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The Malt Maven
449 Plays20 days ago
"There's so much more than just drinking a beer. It's about the environment, the culture, and sharing it with friends."
Most people in their very early 30s are probably just about working out what they want to do with their lives. In Steph Howard's case, she's already off to start a new career having left an indelible mark on the beer industry on both sides of The Ditch.
For many, the young Kiwi has been the face of Cryer Malt, then Barrett Burston – certainly once David Cryer had sold his business and returned to his epic collection of comic books – and an everpresent at industry events not just in Australia and New Zealand but across the globe.
After landing a job with David straight from uni, Steph swiftly moved from someone who didn't drink beer to someone intricately involved in the craft beer scene as it evolved from the fringes. A baptism of fire showed this was someone who would most definitely swim not sink, making her recent announcement that she was moving back to New Zealand and into the dairy industry one that caught many in the beer world by surprise.
In the midst of packing her bags, Steph joined us to reflect on her decade in the beer world, the changes she's witnessed, the friends she's made, and the people that inspired her over the years.
Before we join Steph, Will and James chat about TWØBAYS' remarkable success at the World Beer Cup, the latest example of a brewery opening an experience-led space – Chalky's from Bucketty's, HPA's 2025 hop report, and Pint of Origin, which runs from May 9 to 18.
Start of segments:
- 13:02 – Steph Howard Part 1
- 36:42 – Steph Howard Part 2
Relevant links:
- Steph Howard's New Heights
- David Cryer – 30 and Out
- Cryer Malt
- TWØBAYS World Beer Cup Win
- Bucketty's Open Chalky's
- Pint of Origin 2025
- Beer Cocktails
- Roxset Australia
To find out more about supporting the show or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.
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Transcript
Introduction & Two Bays Brewing's Achievement
00:00:06
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Crafty Pint Podcast. I'm Will. And I'm James. And yeah, it's ah getting very close to one of our ah biggest events of the year. Will, have to say, I'm not quite sure what day it is with all the running around that's going into pulling a pint of origin together, but more of that later because we've got some pretty exciting news to talk about that um broke just at the end of last week.
00:00:28
Speaker
Yeah, of course. Two Bays Brewing won their second gold medal at the World Beer Cup. So two in a row, which is ah comfortably a first for any Australian brewery, two gold medals in a row, that is.
00:00:41
Speaker
And ah I mean, it's a very rare thing when we're talking about any breweries, really. it's It's sort ah you'd probably say it's one of the highest honours in the beer world. Well, mean, 8,500 entries, which is what sort of three, you know, three and a half times what they'd get for the Australian International Beer Awards, which are taking place this month.
00:01:00
Speaker
um And, you know, i think the thing that really sort highlights just how amazing it is to get that award is, you know, as you covered in your article, There isn't just like ah you know a number of gold, silvers or bronzes in each category. There's just the one gold, silver and bronze.
00:01:13
Speaker
And I think in the past, whenever any Australian has got a you know ah bronze or a silver, it's been worthy of a story. Like Buckethe's had the bronze and silver a couple of years running. Stonewood Pacific Ale bronze a while ago. James Squires picked up a couple of medals over the year. But to get a gold means you are like the best in the world in your category in the biggest competition in the world.
00:01:32
Speaker
to do it two years running and with mid strength last year and then a 4% Pacific Ale, the very first batch they brewed of that beer as well. I can imagine there's a lot of gluten free brewers in the States who've got a lot more, you know, years under their belt must be looking at it going, what is the secret sauce of these, this tiny Australian brewery?
00:01:52
Speaker
ah Well, as Richard Jeffers likes to say, it's a very close-knit and tight community. He said, I spoke to him. He was in WA, actually. So it was quite early in the morning for him. And he said he'd already gotten a lot of texts from his fellow gluten-free brewers congratulating him and the team for what they pulled off.
00:02:09
Speaker
ah Yeah, I saw some responses from American brewers. I think there's one from Alaska put a comment on congratulating them on our article when we got it up on socials last Friday, which is pretty cool.
00:02:20
Speaker
And I know that yeah we there were some pretty um interesting comments from local... Brewers and judges know what they're doing. John Selton, who's the head brewer at Brick Lane, said, um amazing achievement. Once was great, twice is legendary.
00:02:33
Speaker
um And Tina Penunces. Three times is goat status. Say again? Three times is goat status. Yeah, well, but's you know let's not push them too hard. Let them enjoy the glory for a little while yet.
Community Reactions to Two Bays' Success
00:02:44
Speaker
And then Tina Panoutsis, who many people in the in the in and around the beer industry will know, um sort of head of sensory at CUV for a long time, one of the most respected beer judges in the world. um Congratulations to you all. What an incredible achievement of your craftsmanship. I think the whole audience heard me cheer.
00:02:59
Speaker
and I think she also tried to sort of, you know, keep hold of the banner or there was a bit of a scribble over who was going to keep the gold medal, the banner to bring home. Yeah, it was a funny story to find out about. I was out for a morning walk and Christian um christian from Two Bays actually messaged me and it was a picture of Lindsay from Stomping Ground, former podcast guest, and also Glenn Harrison from Ellesley Hopps. I was like, it's interesting that they've won an award somehow. So I think this might be Two Bays that won Another gold medal. So yeah, it's it's really, I've been over to the competition when the awards an announced and when Buckethe's won a medal actually.
Pint of Origin Preview & Local Engagement
00:03:35
Speaker
And it's a really nice vibe when all the Australians are sort of in there rooting for their country and things like that. It's ah quite a different sort of experience to our local awards, I think, because of the very global nature of it.
00:03:47
Speaker
Yeah, and I guess and and speaking of our local awards, maybe just a little ah pitch for for next week's show. We're actually going to put next week's show out on Friday, all being well. And the idea is that we'll do some recording straight after the awards finish next Thursday night.
00:04:01
Speaker
ah Me and you will sit down and reflect on what's happened and we should be able to push out next week's episode, which will feature a bit of behind the scenes stuff at this year's judging ah next Friday instead. um but Nothing like putting a bit of pressure on yourselves on the ah tail end of Pine of Origin Festival week.
00:04:16
Speaker
But we just figure it's a nice thing to to try the next sort of step up in what we've been doing with the podcast since July last year. Yeah. So if you don't see the episode on Thursday morning, you know it's not because something's gone wrong. And we'll try and get it out as early as we can on Friday.
00:04:30
Speaker
It might not be the sort of 6 a.m. thing that you're used to as listeners. I know everyone wakes up psyched to listen to the podcast. It might be slightly later in the day on Friday, but we'll get it out basically as quickly as we can. We think it's worthwhile to hold it just because of the what will be breaking news.
