pack

As well as all that's going on at Great Ocean Road we start to hear of Mattias' journey from working in the Saab Factory to being a Master Brewer via the Merri Mashers home brew club and Old Wives Ales.

Apologies for...

It's a huge live show recorded at Coconspirators Famiglia Affairs 4 featuring Sobremesa, Sailors Grave, The Mill, King River and of course Coconspirators themselves!

A huge thank you to everyone who made the day possible and to all the lovely Coolroomans who came up and said hello while we were recording. As ever with live shows there's a bit of background noise here so apologies in advance!

As ever there are some great scoops here including a new home for Sobremesa, new things at The Mill's home, a summer beach stout from Sailors Grave and all...

It's been an extravaganza of Prancing Pony content in the Coolroom lately and we round this out with this the second part of our interview with Frank - don't forget to go back a couple of episodes if you haven't heard the first!

We get into some heavy hitting beers here and have an equally intense discussion about the changes that Frank has seen in the industry over the time that he's been a brewer. We discuss a few of the low points but also what he thinks the best ways to inspire young people to enter...

It's a huge episode featuring the interviews we recorded at this year's Obsidian Beer Festival featuring Prancing Pony, Dollar Bill, Noodledoof and Bells Beach Brewing.

Once again a huge thank you to Tom and all the team at the festival for inviting us to be part of the shenanigans and also to today's guest co-host Ian McNally of the infamous rival podcast.

We kick off today with Corinna from Prancing Pony sharing all that Frank kept secret in Episode 267 [check it out if you're a prancing pony fan!] especially about why they named their festival...

It's off to the scenic Adelaide Hills [and the Salt Lakes of South Australia] in this episode featuring two great SA breweries!

Don't forget you can buy tasting packs that accompany both of these episodes from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/

With Max from Uraidla we continue our chat about the hops that inspire him and some important lessons about what it's like to work in a smaller emerging brewery. We find out who he'd like to collab with and he shares his experiences in many a Coolroom.

Then we...

It's a truly gargantuan episode of the Coolroom featuring previews and reviews of a heap of great craft beer festivals all of which occur in places starting with B!

We kick things off with a final preview of Ballarat's Obsidian Dark Beer Festival with Tom Madden, before bringing things back to the city with Jacqui from Coconspirators whetting our appetites for Famiglia Affairs 4! Then it's Trevor from Bendigo Beer with the first scoop of what's going to be new at Bendigo on the Hop 2025!

All of that would normally be an episode just by itself...

We're off to the scenic Adelaide Hills in this episode to visit Max from Uraidla Brewing to sample some great beers and to hear the story of his journey as a brewer.

If you want to taste the beers we're discussing as you listen you can grab them from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/uraidla-mixed-4-pack

Max explains how a love of craft beer led him from being a bartender to a brewer at his favorite brewery with a heap of great tips for people who'd like to follow a similar...

It's the second part of our interview with Matthias Trum from wonderful Schlenkerla Brewery in Bamburg - if you haven't checked out the previous episode make sure you do so before diving into this one!

In this episode we taste more of Matthias' beers [grab them wherever you can and listen in] and hear all about the techniques used to make them and the innovations he's brought to the centuries old family brewery.

We learn a heap more helpful Franconian phrases, learn the history of refrigeration and where coolrooms were born, and all about Smoked...

It's a very special live show as Matthias Trum from legendary German Brewery Schlenkerla joins us for a tasting and chat at the Flem/Ken Bowls Club!

He takes us on an aural tour around the brewery, the city of Bamberg and in fact many other parts of Western Europe too as he explains the origins of the many beers styles he produces and the history of German beer.

And of course there's a heap of discussion about the brewing techniques that Schlenkerla use to make their distinctive beers and how Matthias strives to meld...

It's the second part of our interview with Emile from Vertere Brewing in Japan and we kick off our discussion tasting an amazing pastry stout.

You can grab it and the beers we discussed in the previous episode from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/vertere-brewery-jpn-mixed-4-pack or you can head in to Benchwarmers in North Melbourne where Lachie has Vertere and a heap of other great Japanese beers in his fridges.

In this episode we learn more about Emile's brewing journey, get some insights into Vertere's amazing can designs and get...

It's a huge episode today as Evin from Bright Brewery joins us to preview this year's Darker Days Festival and then it's the second part of our convesation with Jade from Adelaide's Wheatsheaf Hotel & Brewery.

Evin not only gives us a special code word for a discount on this year's ticket for Darker Days but he whets our appetites for this year's festivities by giving us the scoop on which breweries are attending and what beer styles they've been collabing on.

We'll be doing a live show from Bright again this year so make sure...

This week we venture to Okutama in Japan to meet Emile Leblanc from Vertere brewing to taste a truly exceptional line up of beers and to hear all about his journey in brewing.

You don't have to book a flight if you want to taste these beers though - they're available from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/vertere-brewery-jpn-mixed-4-pack

Or you can head down to Benchwarmer in North Melbourne to taste them on tap thanks to Lachie and his team as part of their Japanese Pint of Origin!

Emile...

It's a special treat as we are joined by Jade Flavell from Adelaide's Wheatsheaf Hotel to hear all about her amazing journey running the venue and brewing some truly amazing beers.

We are all sold out on beers for this tasting session but you can always visit the Wheaty to grab some great takeaway brews or find the tasting packs for our upcoming sessions here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/

Jade has so much enthusiasm and knowledge about the industry that we've had to turn this into 2 episodes - if you enjoy what you hear please...

