"People use it to learn English, and I think that's spectacular."

Em Sauter is an American drinks communicator, international beer judge, podcast host and writer who specialises in visual education. To Australian beer fans and those working in beer, she's best known as as the person behind Pints and Panels, an award-winning website focused on "Visual Drinks Education" which launched in 2010.

Em returned to Australia earlier this month to judge at the Australian International Beer Awards – and to enjoy the country's XPAs, Cherry Ripes and coffee culture.

We caught up with her at Carwyn Cellars, where she held a pop-up stall during Pint of Origin, for a chat diving into the history of Pints and Panels. It covers the rise of AI, her experience travelling the world as a beer judge, and Em’s take on the state of beer in the US.

There's a bit to get through in this week's show before we get to the main event too – not least as it's the 100th full episode of The Crafty Pint Podcast.

We look back on the biggest Pint of Origin to date, discuss features on newly-crowned AIBA Champion Nomad Brewers Shack Bay and Goons Brewing, who opened their brewery venue on the Central Coast right at the end of 2026, and revisit one of the topics from Episode 099 that's been attracting a lot of attention on socials: container deposit schemes.

• 0:00 – The Week On Crafty
• 15:56 – Australia's Biggest Beer Fan
• 17:06 – Em Sauter Part 1
• 42:35 – 100 Years of Roasting at Joe White Maltings
• 43:32 – Em Sauter Part 2

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