00:04:46
Speaker
Yes, and it probably helps that Matt, our producer, is in the States with his family, so he'll be on a completely different timescale and should be able to pick it up from us as soon as we send it over from the showgrounds. um I guess one thing i wanted to say about Two Bays as well, actually, I was running ah a fair at the school local primary school, um running a bar, i should say, at the local primary school fair last week.
00:05:04
Speaker
and put some two bays on and there was a few celiac and parents there we ended having to go back to the local bottle store to get a couple more cases of two bays because people knew it and they and they sort they knew the beer loved the beer and actually knew the story as well some of them met richard and christie at fairs and been to the brewery so that was pretty cool as well you know i guess they are sort of known if you're if you again, if you really care about decent beer and you you are celiac or gluten intolerant, that does seem to be really good awareness and sort of cut through within within within that community as well, which was kind of encouraging to see. I guess it's all very well for them winning awards in the States, but I'm sure that they'd be much happier to know there's people out there who are actively hunting down their beer and really appreciate it as well.
Crafty Pint & Industry Collaborations
00:05:47
Speaker
um I mentioned Pint of Origin there. I guess that's been sort of fairly all-consuming, certainly for me, um over the last few weeks. But we're we're almost at the point where there's not much more we can do now.
00:05:58
Speaker
So that kicks off Friday. um i think despite the challenges we've had, you know, with one brewery but one venue in liquidation when we launched the programme, another one's in the administration, one venue unable to get their logistics, it's a very...
00:06:12
Speaker
I guess, beer industry in 2025 sort of lead up to the festival. But once again, we've got a pretty amazing lineup. Loads of really good stuff taking place. um And, you know, i think there's been some real good interest online. So if if you haven't checked it out yet, jump online at pintoforigin.com.
00:06:29
Speaker
You can download your digital passport there going hit the streets. There's bonuses for the more venues you visit. There's prizes and stuff like that. um And just some really cool events, you know, beer and skittles, beer cocktails.
00:06:41
Speaker
It was nice that we were able to play ah a small role, Will, in bringing together a collaboration between Alice Springs Brewing and Kaiju for the Northern Territory venue. um And then to get to to name the beer yesterday um and be involved in the concept for the for the Dekel, which I think we'll wait for people to discover it on tap at Farside Beers.
00:07:01
Speaker
But I think um the concept for the deck will sort of rise that fine line between amazing and potentially slightly inappropriate. So we'll we'll see what people make of make of that when ah they they ah head out to to that venue.
00:07:15
Speaker
Yeah, and it's even ah one of my beer styles. And that was the one thing we didn't have a say in what beer style it would be. it's one of my favorites. So we'll leave that as a surprise as well, though. Exactly. and So, yeah, so that all kicks off Friday.
Interview with HPA CEO & Hop Industry Insights
00:07:27
Speaker
um In other news this week, Will, you spoke to – it's also tying together, actually. You spoke to Nick McDonald, who, you you know, his brewery, Buckethees, has won couple of World Beer Cup medals in the past. and they've got so They've had a really big few weeks, actually.
00:07:41
Speaker
Yeah, I actually, i spoke to Nick, I think it was on Thursday and there was part of me because the awards came out on Friday morning. I was like, got to keep close eye on this because they have said, will be a cut success in the past.
00:07:52
Speaker
I don't even know if they sent beer this year, but i was like, this might turn into a very different story if they end up also getting a medal. But yeah, Chalkies, it's ah it's a pool hall. It's a couple of minute walk from their brewery in Brookvale.
00:08:04
Speaker
Pool hall, karaoke room, ah they call it a super duper screen. It looks more like three or four TV screens. So a massive sports bar as well. I think this nicely ties into what a lot of breweries and other beer businesses are doing where they're looking for very experienced led venues. um I mean, Hawks Brewing in Sydney has always been that.
00:08:27
Speaker
um In the beer world though, you think back to like Scratch when they opened Netherworld with their arcade machines or, you know, it's it's just having something to focus on that's quite different from the brewery from a brewery taproom experience. And as Nick says, to compliment what you're doing rather than directly compete with yourself.
00:08:48
Speaker
Yeah, and I think so. It just shows ways that, I guess, breweries are diversifying. We've talked about you know live music and all manner of different ways that breweries are looking to diversify, i guess, expand what they ah what they offer and just try and bring more people in. And in some cases, I guess, replace stuff that might be lost elsewhere um in society as well.
00:09:05
Speaker
Well, pretty hard to get taps at the moment. So if if you can build your own if you can build your own beer taps, that also helps. Yes, yes. Yes, and hopefully that'll change at some point soon as well.
00:09:17
Speaker
um yeah Another piece you put out, a bit more industry focused this week as well, was you had a chat with OJ, the new, recently um sort of elevated to top dog at HPA.
00:09:29
Speaker
Yeah, HBA CEO. I didn't actually realize that it was his first day when I spoke to him on Monday. Obviously, he's been with the business for a very long time and um it's been a steady um handover with Tim Lord announcing his retirement last year and and then stepping back properly at last week.
00:09:46
Speaker
But um yeah, first of all, we focused on the the crop report. They They've looked to grow less hops, but I have, thanks to Mother Nature, have actually had a very successful year in terms of growing, which is a good thing, apparently. but um And they've also opened their Myrtleford hop processing plant, Hop Central, they're calling it. And I'm really keen to check it out at one point because it looks very state-of-the-art. I'm sure I'll be up there for next harvest to see all the bells and whistles that they've got.
00:10:15
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. And and and on that front, um kicking off next week, unless, you know, any delays come along in the in the meantime, we'll but have a bit of an offshoot podcast series that we've been working on for a while. and So with HPA, um actually Craig asked yeah craig Williams, who's sometimes and co-host on these shows, he's been chatting to various brewers around the world and also experts from the team at HPA.
00:10:38
Speaker
And it's a six-part series looking at some HPA's six key hop varieties, with brewers who love them, use them particularly well. So that'll be kicking off as a sort of shorter mini, um yeah it's purely hop-focused series starting on Tuesdays um from next week, all being well. So keep an eye out for that.
Steph Howard's Career Transition
00:10:56
Speaker
Fantastic. And then on to this week's guest, Steph Howard. Yes, Steph will be someone who's known to many people in the beer industry. and She joined Cryer Malt pretty much straight from uni um without even being a beer drinker and has now left the industry after 10 years to go and work in dairy in New Zealand and is still far younger than even you, Will, despite having had this stellar career that's taken her through the ranks at Cryer Malt and Barrett Burstyn, you know, as that sort of business um sort of become part of other bigger um grain companies.
