The Cool Room – Details, episodes & analysis

It's a big episode featuring the World's Smallest Beer Festival and the return of one of our favorite brewers Michael Stanzel who is now at Devilbend Farm.

You can grab the beers we discuss with Michael from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/devilbend-oktoberfest-6-pack

Old friends Ian McNally, Nick Capper and Pocket Beagles' Clint Weaver arrive in the Coolroom for the world's longest promo for the world's smallest beer festival which will take place at Brewmanity on Saturday November 30.

Just how many small things can you jam into one festival, will Ian jump a fiery BMX and just how did Clint find himself involved in all of this - listen in to find out!

And then it's the first of 2 chats with Michael who is now brewing at Devilbend farm about his amazing Oktoberfest beers and much much more. 

What's it like to start with a blank canvas brewery, what memories of German Oktoberfests does he bring to his brewing and what's the right way to pronounce Aldi?

We learn how Devilbend grow their own grains, hops and cows, have a heap of enzyme talk and about the joys of roof trapdoors.

In the second part of their visit to the the Thursday night Zoom Room Ollie, Ross and Hamish from Rocky Ridge share more stories of the their journey in both the West Australian and Victorian craft beer scenes.

In this episode we sip the amazing Hoppel Bock which is available as part of the tasting pack from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/rocky-ridge-mixed-6-pack We learn all about the original doppelbock style and then how the team worked with hop growers on this adaptation.

Then we go behind the scenes to find out what the guys wish they'd known earlier in their journey, the realities of the craft beer market in 2024 and why they are optimistic and expanding into Victoria.

It's the second part of our online tasting with Paul Holgate and Chris Brady from legendary Australian brewery Holgate! But before we get to that we also have the ATO's answers to the questions you submitted to us!

Don't forget you can grab the beers we discuss with Holgate from our website here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/holgate-mixed-6-pack

Paul and Chris share their approach to barrel-aging beers and why they choose to use local barrels, we learn all about the beer they've collaborated on for Bendigo on the Hop, the challenges of making 25 special beers to celebrate 25 years of brewing and what "beery mountains" they still have to climb.

Oh, and they tell us all about their 125 year old Coolroom!

Davydd and Warren are joined by Jimmy from Good Land to hear about his journey from home brewer to brewery owner with lots of adventures along the way.

The beers we discuss in the episode are available from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/good-land-mixed-8-pack

We learn all about Jimmy's travels around the world and the amazing breweries that he got to work at - and of course the lessons he learned - all of which contribute to the vast array of techniques he uses in the production of Good Land beers.

And we dare to ask about "The Brown Malt Scenario"!

Warren and Davydd are joined live from Scotland by Dundee's 71 Brewing! It's a fascinating conversation as we explore some amazing beers and the stories behind them.

If you're sipping at home while you listen you need to have the following 71 beers in front of you: Neutron Dance, Scotch Pi and Subtlety in Art - luckily they are all contained in the tasting pack that's available from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/71-brewing-9-pack

We explore the how Dundee has changed and the role that the brewery has played as a place where students and creatives can gather as the popularity of craft beer has grown. 

We learn more about the many links that the brewery has to Melbourne and where all their cool beer names come from.

We have our first ever beeped out section, a public service announcement about raising pet deer, an examination of keeping kayaks in coolrooms and what makes Warren Wu declare "It's more fun when it's disturbing"???

Travis returns! Davydd and Warren are not only joined by Travis but a full cast from Co-conspriators to discuss the collaboration cold IPA that we made together - it's only available at Cocon's brewpub and only for a limited time so make sure you get out there soon so you can enjoy this taste sensation!

We talk brewing with Deon and get all of the low-down on the recipe and brewing techniques needed for this style which he maintains is not a contentious one! Jacqui tells us all the gossip on how things are going at the venue and what's planned as their first anniversary approaches. We try to figure out what Tim actually does and get to meet new team member Scott and hear his coolroom story.

And there's absolutely no mention of ceiling windows or football...

Davydd and Warren are joined by Josh Kendal - the head brewer from Wolf of the Willows to discuss his journey in brewing and some amazing Wolf of the Willows beers.

As ever this episode is accompanied by a great tasting pack so you can enjoy the beers while we chat about them - it's available for home delivery from here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/wolf-of-the-willows-8-pack

We discuss many of the recent collaborations the brewery has undertaken, the brewing techniques required to brew with coffee or whiskey barrels and why putting a python in the coolroom may not be the best solution to a mouse problem. 

What's happening in the Chinese craft beer scene, why have the Holgate alumni spread so far and why does the Woodsman Amber Ale work so well in the Melbourne market?

Davydd and Warren are joined by the team from Noodledoof for a pleasant Sunday afternoon chat about all things Noodledoofian!

Support the podcast and maximise your experience by buying the tasting pack which accompanies this episode from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/noodledoof-8-pack

We learn all about life in Koroit and surrounding areas where barrels, cherries, bees and of course great beer can be found in abundance. What led the guys to set up shop there and what was the journey that brought them together?

We learn some troubling revelations about rhubarb, feijoas, and spatulas and why a spritzer sour is most definitely not a seltzer.

And without doubt the quote of the day is "We don't think about the profit at all!" Which might just be the motto of everyone involved!

Warren and Davydd are joined by the founder Frank and Senior Brewer Eden to discuss all things Prancing Pony. As ever you can buy the the beers we discuss in this episode from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/collections/prancing-pony

We hear how Frank went from brewing cans of Cooper's home-brew experts to starting his own brewery, and how Eden moved from working behind the bar to being in the brewhouse!

What beers and styles inspire them, how do they work together and what do they disagree about? [Spoiler -  not much!]

We learn how they almost didn't enter any beers in the the World Beer Championships which they ended up winning, and what's changed and what's stayed the same as the brewery has developed!

Warren and Davydd are joined by Joshua from Melbourne's Black Arts to hear about his journey through hospitality into the world of brewing.

If you'd like to taste any of the beers we discuss in the podcast you can buy them from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/collections/black-arts

We hear the back stories of his amazing beers and the techniques that he uses to brew and blend them as well as advice for home brewers who want to experiment with similar styles.

What happens when you discover your brewery is in a blast zone, why did he swear so much at Blobfish [and what even is Blobfish] and is Davydd planning a robbery?

For the answers to all these questions and more listen on!