Ale of a Time

31/10/2024

Ale of a Time, but not really:

In Episode 015 of The Crafty Pint Podcast we head overseas for the first time. Our destination is a tiny brewery most people won't have heard of, where we're joined by a guest with whom many will be very familiar. The tiny brewery is Shortjaw Brewing, located in Westport: a town on the sparsely-pop...

06/05/2024

Coming out of retirement to alert you all to a scam.

Unlimited Beer Festival: Don't give them your money

I got an email yesterday, about a new beer festival. This email stood out for how poor it was. Hi there, We’re thrilled to extend...

06/01/2022

“Hopefully this is rock bottom.” As hopes go, it’s not the most uplifting one with which to kick off a new year, but after three consecutive summers in which they’ve been hit with fresh challenges – first bushfires then the evolving pandemic – it’s not surprising Dereck Hales, owner of...

07/12/2021

I started Ale of a Time as a university project. I chose beer because I thought maybe, one day, someone would send me free beer.

11 years on, as I prepare to leave Australia I'm still getting boxes delivered to an empty house. Readying for my next, and biggest beer related project, it's with a lot of satisfaction that I can finally say: Stop Sending me Free Beer.

And thank you to all of Australia's brewers who have sent me the beer over the years, and for just creating a wonderful, diverse and exciting scene. The quality of beer arriving has improved each year.

Ale of a Time will still continue in some form. In case you haven't seen the news, check out my bio for the full story and follow me at .

(Note: I've told people over emails already... but the beer keeps on coming)

23/11/2021

Some personal news...

After more than a decade writing, podcasting, and commenting on, as well as working in the Australian beer world, Luke Robertson is set to experience a different side to the industry in another country. Along with partner Emma Bremrose, he's leaving Melbourne next month for his hometown – West...

13/10/2021

Renae and Scott from Wolf of the Willows Brewing are two of our favourite guests, and this chat is no exception.

Join us to find out what they've been up to in Mordialloc, and to learn all about their barrel program, seltzer, and private jets.

In your podcast apps, or the links here:

http://aleofatime.com/2021/10/podcast-sode-185-wolf-of-the-willows/

30/09/2021

It was fun to write this for The Crafty Pint.

An intro to wild/spontaneous beer and the Australian market. It touches on lambic, saison, beer trading, awards, and terminolog.

Go on. Have a lil read. It's Friday after all.

They're few and far between, can take years to reach your glass, and there's the risk they could turn ugly at any time. Yet genuinely wild ales – those brought to life through spontaneous fermentation – possess a romance and elicit a fervour among their fans beyond the reach of most other beers...

28/09/2021

A new episode with Renn from Blackman's Brewery - it's been a long time between chats, and we catch up on all the change and evolution down Torquay way.

In your podcast apps, at the links here:

http://aleofatime.com/2021/09/podcast-sode-184-blackmans-brewery/

13/09/2021

New episode: Part one of a big two parter with Chloe and Michael from Burnley Brewing.

Over two parts we'll cover all sorts of things. We cover brewing large and small scale beer (and "beer-like drinks") in Germany, Tik Tok, keeping staff engaged throughout COVID, and how a change in ownership has helped Burnley evolve.

http://aleofatime.com/2021/09/podcast-sode-182-burnley-brewing/

09/09/2021

Big news:

If you're a supporter of independent beer in need of some good news as a distraction from the ongoing challenges of the COVID pandemic, look away now. Stone & Wood today announced their sale to Lion in a deal which includes the other brands in the Fermentum Group, such as Fixation, Two Birds and S...

07/09/2021

This week it's the upstarts from Castlemaine here to tell us about their shack (yes, it's an actual shack).

Search us in your podcast apps, or the link below to learn about handpumps, brewing in small spaces, and where the name actually comes from (hint: not The B52's).

http://aleofatime.com/2021/09/podcast-sode-181-love-shack-brewing-co/

01/09/2021

Great reading.

Given the turn of events over the past few months, there are plenty of people in Australia craving anything resembling joy – not least the residents of Sydney, now more than two months into a lockdown. And one of the beautiful aspects of delicious beer and the craft beer industry responsible for...

31/08/2021

It's been a long time since we've caught up the Hop Nation team.

Since our last chat in 2017 they've launched a wine brand, a seltzer brand, a restaurant, a festival, bought a second brewery and expanded their sour program.

Co-founder Duncan Gibson now brings us in on a new project happening in the original Footscray brewery. Join us for the scoop.

http://aleofatime.com/2021/08/podcast-sode-180-dunc-from-hop-nation/

13/08/2021

Did you know the term for group of white men is a podcast?  It's a fairly well known joke (if you're very online) that reflects the fact that so many podcasts, whether based around comedy, culture or booze, tend to look and sound a certain way. Get a group of guys, get them talking on a topic ...

09/08/2021

New podcast with Jon Seltin from Brick Lane Brewing Co.

We talk through making limited release hazies, why it’s much easier to make super-low alc beers these days, and what’s going on with the major expansion plans.

http://aleofatime.com/2021/08/podcast-sode-178-jon-seltin-from-brick-lane/

22/07/2021

big news for Bridge Road.

Bridge Road Brewers are set to expand into Victoria’s capital, with the Beechworth operation today announcing plans to open a brewery in Melbourne’s inner north. The new site is part of East Brunswick Village (EBV), a major housing and commercial development in Nicholson Street, and will feature...

16/07/2021

If you like the weird, wonderful, single barrel creations and of course magnums this exclusive member is for you
Link in bio
Secure your membership now, and go into the running to win one of 2 gift packs containing a Sponti Strawberry Gum Magnum and a Travis Price designed Dollar Bill T-shirt
Welcome to the Rare Oak family

14/07/2021

Apparently Sydney people don't say Locky-D

Anyway, look at this lineup featuring Wildflower Brewing & Blending head brewer Chase, Rosemary the Libations Lady, and Ian from The Chosen Brew.

I don't know why anyone agrees to this tbh.

Friday, 6.30. Sydney peeps, join us.

https://youtu.be/DZKRvTG_Vqw

With Sydney back in lockdown, the team behind the live-cast Beer Together program which graced our screens in 2020 have revived one of the internet's…