00:11:30
Speaker
um But yeah, she's one of the most sort of best known faces around the industry sort of came in right at the time when things were really um exploding into life for craft beer. So I guess even sort of the bigger malts has evolved and changed over that time as well.
00:11:43
Speaker
Was involved in a lot of the marketing stuff there, supporting a lot of events. I know, know, I would have first met her when I was still running Good Beer Week with, you know, a few other people and she was sort of, Cryer were huge supporters of the festival as they were a number of other um major events and sort of initiatives around the industry.
00:11:57
Speaker
um So just, it was, I guess almost a bit different to a lot of our podcast chats. Yes, there was some insight into what she'd brought to the role, but mainly it was ah chance for Steph as she sort of as we said, it was a bit of a sort of this is your life kind of episode, just, you know, having a chat to Steph about how she got involved, her career highlights, the people that really sort of mentored her and the people that had just, you know, really inspired her throughout her 10 years in beer.
00:12:21
Speaker
Yeah, it'll be a shame that she's moving on, I think. I'll definitely personally miss Steph, but it was a really good conversation. So we hope you enjoy it. And if you do enjoy it, make sure you like, subscribe and review.
00:12:32
Speaker
Cheers. Cheers. Pint of Origin returns on May the 9th, bigger and better than ever. 23 great Melbourne venues will be pouring beers and more from across the globe. Head to pintoforigin.com for the full line-up and to grab your free festival passport.
00:12:47
Speaker
So get ready to travel the world of beer. And enjoy a beer festival like no other. It all starts tomorrow and runs until May 18th. Cheers.
00:13:03
Speaker
Steph, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having me. Now we've got you here because you have some big news to share. Tell us about what's next for Steph. I do. So after 10 incredible years, I have decided to leave the industry. um It is bittersweet completely, but I am going home to New Zealand and I have an opportunity to do so. So for me, that's my next step.
00:13:29
Speaker
Yeah, I think it was obviously big news. It took a few people by surprise. I think you know you um sent me a message, gave me a call from Japan you were at the time on a work trip, but I think maybe a drinking trip as well.
00:13:41
Speaker
But what you were saying about the, I think some of the conversations you had on the night, you put first put the announcement out, but I certainly got a few messages from people around the view industry going, have you heard this, you need to do something about Steph? Or not about, you know, something on Steph moving on. So and it must been something that, like, there's a fair bit of time and thought went into it, I'm assuming, or did it all happen quite quickly? Yeah, definitely. It's kind of when the opportunity arose in New Zealand for me to be able to move back, it did move really quickly from there.
00:14:11
Speaker
um You know, when I actually handed in my notice, I think it was... Gosh, I want to say it was probably like less than a week before I went to Japan for the Bear Expo conference up there.
00:14:26
Speaker
um and then throughout that, you know, we had to start notifying, especially my team first. and And then I wanted to kind of call a couple of, you know, key people that have been influential in my life throughout the industry.
00:14:40
Speaker
um Knowing that I think it was the weekend before Gabs maybe. um and i kind of knew that if it was going to get out to anyone it was definitely going to circulate gabs at the time and i i think it did circulate gabs a little bit because i got some messages from some people um but then yeah i was actually in japan with selena of all people because she was there with fermentus um and we were having having dinner one night and we got talking and i think she mentioned you instantly and and said well if you don't call him tomorrow i am so yeah the next day i picked up the phone and and i'd heard that yeah other people had already reached out to you oh yeah i got a message from will irving so ex-feral head brewer now one of the team had found and he was like
00:15:28
Speaker
and just heard about this, you need to do a story. I'm like, don't worry. It's all in hand. but I guess and we just figured we'd written about you a couple of times you know in the past. if like well it's you yeah know and let's do As I said in the email and earlier this day, it's like, this is your life. but The beer industry, we should have one of those big red books sort of give you to give you at the end with all the references. We've got all these guests that are actually going to come in as well. This is going be quite a podcast. They've all been waiting outside going, just sort your technical issues out, James. You've been waiting for ages.
00:15:57
Speaker
um Yeah, and and so so it's been a, was it something you were sort looking, you're looking for opportunity to move back and like, you said to us it's sort of personal reasons as much as anything?
00:16:08
Speaker
Yeah, it's definitely been on my mind. um You know, my partner and i we've done long distance for the last two years now. um My brother is literally about to have a baby. And when this goes live, he's probably, hopefully his wife has had the baby by then, which will be very exciting. So I'm about to be an auntie.
00:16:29
Speaker
Yeah. um and For me, you know, March, I hit my 10 years with Barrett's and Cryer. And for me, it was really that point that I needed to evaluate what was next.
00:16:43
Speaker
um And, you know, I want to think about things like family and stuff too. um And it's quite hard to do that long distance. um So, you know, I was keeping my options open and an opportunity in New Zealand came came to light and,
00:16:59
Speaker
it kind of fell into place quite perfectly and it was kind of silly not to, not to take it. Yeah. it must be such a, um, difficult decision as well though, because your entire working life really has been in the beer industry. Hasn't it?
00:17:12
Speaker
It has.
Steph's Journey in the Beer Industry
00:17:13
Speaker
like I started at this job literally a month after my 21st birthday. It was yeah straight outta uni. I, you know, I had part-time jobs throughout that time, but nothing like this. And it's,
00:17:27
Speaker
It's been a wild ride. You know, the last 10 years has been wild. Who would have thought, you know, we would have gone through a pandemic as well as that, that same year, you know, we had those wildfires which caused a bit of havoc across Australia. And it's, you know, for the four five years before that, we went through, you know, what I probably would call the craft beer boom.
00:17:49
Speaker
Like we just had massive growth in car craft beer, massive changes, you know, events like Good Beer Week and BrewCon became bigger than they probably ever had. And there was just incredible things happening in the industry and it was vibrant and it was very full on.
00:18:05
Speaker
I think, you know, during that event season, which was almost May to like August, there was something on every weekend. And I think in this industry, a lot of,
00:18:17
Speaker
the people that were on that industry circuit became like family. Because I think you almost spent more time with them than you did with your own friends and family because you were with them every weekend and at a different event, a different conference.
00:18:31
Speaker
And it was just, yeah, they became so important. Love to hear how you actually sort of got that first job then. I know with one of David Cryer's former employees, like Tom Maddams, it was a very sort of early in the in the career, just arriving, you know, not long in New Zealand, working in the garage kind of thing. like was Was there a similar sort of um organic sort of coming together ah of of you and the Cryer team back then?
