“A lot of my ethos about what I’d like brewing to be is that DIY punk vibe, which is really collaborative.”

A year on from Feral’s return to independence, the brewery unveiled a new look, a tightened core range, and a new head brewer, with ex-Beavertown and Beerfarm brewer Charlotte Freeston entrusted with shaping the next chapter in the iconic brand’s story.

Ahead of Froth Town 2025, we joined her at Feral’s brewery (with AIBA Best Media 2025 winner Guy Southern along as co-host) to find out more about the new direction and plans for the future, from barrels and a new venue to the return of Tusk.

As anyone who has met Charlotte would know, beer and brewing formed just part of the conversation. We find out about her pre-Beavertown career, which took in fine art, making bespoke paint and music videos, set-building, and travelling the UK in her grandad’s old BMW gaining brewing experience, as well as her views on the wider beer community here and in the UK, the Pink Boots Society, and learning not to apologise for being unapologetic.

It’s a delightful chat, which follows a look back at the week on Crafty – Sobah entering VA, more on the beer scene in Central Queensland, a peak inside brewer trials for new hops, and the second part of Creating A Venue – and includes the latest winner in our Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month campaign. Enjoy!

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Start of segments:

• 17:21 – Charlotte Freeston Part 1
• 33:21 – Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month
• 38:00 – Charlotte Freeston Part 2

To find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.