It's a packed episode and we dive straight into things with Tom Madden from Ballarat's Obsidian Beer Festival giving us a sneak peek at what we can look forward to in the 2025 edition.

You can grab your tickets for the festival here: https://hullabalooevents.com.au/obsidian-dark-beer-fest and don't forget to follow their socials for more announcements as we get closer to the date.

Then we return to our chat with Cornella Brewery and this time it's their dry Irish stout. Don't forget you can grab that beer and the others we discussed in the...

It's the first of two episodes with Cornella Brewery and luckily Warren Wu is back in the Coolroom to help out with tricky questions about wineries and terpenes!

Matt and Spencer take us on a guided tour of some of their best beers while telling us all of the stories behind them - you can buy a tasting pack of the beers we discuss with them here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/cornella-brewery-mixed-9-pack

We learn about the inspiration they took from their overseas travels, their origins with the real ale movement and how Cornella...

It's a packed show as Evin Craney returns to the Coolroom to discuss his role as Chair of the Australia's Independent Brewers Association and Jonathon and Leo from Westside Ale Works wrap up their tasting with a delicious Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout.

You can grab the stout as well as the other Westside beers that we discussed in our previous episode from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/westside-ale-works-mixed-6-pack

With a Federal election around the corner Evin explains what the IBA is talking about with Australia's politicians and he sees as the...

There's been a lot of change in and around Melbourne's Westside Ale Works lately and we get to explore it all in this episode with Jonathon and Leo.

You can buy all the beers we discuss in our episode here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/westside-ale-works-mixed-6-pack

We last had Westside on back on Episode 103 with Casey but today we learn all about the new owner Jonathon and his journey from keen home brewer to making the leap to actually buying a brewery. 

What made Westside the right fit for him, what will c...

After a little taste on our Bendigo on the Hop visit, Brett from Brewers Collective joins us for a full episode to discuss everything about his journey from home brewery to living the dream of running a brewery.

We discuss how Bendigo's craft beer scene has come on in leaps and bounds and how the Collective has been part of that push alongside many other friends of the podcast!

We hear about the years of planning that preceded the opening of the brewery, and how the plans compared to reality once the doors had opened.<...

It's the second part of our January live show at Subculture Brewing where owner/founder Luke shares more of the story of his journey from home brewer to professional!

In this episode we learn more about the local breweries who have helped out in his journey, the lessons he's learned and the collaborations he's been part of.

We find out which bits of equipment make him happy, and which bits make him sad and discover more than we ever knew about buffer tanks.

And for reasons that remain remarkably unclear Warren wants to...

It's the third and final instalment from our live show with Maz at Hawkers and we're into the audience QandA session with questions about "Hopefully Beirut", his karaoke skills and the Henty St Ale.

Make sure you check out the previous 2 episodes with Maz and don't forget you can buy their beers online here: https://hawkers.beer/collections/our-beers

But first Davydd and Warren head out with the Coolroom faithful to visit a new Melbourne brewery - Subculture! 

We meet the owner/brewer Luke Forster and hear all about his journey from homebrewer t...

It's the second episode of our traditional end of year celebration recorded live at Hawkers with the inimitable Mazen Hajjar and there's some massive news if you listen carefully to this one.

NB - There's some pretty strong language in this one so if you're listening with the kiddies in the car you might want to wait till you've dropped them off at the pool!

If you want to sip some great Hawkers beer while you listen to the episode make sure to visit their online store here: https://hawkers.beer/collections/our-beers 

W...

It's our traditional end of year celebration recorded live at Hawkers with the inimitable Mazen Hajjar and as ever there's a heap to talk about. 

NB - There's some pretty strong language in this one so if you're listening with the kiddies in the car you might want to wait till you've dropped them off at the pool!

If you want to sip some great Hawkers beer while you listen to the episode make sure to visit their online store here: https://hawkers.beer/collections/our-beers 

We cover a heap of ground in th...

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!

...

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...

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...

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...

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 t...

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...

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...

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 f...

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...

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...

Davydd is joined by "rival podcaster" Ian McNally for an amazing day at the inaugural Obsidian Dark Beer Festival in Ballarat. 

They are joined by a stellar line up of brewers who are all at different stages of their journeys and with a range of insights into what's happening in the Australian craft beer industry. 

Joe from Good Knight and Matt from Aunty Jacks tell us everything that's happening in the Ballarat Beer Scene at the moment, what got them interested in brewing and the beer styles they love the most. 

Maz from Haw...

It's the second part of our online tasting with Paul Holgate and Chris Brady from legendary Australian brewery Holgate! But before we get to that we also have the ATO's answers to the questions you submitted to us!

Don't forget you can grab the beers we discuss with Holgate from our website here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/holgate-mixed-6-pack

Paul and Chris share their approach to barrel-aging beers and why they choose to use local barrels, we learn all about the beer they've collaborated on for Bendigo on the Hop, the challenges of making 25...

It's the fourth and final of our Carwyn Cellars / Coolroom Black Box Series for 2024 featuring the return of some of our favorite Australian brewers talking about their contributions to this amazing project.

Lewis Kerr from Bright Brewery, joins Alex Lovelock from Hawkers and Jimmy and Jesse Krekelberg from Good Land to share their thoughts on each others beers and the stories behind them.

We learn the secrets of their barrel programs, their favorite brewing gizmos, the ideas that went into the designs on the cans for the black box and which band t-shirts would automatically...