“I think we’re just as surprised as anyone, really. We’ve been blown away by the awards.”

Since settling into their Bathurst brewpub in 2022, Reckless Brewing have been on quite the tear when it comes to beer awards. They’ve picked up three trophies for three different beers in three straight years at the Australian International Beer Awards while securing trophies at other beer competitions too.

Two of the brewery’s founders – Grace Fowler and Jarrod Moore – joined Will and James from their brewery venue to share their thoughts on trophy success, how they’ve built a community and loyal team in regional NSW, and their ambitions to become a national brand even as the landscape becomes more challenging and many others breweries are downsizing.

We also dive into their history, including Grace’s experience brewing at Ikon and Akasha, how the couple met, their friendship with fellow founder, Alice Wilson, why the trio launched Reckless in 2019, life-changing IPAs, and how luck – or maybe good timing – has played a key role in their rise.

Before the interview, James and Will discuss the Carwyn family’s recent re-acquisition of Carwyn Cellars, the familiar names back winning more trophies at the Perth Royal Beer Awards, and our latest Beer By Design story which focuses on the role of graphic designers. Midway through, you'll also encounter the first in a mini-series of segments featuring Beer30.

As ever, don’t forget to like and subscribe the show – you can rate and review it too if you like – and keep the entries coming for Bluestone Yeast’s Brewery of the Month and our celebration of good beer citizens, Have You Done A Rallings?

Start of Segments:

• 11:35 – Reckless Brewing Part 1
• 34:15 – Beer30 on COGS
• 42:21 – Reckless Brewing Part 2

Relevant links:

• Reckless Brewing
• Carwyns Buy Carwyn
• Beer By Design: The Graphic Designers
• Perth Royal Beer Awards
• Beer30
• Nominate a Brewery of the Month
• Nominate a good beer citizen
• Cryer Malt

To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.

"I don't think you can really overpower it because it's just such a great hop and pairs really well with a lot of other tropical or fruity hops."

In partnership with HPA, Australia's leading hop grower, we've created a series of podcast episodes – an Aussie Hop Series – looking closely at some of the country's most recognised and impactful hop varieties.

Over the course of the series, we're speaking with leading brewers from across Australia and abroad, as well as experts from HPA, discussing their experience with these iconic hops, what they've learned along the way, as well as some technical tips and tricks to maximise the impact of these hops in their beers.

For this, the penultimate episode in the series, we chatted to Philter head brewer Max Hämmerle and Michael Capaldo from HPA, about Eclipse. The hop, renowned for its mandarin and citrusy qualities, was formally commercialised and given the name Eclipse in 2020 after appearing in beers for a number of years as HPA-016.

Max and Michael chat about its impact on beers, how and when it’s used by Philter, Eclipse in Spectrum liquid hop form, as well as a teaser about the latest experimental variety HPA are sharing with brewers.

For more information on HPA and their range of hops, visit hops.com.au.

To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.

"In this game, you have to all believe in what you're trying to achieve.”

While no strangers to awards success, it’s fair to say the team at Philter enjoyed a night to remember at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards, taking home four major trophies.

After a brief yet raucous chat with them on the night, we reconvened two weeks later for a more relaxed and wide-ranging catch-up with co-founders Mick Neil and Stef Constantoulas – mates who met when they moved in to the same Marrickville street a few years before launching their brewing company.

As well as reflecting on the impact of their recent success, they take us back to their pre-Philter days in the worlds of surfing gear and big beer, their first meetings with Sam Füss – the brewer behind many of their killer recipes we spoke to at her new home in Bali last year, the values driving the brand, the ongoing evolution of their multi-faceted venue, and their plans for the future.

The conversation touches upon many wider issues facing the beer and hospitality worlds too, from price pressures and market access to the need to keep fighting to bring consumers into the world of local, indie beer.

This week’s show features the debut of another mini-series supported by Mogwai Labs. Breaking Down Beer Styles kicks off with a look at dry Irish stouts for which Mogwai founder Josh Allen joined by Jared Palu and Lincoln Gibbs from Felons.

In the intro, Will and James reflect on Gage Roads turning 20 this week, as well as on the closure after 17 years of Seven Sheds in Tasmania. Look out for an upcoming episode featuring that brewery’s founders: beer writer Willie Simpson and partner Catherine Stark.

In the week they celebrate the launch of their brewery, Will also puts Barbarian Brewing Co in Melbourne’s west forward as a potential Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month; read about them via the link below.

Start of segments:

• 13:47 – Philter Part 1
• 40:00 – Breaking Down Beer Styles with Mogwai Labs
• 51:12 – Philter Part 2

Relevant links:

• Australian International Beer Awards 2025
• Philter Brewing
• Building A Brewery In Bali ft Sam Füss
• Gage Roads at 20
• Mogwai Labs
• Barbarian Brewing Co
• Nominate a Brewery of the Month
• Nominate a Good Beer Citizen
• Midlands Insurance

To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.