00:18:55
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. um You know, I think at the time i was, at that point, I was exploring my options and I was seeing what was next for me. it... it It was simply as something as I think I applied for a whole bunch of jobs on SEEK. David's wife called me back.
00:19:13
Speaker
um I went in for an interview. I actually didn't even meet David when I interviewed. I only met with Claire. um I think I got a second interview and that's when I met David. um It was March time, so I want to think where he could have been. I think he he was on some sort of sales trip with Tom at the time. um There was probably about seven to 10 people, I would say, working at Cryer in New Zealand at the time.
00:19:39
Speaker
um We were fully run out of New Zealand completely. um And yeah, I got offered the job. um Of all things, I actually first started out in finance.
00:19:50
Speaker
What was your career? Sorry, what was your degree or your sort training before that point? So I went to university for like marketing and accounting. um And yeah, so so I think my job was accounts payable. I think I was in that role for maybe three months.
00:20:06
Speaker
And... Yeah, it must have been three months because then I had David calling me from Melbourne being like, this lady, kept Kate Patterson, is going to reach out to you.
00:20:19
Speaker
She needs you to do a whole bunch of stuff. I'm at Good Beer Week right now. ah And it was, I think from there, I started, yeah, moving into marketing. And then about three months later, it took over...
00:20:33
Speaker
marketing for Cryer and moved into that role. Just like you weren't doing accounts payable in the last two or three years, that otherwise you never would have survived at the three months, let alone 10 years. no definitely not.
00:20:44
Speaker
But yeah, it was kind of crazy how it fell into the spot. um My first event I went to was the Bear Awards in Sydney. Indies?
00:20:55
Speaker
um wheny yeah but it was cbia cbia cbia awards in sydney there was like some events happening was like almost a sydney craft beer week i think no it was sydney craft beer week was happening around it at the time um you know i went with david had well tom was there too obviously and i went with david and you know that's when i met pirate life um that's when i met Kegstar, well, the the team from Kegstar that moved into Convoy and Joe Cook and Sam Maitland.
00:21:31
Speaker
um And then trying to think who else. There was a lot of people there. A lot of people there. very quick sort of like straight into the heart of the... And I guess moving into a role that you wanted to do as well. Because Cryer, you know, was always very involved, I guess, on that sort of support of major events and awards and that kind of thing. So it would have great opportunity, I guess, for you.
00:21:51
Speaker
Like David, I think, always wanted to get involved in support, but marketing maybe wasn't his thing. So he would have been like, oh, here you go Yeah, I think the... yeah probably the organization and the planning around marketing and events and activities was my my specialty. okay um And definitely something that probably needed to happen.
00:22:11
Speaker
i I still remember that first Good Beer Week where Kate was ringing me about banners and everything else. And to be honest, I had absolutely no idea what Good Beer Week even was. But you knew how to get banners.
00:22:24
Speaker
And then suddenly he was telling me to ring Kate about stuff to do with AIBA, but I didn't realize they were two separate events. And I i think I was getting Kate confused and it was just, it was mayhem.
00:22:36
Speaker
But to be honest, it was awesome. And was that the time when there was the full, like the Cryer suite at upstairs at Beard Lux as well? Was that already up and running with the whole week of event events that Cryer was sponsoring? Because we used to host panels there and there was all manner of stuff going on at that time.
00:22:49
Speaker
I don't know if it was that first year because happened I think that first year there was like some small conference associated with Good Beer Week.
00:23:01
Speaker
Maybe the CBIA had also a conference happening. I think, from what I remember, definitely the next year, yeah, we had the Cryer Trade Hub and that's kind of, we built that with with Kate and Shev and really made that into something awesome over those years. You definitely had banners in place by the end of that. There was whole walls of Cryer stuff I seem to recall. Yes, there definitely was. I think if there was, um well, you guys both know Kate Patterson, if there was an opportunity to brand something, she would she would propose it to you, that's for sure. Yeah, yeah.
00:23:34
Speaker
And so what what was it like that sort of coming in from, you know, so so fresh from uni and then within a few months suddenly being thrown into this industry that at the time would have been, in the you know, the peak of its sort of rapid growth? and ah and I guess from being a perspective, you you would have been out working for a supplier as well. It would have been, you know, touch points would have been with the awards, with with festivals, with events, with other suppliers, with brewers everywhere. It would have been pretty, a lot to put together, I'd imagine.
00:24:00
Speaker
Yeah, it was daunting, like absolutely daunting. I think I had no idea what I was in for at the start. um I think also it was quite funny... just even my height in proportion to David's rocking up. Yeah, just for context, Dave's what, six foot five?
00:24:20
Speaker
Yeah, probably, easily, yes. it matter man Man mountain. For those that don't know me, I'm not exactly the tallest person out there. um But I did always say, I think when someone...
00:24:31
Speaker
I remember someone once asked me what it was like or how how did you get to know so many people that you did in the industry? And all I said is you've just got to do one event with David and trust me by the end of it, you know everyone.
00:24:45
Speaker
Like he was probably exceptional. Well, he is exceptional at just introducing you to absolutely everyone. Yeah. Well, and everyone loves and respects the guy. So he makes it easier. So he's like the perfect calling card to to yeah to meet somebody.
00:25:00
Speaker
And you're still in touch. i Obviously, it's been a few years since David stepped back. And he's still in touch on a personal level. Is he still sort of paying attention ah attention on ah the business level as well? Or has he sort of managed to extract himself into his dungeon of comic books?
00:25:13
Speaker
Um, well, last I'd heard, apparently had a comic book shop in Auckland. Oh, wow. Um, we've touched base a few times, but, um, he's definitely kind of, I think, separated himself a little bit from the industry. Were you surprised by how big and consuming the craft beer world was? like well Like, what were your sort of thoughts on what beer was, I guess, going into it as a uni student?
00:25:38
Speaker
I guess I was very naive, you know, when I started, I'll be honest, I didn't even drink beer. It's, you know, i I played into that classic stereotype that, you know, at a young young woman doesn't drink beer sort of thing. um And I think very quickly, learned to love beer, um just to be able to explore all the different beer styles. And also the, cop like, I feel like There's so much more than just drinking a beer.
00:26:07
Speaker
It's about, you know, the environment and the culture and sharing it with friends. And that's like I said, when you spend so much time with these people in the industry, they do become really genuine friends of yours and being able to, you know, sit down over beer that they have produced and, you know, put their heart and soul into and also be able to share that experience with people that you care about is really awesome.
