The Crafty Pint Podcast

“We want to pay proper homage to the ten years of people that have come and made this their home.”
When Wildflower co-founder and visionary Topher Boehm announced he was to close the Marrickville venue the brewers and blenders had called home for a decade, it didn’t just send ripples through the beer world – the story was picked up by mainstream media too.
Perhaps that’s only to be expected: in terms of impact made per litre of beer sold, there can be few operations anywhere on the planet that would come close to this magical corner of the Australian beer world.
That impact can be measured by the quality and sheer delightfulness of their many releases, the transformative nature of their Marrickville base, the team’s advocacy for other producers and growers, as well as for better ways of producing and growing, and in the generous manner in which they would share their experiences, knowledge and learnings.
As soon as we got word Wildflower was to close at the end of May – at least for now, and in its current form – there was no question we’d invite him back onto the show. So grab a glass – or bottle – of your favourite mixed-culture beer and settle in as Topher tells us what led him here, how he thinks Wildflower might evolve, and shares stories and reflections from the past decade-plus.
It’s our longest episode to date – which won’t surprise anyone who knows our guest – but we’re sure you won’t be calling stumps early.
Before we get to Topher, James and Will discuss the impending opening of a venue by an operation with similarities to Wildflower, the ongoing rise of non-alc beers, the arrival in the Crafty directory of Melbourne bars Rose Island and mates., plus the opening of entries for the 2026 Australian International Beer Awards, and the latest events and giveaways for our Crafty Cabal beer club members.
Please like, subscribe and tell your beer-loving mates if you enjoy the show too!
Start of segments: 16:18 – Topher Boehm Part 1
54:04 – The High Country Hop 2026 Preview 1
59:31 – Topher Boehm Part 2
To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].

“We’re all from here, and we want to give back.”
When Ryefield Hops started producing hops commercially on land formerly used for dairy in the South Coast region, they were the first to do so in New South Wales. A decade on from launching the business, the family operation run by Jade McManus and Morgan and Karen Taylor remains the only grower in the state.
Now the third largest producer of hops in the country, admittedly with just 0.5 percent of the market, they’re standard-bearers when it comes to sustainability – in all facets of the business – and part of a small but growing band of indie suppliers working alongside the local brewing industry.
James joined them at their farm in the beautiful Bemboka Valley just as much-needed rain arrived – thankfully wrapping up the chat just as the heavens really opened. The trio took him through the genesis of the project, their first customers (Batch and Wildflower), subsequent growth, installation of a pelletiser, and plans for the future.
They addressed the challenges of being first-generation farmers, dealing with buying plants that weren’t as advertised, the steps they take to give back to the land as well as their local community, their delight at seeing Ryefield Hops introduced into core range beers, and partnering with fellow indies, such as Voyager Craft Malt and Mogwai Labs.
The discussion of the week’s news looks back at the weekend’s Hottest 100 countdown and forward to the impending launch of The Beer Championships – a new competition for the beer industry conceived by two of the country’s best-known brewers and judges.
Start of segments: 13:51 – Ryefield Hops Part 1
36:59 – Enter the Royal Queensland Beer Awards
38:04 – Ryefield Hops Part 2
To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].

“Anything that’s happening in our area we try to be a part of.”
The Crafty Pint Podcast returns for 2026 in the company of Renn Blackman, one half of the powerhouse husband-and-wife team behind one of the sunniest and funnest breweries in the country.
The family influence at Blackman’s runs deeper than just Renn and Jess too: parents and others helped get the business up and running – quite literally when it’s come to knocking their venues into shape – and some are acknowledged in core range beer names.
They’re also big on community, sponsoring many causes and clubs, as well as partnering with events big and small throughout the Surf Coast and Geelong region. They’ve brewed beer for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and you can now enjoy their beers at the Cats’ stadium – a major achievement for lifelong Geelong fan Renn.
As well as discussing the ethos that’s helped Blackman’s evolve to where they are today, Renn tells us how he and Jess first met while working a snow season, about their travels both within Australia and overseas, the genesis of the brewery, their decision to operate multiple venues before such an approach started becoming commonplace, diversifying, running fun events, and the secret (or not-so-secret) to making great beer.
At the start of the show, Will and James round up the stories we’ve published so far this year: the return of a Hop Nation founder to his winemaking roots; the launch of one hospo pioneer’s new venue; a bucolic experience on Phillip Island; and a new culture club in Tassie.
If you enjoy the show, please like, subscribe, rate and review on whichever podcast platform you use.
Start of segments:
18:44 – Renn Blackman Part 1
39:36 – Enter the Royal Queensland Beer Awards
40:40 – Renn Blackman Part 2
To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].

“The whole craft beer industry is built around community.”
We wrap up The Year In Beer 2025 series with a look at what’s been going on in the Canberra region and the Northern Territory.
The episode kicks off with James and Will joined by Mat Farrington from CanBEERra for a discussion about openings and closures in and around the capital, some of the festivals large and small he’s enjoyed in 2025, the growing prevalence of terpenes in beer and more.
Sticking in Canberra, James is then joined by Paul Docherty from craft beer and pizza joint To All My Friends at the end of a year in which he and the team have created a number of collabs with some of their favourite brewers.
The final stop for the series is at Purple Mango, a brewery and café set in bushland just over an hour from Darwin on the way to Kakadu. Co-owner Adam Asanovski reflects on their ongoing expansion, use of local ingredients, and the challenge of trying to secure tap points in the Top End.
We also reveal the final winner of the year in our Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month campaign, with the podcast now taking a break until the second half of January. Thanks to everyone that’s watched and listened; if you’ve any feedback, we’d love to hear from you via this survey.
Start of segments: 2:45 – Mat Farrington
20:09 – Paul Docherty
34:07 – Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month
37:36 – Adam Asanovski
To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].

“That nostalgia is really hitting super-hard after COVID because everyone really misses going to the pub.”
Regular podcast hosts James and Will are on home turf for the last state-based episode of The Year In Beer 2025 series before we wrap up the series in the Territories.
While trying not to retread topics covered in the National Trends article and episode, we discuss the year’s openings, closures, sales and expansions, the success of smaller festivals, good pubs and taproom activations, acknowledge the breweries in or entering their third decade as independent small businesses, awards triumphs and more – while also doffing our caps to all the people who’ve helped make the show possible in 2025.
James is then joined by Ben Carwyn and Ben Duval from Carwyn Cellars to hear about their ongoing efforts to recover from the collapse of Fox Friday and their plans for 2026.
Last but not least is Conna Mallett, one of Love Shack’s founders, who joins us from the front bar of his Castlemaine brewpub hot on the heels of a highly entertaining collab with Tropical Fuck Storm. We touch upon luck, nostalgia, branding, community, good hospo and more.
Mid-show we also unveil the identity of the last good beer citizen to be crowned this year in Have You Done A Rallings? And as the podcast wraps up for the year, we’re keen for feedback via this survey.
Start of segments:
0:00 – James & Will
27:27 – Ben Carwyn & Ben Duval
43:53 – Have You Done A Rallings?
47:30 – Conna Mallett
To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].