The Institute of Beer (IOB) has opened its doors in response to the lack of structured accredited training in the increasingly professional industry. The brand-new company is the brainchild of some of Australia’s beer industry heavyweights, including Ian Kingham and David Phillips, and is dedicated to the education of both beer drinkers and professionals. At IOB’s core offering is the first-ever licensing…

Former spirit industry professional Eddie Brook and the award-winning Scottish distiller Jim McEwan have left the city life for the sleepy retreat of Byron Bay to set up their own distillery and create a premium spirit that promotes sustainability for the local rainforest. Many in the industry will recognise Brook from his days at SouthTrade and McEwan as one of the world’s best distillers. The two formed…

Carlton and United Breweries with the Electric Trades Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union have reached an agreement to immediately end the dispute with the maintenance workforce at the Abbotsford brewery in Melbourne. There has been an intense dispute between the maintenance workers, unions and CUB since the company decided to end its contract with the maintenance service provider Quant, wh…

Sydney Brewery has invested in a new bottling line and cannery to help support growth over the coming months as it launches a new local distribution partnership and spirits arm and begins exports to China. Already, the brewery has increased its production capacity from 250-400 cartons per week to 1,000 cartons per week with the new bottling line and hopes to eventually scale up to 2,000 cartons. Head Brew…

From De Bortoli’s popular sparkling wine brand comes Rococo Rosé – a blend of Victorian chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meuniere that takes inspirations from the Rococo style of European art and design. Chief Winemaker Steve Webber said, “We see enormous potential for sparkling Rosé and what we have tried to create is a creamy style with just a touch of toastiness and perfume. The blend of the three vari…

First Ridge Wines has opened its unique, architecturally-designed cellar door, made from two intersecting shipping containers. The simple, open-plan area invites visitors to taste wines while enjoying breath-taking views of the mountain, vineyard and gully ridge. First Ridge Wines is a collaboration between owners John and Helen Nicholas and veteran viticulturist and General Manager Colin Millot. The vine…

The team behind The Local Taphouse and GABS festival has debuted its latest venture, Stomping Ground Brewing Co. After three years of planning, Stomping Ground opened in Collingwood this October. The Melbourne suburb has a rich brewing history, but all 35 breweries that once resided there have since closed, making Stomping Ground  the first brewery to open in the area in more than 100 years. Just three mo…

BACARDÍ has released the second episode of its three-part video series, Party Talks, which explores the state of Australian nightlife in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, shining a light on what keeps the country’s key cultural curators going and up at night. Watch the Brisbane ‘Party Talks’ here. The latest episode was shot around the recent House of Bacardi party in Sydney and features insights from some …

The Government has announced that it will cap the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) rebate at $350,000 after having originally proposed to reduce it from $500,000 to $290,000. The original announcement of a reduction of the WET rebate earlier this year had been met with some concern from the industry with fears that it would hurt small to medium sized wine businesses who would have to start paying the tax. Tony…

Last night, 18 months of uncertainty for winemakers and farmers came to an end with the passing of the ‘backpacker tax’ through the Senate. The Coalition’s preferred 15 per cent tax successfully passed with the support of the Greens; the Upper House approving the motion with 43 votes to 19. With the peak tourism and harvest season ahead, farmers and winemakers look to backpackers to help harvest their cro…