00:26:33
Speaker
And I guess from your perspective as well, knowing that certain products that you've been responsible for bringing to market have also gone into you know creating the flavor, the texture you know of that beer as well. And I guess then at the same, even beyond that, some of the events you you know you touched upon as well, when you go something like that really celebrates the story of the brewers and the food pairing, all that kind of stuff as well would have been pretty cool for someone who was just like, I'm getting into this malt business. We'll see what malt's all about. Next thing you know, there's this whole world of flavor and experience opened up to you.
00:27:02
Speaker
Absolutely. And I think as well as as my career has progressed, you know I've had the opportunity of going to things like hop harvest.
Supply Chain Relationships & Challenges
00:27:10
Speaker
I've been able to spend a lot of time with our farmers that that grow for Barrett Burstyn and and you know develop barley variety suited for certain markets and and distilling and stuff like that. And it's been really, really cool to you know further understand that side of it because you know us as suppliers are very passionate um you know speaking on behalf of of our molsters and our team at barrett burst and we are very passionate about the product that we produce but you know if if it doesn't go right on the farm we we can't you know make make that product yeah so it's really you know you need that entire supply chain and
00:27:52
Speaker
you know, for a lot of the farmers, this is their entire livelihood. You know, they they need us to continue producing malt for them to continue growing malted barley. And I was just thinking as well, i guess one of but things that happened over your time within in the malted industry, there's been a number of ownership changes with Cryer and the business you've worked for, I guess, you know,
00:28:12
Speaker
becoming part of, I guess, bigger malt industry than some of those local are growing up in Australia. at the same time, I guess you have seen those businesses react and evolve with the changing beer market as well. And you I guess you'll have been involved in helping bring some of those products to market as like sort of, I guess, businesses that might be based upon bringing base malt or sort of, you know, a smaller ah smaller number of large volumes to the market have now gone, oh, this is it's a different market now. We have to evolve. I guess that would be a pretty interesting part of the your time as well.
00:28:42
Speaker
Absolutely. um So now we are owned by Soufflé Malt. So we are the largest malting company in the world currently. And with that, you know we have this massive agronomy department.
00:28:54
Speaker
yeah We have people within our team globally that are developing barley varieties suited for different regions. um We're operating across 20 countries.
00:29:05
Speaker
you know Barley is very much like, you know, grapes for wine. It doesn't grow everywhere. It's very in the elements of the weather and you need to make sure that you're producing varieties that one yields well for the farmers, but also produces a consistent crop.
00:29:24
Speaker
um So yeah, we have gone through a few ownership changes, but it's really what I think is really awesome with these larger companies is just the resources that they put into some of those areas that you don't necessarily have with with the smaller companies, you know, around developing barley varieties ah Having a team as well globally that's so focused on sustainability, like we've got some really aggressive 2030 sustainability targets um and we're well on our way to hit that by 2030 as well through things like biomass, AI.
00:30:00
Speaker
um you know at our facility in Geelong, we've got a wastewater treatment plant. So like 50% of our water that we use is fully recycled. yeah Australia is a very dry planet. Water is a very, very precious resource.
00:30:14
Speaker
And you know you have to be looking at ways everywhere to look after your resources. yeah Yeah, for sure. Did you ever think, you know what, seven or eight of you in this ah warehouse and office space in New Zealand, and like were there moments where you realized how much you were growing and the business was growing and You were growing with it. I imagine you never thought you'd end up spending, you seem to constantly be in Southeast Asia and in Japan. Like, did you ever think it could possibly lead that way? Or do you ever sort of pinch yourself? And sometimes you're in those countries for work as well. i
00:30:48
Speaker
I don't think until I stepped really into the sales director role at Barrett's that I truly understand understood, I guess, one, the scale of our operations, but also the scale of some of the operations in Southeast Asia. you know Some of these breweries up there are massive and they are also producing you know great beer in very difficult climates, very difficult environments too.
00:31:18
Speaker
um And they rely so heavily on the the global malt market because of those those reasons. um and I think for me, something that has really transpired over my last couple of years, you know working with a lot of major breweries across Asia and and still working with Australia and New Zealand breweries is that no matter what the size, what the scale, they're still just as passionate.
00:31:51
Speaker
And they're the most incredible people that it's all built on relationships. Everyone is so lovely, so supportive.
00:32:02
Speaker
All they want to do is collaborate and build partnerships and it's It's really awesome to see. Yeah, yeah. We'll take a break, Sean. I'd love to come back and talk about some of those people you've met over the years that have been important to you and some of the great experiences you've had.
00:32:17
Speaker
Before that, though, you have come a long way you know in a short period of time, um a number of you know promotions and job changes over the years, still very young age, especially for someone. ah Compared to someone like me, do you have have any idea what what it is you sort of brought to the the game? you think that really has helped you get where you have done you know so quickly?
00:32:38
Speaker
I don't know. that's That's a hard thing, really hard thing to think about. um i guess, go gosh, I really don't know.
00:32:50
Speaker
You know, if you if you spoke to some people like... Will, that I have a really good friendship with, he would probably say I'm a pain in the ass. but and I was going to say, surely be enthusiasm or something like that, maybe that's an enthusiasm viewed through a different prism.
00:33:08
Speaker
Yeah, probably. But no, I think, I don't know. I... I probably don't give myself enough praise sometimes. And i i I personally find it really difficult to probably speak about myself a little bit.
00:33:25
Speaker
um But if I was to say anything, I would probably say it's my passion. i've I've been very passionate across the last 10 years and I've given up a lot as well, you know, moving countries right before COVID hit and being stuck here on my own for a long time. You know, Melbourne wasn't the best place to be stuck in.
00:33:48
Speaker
But I would, at the end of the day, I think what's gotten me through and what's, yeah, is definitely has got to be passion and just my love for the job and love for the industry. And your passion is being transferred to different industry. or Before we cut to the break, do you tell us about what lies ahead for you once you reach New Zealand?
00:34:06
Speaker
Yes. um So I'm moving into the dairy industry. So specifically in butter and cheese. Both delicious products. Very much so. As delicious as beer.
Steph's Transition to Dairy Industry
00:34:18
Speaker
So obviously in New Zealand, you know, one of the leading industries is the dairing and dairy industry. And trying...
00:34:24
Speaker
and trying
00:34:29
Speaker
I guess it's quite hard not to work for a dairy company in New Zealand. You know, my brother and my sister-in-law both work for Fonterra. I never thought we would be a family that works in the dairy industry, but it's certainly going that way. So we'll see. But no, it's a massive change for me. I know very little about that industry and that market, but luckily I was able to show that I've got some transferable skills and i was offered the role. So yeah.
