The August 10 Edition

In my version of utopia, the little guy often wins. You know, the one who leaves his well-paid job to start up something of his own, something more creative, fun and fulfilling than working for da man. He intuits what the populace want before the populace even know they want it, and delivers it to them. David triumphs over Goliath, the end. Of course, in real life it’s never that simple. Goliath often sees what David is doing and, with all his resources and market power, jumps ahead of – or on top of – David. Governments also want a slice of David’s brilliance, adding to his red-tape headache and cost base. And, well, sh*t just happens, too (hello, pandemic). The rise and fall of craft brewing reflects this trajectory, and in today’s cover story, Konrad Marshall assesses why it’s all suddenly become so difficult. It’s a reality check, particularly if, like me, you are rather fond of Gordon, the microbrewer from the superb home-grown TV series Colin from Accounts, and his ilk. Come to think of it, that was another indie-done-good story, a TV show created by two little people with a big idea that became a hit around the world. Maybe there’s still hope for David, after all. – Editor, Katrina Strickland.