The Grand Ridge Project in Mirboo North has started serving its tap beers, with owners Kelly and Andy McCarthy set to officially open the venue on Friday, October 30. The kitchen is still being completed, so visitors can drink at the bar and eat from food trucks parked outside. Four beers are currently on tap, including a pale ale, hazy IPA and lager, with a dark ale due in about a month. The beers are brewed at Burra Brewing in Korumburra, with plans to move production to the old Mirboo North brewery once renovations are finished.
The Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets will hold the third annual Beer Day Out on Sunday 8 November. The free event, run with Plonk, will let visitors sample beers and talk with brewers from nearly two dozen breweries across the region and the nation. Live music will feature, and the relaxed setting suits both beer enthusiasts and newcomers. Canberra brewers Cypher Brewing, Capital Brewing and Bentspoke Brewing will attend, alongside breweries from interstate and New Zealand. Entry is free but ticketed, with registration through Humantix.
Former ESPN host Britt McHenry was caught on video throwing a drink at a fan during a Wizards and Bucks NBA game in Washington. TMZ reports the altercation started after fans made comments about the fiancee of Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, citing sources close to McHenry. Video shows debris thrown at her as she left the section, and a security guard was seen directing her to the exit. McHenry joined ESPN in 2017 and was later laid off. She now works as a press adviser for the U.S. State Department.
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Customers of Ultra Right Beer, a brand marketed as an alternative to Bud Light, say they paid for six-packs they never received. The company was founded by Seth Weathers, who promoted it under the name Conservative Dad. The Better Business Bureau has given the company an F rating, and Georgia's attorney general has opened an investigation. Weathers has not responded to requests for comment and has not posted on his social media pages since late last year. Anheuser-Busch has also taken legal action against the company over trademark concerns.
South Australian brewer Pirate Life says its new Nitro Draught Stout delivers a creamy, tap-quality pour straight from the can. A fixed nitro widget inside the tin releases nitrogen when opened, creating a silky head. The 4.2 per cent stout has coffee and dark chocolate aromas, a light body and a relatively dry finish. Pirate Life general manager Mark Moran said the brewer spent years refining the process. The four-pack costs $21.99 and is sold at Dan Murphy's and Liquorland, as well as on tap at Pirate Life Perth.
Several Canberra venues are marking Oktoberfest this October with German beer, food and music. Assembly in Braddon offers $10 steins and a live oompah band on Saturday 17 October, and a free entry seat booking is recommended. The Harmonie German Club in Narrabundah hosts a two-day event from Friday 30 October, with dancing, a wurst eating competition and axe throwing. Other events include a garden party at Patrick White Lawns on Saturday 24 October and a Bavarian-themed night at Mooseheads in the City.
Radler, a German beer mixed with citrus and typically lower in alcohol than lager, is gaining ground in Australia. Its origins are linked to Bavaria in the 1920s, when an innkeeper stretched his beer supply by mixing it with lemon soda for thirsty cyclists. Many European Radlers sit around 2 to 3 per cent alcohol by volume. Local brewer Stone & Wood has added a Citrus Radler to its core range, and several imported versions are now easy to find. The guide recommends six options for the warmer months.
Slow Lane Brewing, a Sydney-based craft brewery, has released Long Shadow, a Biere de Garde inspired by historic French farmhouse ales. This amber beer, brewed in cooler months, offers complex aromas of malt, dried fruit, and spices, with a rich, sweet malt character and a dry finish. Priced at $10.50 or $34 for a four-pack, its 7.5% ABV makes it ideal for sharing on cooler nights. The brewery, known for its award-winning beers, draws inspiration from traditional European styles, giving them a modern twist. Long Shadow is designed to bridge the gap between winter stouts and summer ales.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission has conducted raids on the headquarters of four major breweries, Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory, as part of a compulsory investigation into alleged price-fixing. The four companies dominate over 90% of Japan's beer market, making this probe significant for both the industry and consumers. Authorities are examining whether inflated wholesale prices were transferred to retailers, eateries and the public. This marks a substantial development in Japan's ongoing efforts to maintain fair competition in the beverage sector.
Japanese authorities have raided four major beer manufacturers over suspicions they colluded to raise prices. Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory, which control 90 per cent of Japan's beer market, are under investigation by the Fair Trade Commission. The companies have confirmed the raids and said they would cooperate with the investigation, which could lead to criminal charges if anti-monopoly laws were breached. The breweries also produce beer in Australia, with Asahi employing nearly 4,000 Australians across 17 sites.