00:34:57
Speaker
I can't wait until in a year's time we catch up and you can just tell me everything there is to know about cheese. But before then, let's take a break. Cheers.
00:35:09
Speaker
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00:35:22
Speaker
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00:35:35
Speaker
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00:35:54
Speaker
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00:36:07
Speaker
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00:36:21
Speaker
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00:36:34
Speaker
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00:36:43
Speaker
Okay, welcome back. Steph, now we touched upon it a little bit in the in the first half of the chat. I guess over the last decade, you sort of forge relationships and friendships with a lot of people throughout the beer industry um and the industries that surround it. So not just here, but overseas as well.
00:36:58
Speaker
um I know you've mentioned some of those that sort of become good friends and sort ofve inspired you. i mean, are there people that, you know, as you as this is the sort of this is your life reflection, some people that really helped you along the career or you know that really stood out you know as as guests you know could be a citizens or people that you know helped you along the way yeah to be honest the list is probably is massive um if i was to pick a couple in particular that were were very very special and very close to my heart um probably one of them is sam fuss um
00:37:35
Speaker
if anyone's ever worked with her or come across with her just you know the the time that she has for people you know the laughters the joking around I've been very fortunate that since moving into my director role I have been able to see her a few times at Brew Asia in Vietnam and Singapore and been able to you know still continue to share memories and share good times together um but no she's definitely you know through her time with young henry's and then on to to filter and doing what she did with those filter beers and then moving up to bali um with the brewery up there it's yeah it's been awesome and she's really good and as a sort of sounding board or just someone who's just you know encouraged you along the way
00:38:24
Speaker
A bit of both. you know I think she's always been my biggest one of my biggest supporters. She's just been incredible. um She's always up for a good laugh, but you know she's just been a really genuine friend and and been there personally as well when I've needed her over the years, which has been really awesome.
00:38:40
Speaker
Really, really good. Yeah. i think I've got a few memories of Sam that even from like 15 years ago that have burned so like intensely on the brain because when she gets going, it's like she really gets going. Yeah. It leaves an impression.
00:38:54
Speaker
oh and she is a heck of a lot of fun like she really is there's a lot of memories i certainly am not allowed to speak oh yeah i was just going i can't mention that for that yeah no there's if i was trying to give any sort of example i don't think anything's appropriate yeah um but no absolutely absolutely and then uh i couldn't i probably couldn't go past tiff uh tiffany waldron i know yeah she she has just been exceptional um she especially you know becoming australia's president um of pink boots and the work she did there and the way she built it up as well it was incredible um i think also just the time and support that she's she's put into the industry for
00:39:38
Speaker
um I guess, areas outside of her day-to-day job as being has been amazing. yeah And then I'm trying to... It's really hard to nail down some other people. There's probably so many others that after this I'll kick myself that I didn't mention, but, you know... can edit them in and run a list of names on the screen or something like that. Yeah, let's do a credit list of names. Like Jack, Red, and MC, you know...
00:40:06
Speaker
you know They were actually the probably some of the first industry people i ever met in 2015. They'd just launched Pyrolife. They had a takeover in Sydney.
00:40:19
Speaker
I went along to it not having any idea, but you know they really took me under their wing and and really made me feel... at home and comfortable in an industry at you know that time where women were very far and in between. And it was it was daunting being a 21-year-old walking into some of these rooms, you know not knowing a single person.
00:40:40
Speaker
yeah um So they they were they were awesome in that regard and you know they built Pirate Life to be the awesome brewery that it is. um you know I can't go past mentoring you know Will Irving, Scotty Hargrave, Jane Lewis, um you know Josh Thomas from Beer Farm.
00:41:00
Speaker
All of them have just been really... really exceptional friends over the years. Tim from Hop Nation, you know, he's he's become a really close buddy of mine personally as well, not only professionally, but yeah, a lot of them I will certainly miss having day-to-day interactions with.
00:41:17
Speaker
The man that designed arguably your favourite to Australian beer of the last 10 years there, Tim. Yeah, well, one of Steph's as well, Ratnum. Yeah. That's why we've got mates, right? Exactly. The only reason we're friends around here, isn't that? A common bond over with Julie. That's all right. Those are all a list of names of people who are, I'm sure, chomping at the bit to brew beers in New Zealand. So I'm sure you'll have a chance to catch up and see them whenever they're over.
00:41:40
Speaker
Hopefully. and You mentioned Pink Boots there and also, you know i guess, being one of very few women in the industry when you
Industry Support & Global Perspectives
00:41:47
Speaker
joined. have you, you know, I guess, what was it like sort of being part of Pink Boots and how do you see that sort of this so the society's role within the beer industry?
00:41:56
Speaker
And have you felt that sort of things have changed for for women in the industry over the 10 years you've been involved as well? Yeah, definitely. um you know i was very fortunate that through our partnership with Yakima Chief Hops, we we run the Pink Boots Blend every year and bring that Pink Boots Blend. um you know During COVID, we really did have to adapt.
00:42:16
Speaker
And this opportunity came up where we could actually run a virtual selection process in Australia. so For those that don't know how the selection process usually works, is it usually works at Great American Beer Festival. And they they run the selection process, they pick the varieties that feature in the blend, and and then the blend is produced and released the following year to be beers brewed around International Women's Day.
00:42:41
Speaker
um And then a dollar amount per kilo is donated back to the Pink Boots Society. Now, something that was really, when when when this...
00:42:53
Speaker
when this blend was launched, something that we really wanted to do was, at the time, the Australian Pink Boots Society was operating independently to the the global um chapters.
00:43:07
Speaker
And What we wanted to do is we wanted to make sure that the profit from the blend that was being sold in Australia was going to Australia. We didn't want to go back to the US and it be, you know, caught up and not go back to the Australian organization. So that was something that we got done and it was really awesome to really be able to give them that that direct financial contribution through what we had sold in Australia.
00:43:32
Speaker
um And then obviously when COVID hit, we had the opportunity of doing a selection process in Australia. It was virtual. um You know, we had to deal... Like a special edition? It was difficult at times. We had to...
00:43:49
Speaker
run essential essentially we had each of the state chapters depending on what the government requirements were in the region at the time always changing as well running their own selection process and we sent the varieties out and then i think tiff and i jumped on a call and ran a blind selection process a selection process to come out with this blend and then submit this blend into the us to go into the final selection Um, so we did that for a couple of years and it was, it was really cool that even throughout, you know, what went on, we were able to adapt and really include a lot more people globally throughout that, that selection process.
