Paddles, Podcasts & Performing With The Beer Pioneer

“Any job where it’s reasonable for you to have a beer in your hand when you’re doing it is a pretty good deal.”

Those words could be spoken at any brewery opening; in this case, however, they come courtesy of Crafty podcast guest Matt Stewart.

Matt is a Melbourne-based comedian, podcast host, and history-travel-beer guide known as The Beer Pioneer. The last of those is a television show that first aired in 2021 and saw Matt track the path of William Buckley while visiting breweries along the way. Season Two – Up The Guts – is available now on YouTube; it follows John McDouall Stuart’s journey from the bottom to the top of Australia.

As well as hosting a show about beer, Matt has long loved trying new beers, frequently visiting new breweries and posting about them via his Paddlegram posts.

Ahead of the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, during which Matt is performing his new show Bad Boy, we chatted to him about his love for beer, career in comedy, and the common ground between the two.

Ahead of the main interview, James and Will talk about Voyager Craft Malt’s impressive showing on the world stage, and the growing number of hop waters on the local market. You’ll also discover who's been named Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month.

Start of segments:

• 7:54 – Matt Stewart Part 1
• 43:18 – Bluestone Brewery of the Month
• 45:53 – Matt Stewart Part 2

Relevant links:

• Crafty article on The Beer Pioneer 
• The Beer Pioneer's YouTube Channel
• Matt’s MICF 2025 Show 
• Do Go On Podcast
• More Global Success For Voyager
• I Feel It In My (Hop) Waters
• Nominate a good beer citizen
• Nominate a Bluestone Yeast Brewery of the Month

To find out more about supporting the show or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact [email protected].