00:44:34
Speaker
Yeah, my understanding is Pink Boots Australia is one of the more significant chapters, right? Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there any reason, do think that, why that is? Is it because of some of those passionate leaders? You keep saying tip, but I think we need to include you in that as well in your involvement over the years.
00:44:50
Speaker
But also I think, you know, hands down, it goes down to, you know, Jane Lewis, Sam Fuss, you know, Tina, Keralee, you know, there's huge amounts of women behind um Pink Boots that have contributed to build it up and make it what it is today. Absolutely. It's a very, very active ah chapter, very big chapter now as well.
00:45:15
Speaker
um You know, even Ally McDonald, when she was at the helm, you know, things, the passion behind what she did was incredible and has, I think now as well, opening it up to all fermentation, it's been really awesome because it's given that different set of networking, especially for your industry.
00:45:35
Speaker
It's now opened it up to, you know, a whole different network that we necessarily haven't had you know, contact or interaction with and really built that community wider. And I guess the networking side of it, as well as providing scholarships and education all that kind of stuff, I guess that would have been really key, especially when it's a jits to the very male dominated industry. The thing I've noticed over the years, I guess highlights the growth is when there's been the brew days, there might be one a year at the start and then there'll one in each state and then just seeing the photos coming in and then sometimes you've got these huge gatherings of of people coming together to make these beer on this day and you think, God, back then, and
00:46:11
Speaker
you know, the first Victorian women of beer brews, they might have dragged together half a dozen people if they really are, you know, she's sort part of part owner of the business, bring her in whatever. And then over the years, it just sort of grow and grow and just has become this huge network and big community.
00:46:27
Speaker
Yeah. And so and now it's like at the point where you actually have to sign up for a ticket. And if you don't get a ticket, you know, they may be full, you may not get your opportunity to attend this one. But there's always, you know, plenty of opportunities.
00:46:39
Speaker
And I think even through you know the mentor-mentee program, um you know the pathway to judging, getting more women in judging positions throughout those competitions, they're just kind of two programs which I think have just been really beneficial.
00:46:54
Speaker
And do you think you'll keep your sort of, you know, trying to get invites coming to certain events like that once you're in the world of dairy? I don't know. but I don't know.
00:47:05
Speaker
i just need to. Are you going to miss the Abers this year? I am going to miss the Abers. She'll be done in 2026 though. You never and know. We'll see what happens. i might my maker I might make a reappearance just for shits and gigs eventually. World Cheese Cup.
00:47:20
Speaker
Yeah. And what about sort of you know that that' sort of people and and pink boots in terms of, you know, you've been to so many great events, being supportive you know, being supporter or of or being involved in so many events. Have there been any standouts over the years where you just be like, this has just been an amazing thing to be involved in?
00:47:37
Speaker
Or even just sort of personal highlights along the years, know, moments that have really, you know, imprinted themselves on your brain? I think some personal highlights especially, um you know, when we had those bushfires 2019, 2020, know, Christmas, summer pet um we ran that uh farm related the fire relief uh program donating money through barrett's pale malt that had sold and you know we we managed to raise fifty thousand dollars for ah the the fire associations across australia and we split that across and donated it to each state uh fire association easily evenly um to try and provide some relief you know try and do our little part that we could um
00:48:28
Speaker
That for me was, you know, coming from New Zealand, bushfires on that sort of scale or, or you know, what we deal with over here just never really crossed my mind.
00:48:39
Speaker
um And it was very eye awakening to what was going on and the impact it had, you know, on everyone, even, you know, thinking you're safe in the city. But... you know, we were all joking about having to wear masks outside because of the air quality and then fast forward three months later and we were in the compulsory anyway. that was That was sort of the start. It was interesting, you know, it's a reminder of just I think how positive beer industry and sort of, and out I guess, how on the front foot it's been supporting so many causes over the years. Like yeah obviously you had that, we were involved with Beers for Bushfire Relief and then helping drive that Resilience Beer project, which then sort of, think by the time the beer came out, suddenly COVID was upon us and there was this existential crisis and it's never really sort let up since. But um I think, know, has been something, and i think Cryer, you know, on ah on a sort of,
00:49:27
Speaker
business level sporting industries but i think the industry as a whole has been so sort of you know if there is a cause out there that they've sort of pulled together and and had that sort of awesome sort of supportive community vibe as well oh absolutely and i think that's what is something that makes this industry so special is the collaboration and the banding together when times are tough um and when something's going on you know i think also it's amazing walking into the ah conversation or walking into a room and just hearing the sharing of knowledge and, you know, sharing of advice.
00:50:01
Speaker
And it's even between, you know, a major brewer and a smaller brewer, there's, you know, there's some secrets, but there's certainly a lot of collaboration and openness and willing to help and willing to assist. And I think that's really, really, I think it's something that makes the industry very special.
00:50:18
Speaker
Mm-hmm. And what about the travel? Obviously, Will touched upon it before. And when we spoke last week, you were in Japan. like I guess working in the industry has opened the doors for all the travel. Has there been any places you've really enjoyed going, whether you know for awards or just for beer experience or visiting our producers and in other countries that have really stood out?
00:50:36
Speaker
Japan has to be very special to me. I have absolutely loved having the opportunity over the last couple of years going to visit Japan. um you know Like I said, two weeks ago, i was there for Beer Expo Japan and I was in a room with 400 craft brewers from across Japan that had come together for their kind of first ever you know big national beer festival and conference.
00:50:59
Speaker
And it was really, really cool to see. It was a lot of collaboration. know, we sell a lot of malt up into that area and to craft. And it was really awesome to see a lot of, you know, malt being used through Japanese brewers you know, Okinawa through to Naha through to Osaka and Tokyo, you know, everywhere. And it's just, it's very, very cool to see how far and wide, you know, the malt that we produce here in Australia is traveled and used in.
00:51:29
Speaker
Um, that- Did remind you of that, you know, early CBIA kind of events and things like that? Or was it different? Like, like how do you sort of look back at it now as someone who's been craft beer in Australia, New Zealand for a decade?
00:51:43
Speaker
Absolutely. You know, everyone there is either with their little esky jockey boxes um or those, you know, very small little tap systems you see in a lot of places in Japan that are on there. Everyone's got 10-litre kegs.
00:52:01
Speaker
You know, they don't really do kegs much bigger than that around those areas. um But it was very, you know, very close, very intimate. Yeah. It was a really well run event. And yeah, it reminds me of the very early days, um especially in Australia.
00:52:20
Speaker
um I think the the expo side maybe had like 20 people, 20, sorry, suppliers. maybe 30 suppliers. um And it was, yeah, you know, two small rooms, I say rooms widely, kind of set up within the expo space.
00:52:37
Speaker
um But it was really cool. They've really been pushing to get something like this together for a few years. um And it's run by, you know, a group of, essentially volunteers that all have their own craft breweries in Japan that are, you know, putting their time together to make this happen. And it's really cool to see them actually finally be able to make it happen.
00:53:00
Speaker
see It's interesting to hear something that grassroots in Japan this late on it in, I guess, in Australia's journey through craft beers. essential yeah I think back to the early years of craft beer here or the rise of craft beer here and Crafty Pint and Good Beer Week and the Japanese beers coming over, only a handful of it hit a Chino Nest and a couple of others would be coming over and we we had the guy from Baird Beer came over and did a masterclass and he's been there a while. But yeah clearly, you know it's taken more time for it to sort of grow substantially and it gets to that point and that's kind of you know, eye opening and I guess almost reassuring it in a way as well that there's still these you know growth markets out there, you know, not too far from us that are.
00:53:39
Speaker
Exploring know craft beer in a way that we have been and maybe slowed down a little bit the minute, but yeah, it's cool to hear. Yeah, absolutely. And I think. Another, you know, ah back 2019, I had the opportunity to go to Brau in Germany and, you know, to to see like what we saw at Bear Expo Japan two weeks ago to go somewhere like Brau, which is just,
00:54:03
Speaker
you know, a small city, massive, on massive scales, you know, you have one hall just for raw materials, you know, i think Crones has their own hall, you know, they take up an entire hall themselves to see some kind of a ah conference and event on ah significantly larger scale on the opposite side.
00:54:24
Speaker
um It was very, very eye opening, but it was, yeah, a great, great learning opportunity. Yeah. And so of back to, I guess, the the industry in Australia, you touch we touched on it already in terms of the supportive nature of the community, the sort of community nature of the industry, the sharing of information, and might be a bit of a okay curly one, but do you see sort of, you know, the Australian beer industry as having particular strengths that have shown over the years or areas that you look at it and go could still be better in this space?
00:54:54
Speaker
Yeah, I think, you know, the Australian industry right now is is going through a bit of a tough time. um I think that's probably the the best way to summarize it at the moment.
00:55:07
Speaker
um You know, I think, I think though, from what I've seen throughout my 10 years here is that no matter what we're going through, just the supportive nature of the industry where, you know, people,
00:55:23
Speaker
either may be struggling or something has happened or they need a bit of help somewhere. um You know, there's always someone that's willing to help and willing to spend that time to to assist.
00:55:35
Speaker
What about personal or professional lessons you feel like you've really picked up and want to take with you into this new industry? oh gosh. I think don't sweat the small stuff. um you know ah really actually funny story, which I probably don't think too many people knew is... So back in my early days, David actually, Cryomalt used to own Bearvana, which for those that don't know, large beer festival happens in New Zealand.
00:56:03
Speaker
um And about within my first year, we sold Bearvana. But with that, you know we had some contractual obligations for the next couple of years. um And an area that David really built up incredibly was the Portland Beer Exchange and the Portland Bar that happened. So that was a beer exchange where couple of brewers from New Zealand went across for Oregon Brewers Fest and then we actually would bring a couple of brewers over for Bear Varner and bring their beer and do a whole bunch of events around it and collaborate in that sort of sense.
00:56:38
Speaker
Now, very early on, my job was bringing that bear across. And I think over the three years I did it, I don't think it ever went right. Did the bear arrive or?
00:56:50
Speaker
It did eventually. So the first year, remember the bear was on the container ship, but then the container ship caught fire. Oh my God.
00:57:01
Speaker
Right. So then we had to get the beer off and ah container then wasn't going to make it in time. So we had to end up air shipping half of the beer just to survive the festival and then send the rest of it later.
00:57:14
Speaker
But it was an absolute nightmare. And then I think the second year... the brewer didn't get on the plane. So the flight left without him. So we had booked these flights and I remember it was like a Saturday morning and I got a call to say he didn't make it on the plane.
00:57:30
Speaker
So then suddenly we had all this beer and we had all these events, we had collaborations set up and and we had no brewer. That I think for me was a very, very memorable experience, you know, and also just having to realize that things are never going to go right.
00:57:46
Speaker
No matter how much you plan for it, no matter how much you want, you know, you think about every single scenario, you know, who's going to think the container ship's going to catch on fire and it's never actually going to leak. Let's raise a case of firefighting, you know, in your yeah job then.
00:58:01
Speaker
yeah um But no, I think, you know, my my biggest lesson that I'm going to take with me to my new job is to not sweat the small stuff. Focus on the bigger picture. Exactly. And know that ships can catch on fire even though they're surrounded by water.
00:58:16
Speaker
Exactly. Hopefully farmers are more and efficient when it comes to catching flights as well. You hope so. You gotta hope so. Um, cool. And I will wrap up shortly, but I, I don't know if you've given too much thought to this. I'm assuming some sort of, you know, leaving party farewells coming up. And I'd love to know after sort of 10 years in the, in the industry, what, you know, beer or beers will be on the, you know, on the, the ride of the wish list or in your hand when you, you say farewell to the beer industry. Or are you throwing out any luggage so you can take a couple of four packs back with you?
00:58:53
Speaker
So obviously, as we mentioned earlier, you know, Radahund is a very, ah very favorite beer of mine. But I think for me, my go-to consistently beer has got to be Bolter XBA.
00:59:10
Speaker
You know, i I visited that brewery. It was... the Craft Brewers Conference that it was in Brisbane and I think it was probably 2016. It was, Bolter had just opened, you know, they were just in that front small warehouse, that was all it was.
00:59:28
Speaker
um and just being able to watch them grow, you know, be able to support them over the years. um Obviously, you know, what what Scotty and Stirls and the team did there has just been absolutely incredible.
00:59:43
Speaker
um I have a lot of respect for them as them as people and the, you know, the the company that they built and then onsold to Asahi. um But for me, you know, that beer is consistently good and It will always be the beer that I reach for if it's on at the bar.
01:00:01
Speaker
Great. Well, I hope you enjoy your final Bolter XPAs, but how whatever it ends up being. And, yeah, best of luck back in New Zealand. You know, don't a stranger. Thank you. And, yeah, same. If you're ever over my way, don't be a stranger. course. Thanks, Sam. Thank you. Cheers. Cheers.
01:00:19
Speaker
The Crafty Pint podcast is produced and edited by Matt Hoffman. You can get all your beer-related news and reviews on the Crafty Pint website, craftypint.com, and can stay up to date on future podcast episodes of via our socials.
01:00:33
Speaker
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01:00:49
Speaker
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