Aussie Beer Favorites: What's In The Cooler?

Australia has a diverse and vibrant beer culture, with a wide array of beer styles and around 70 different Australian beer brands. Despite the common misconception that Aussies drink Foster's, the beer is rarely found Down Under and is mostly exported. So, what do Australians drink?

Lager is the most popular type of beer in Australia, with Victoria Bitter (VB) being the top-selling beer in the country. Other popular beers include Carlton Draught, XXXX Gold, Coopers, Tooheys, Furphy, James Boag and Great Northern.

Aussies don't drink much Fosters, it's mostly exported

Fosters is not brewed in Australia, and it is not even Australian-owned. The Foster's Group is owned by the world's largest multinational brewing company, AB InBev, and the beer is brewed in Manchester. This means it is not an Australian beer brand at all.

Despite this, Fosters has long been marketed abroad as an Australian beer, particularly in the USA and the UK. It was first imported into the UK in 1971 and launched in the US in 1972. In 2005, it was one of the ten best-selling beers globally.

Within Australia, there are strong regional differences in beer offerings and brand loyalty. Popular beers include Tooheys, Hahn, and James Squire in New South Wales; VB and Carlton Draught in Victoria; XXXX in Queensland; Coopers, West End, and Southwark in South Australia; and Swan and Emu in Western Australia.

Lager is the most popular beer type in Australia

Although Foster's Lager is not a popular domestic beer in the 21st century, its popularity internationally has grown and the product is made mostly for export. In January 2005, the brand was one of the ten best-selling beers globally. However, it is not considered a local drink anywhere in Australia and is, in fact, brewed in Manchester, UK.

The most popular beers in Australia include Carlton Draught, XXXX Gold (pronounced four exes), Coopers, Victoria Bitter (VB), Tooheys, Furphy, James Boag, and Great Northern.

Carlton Draught is a pale lager produced in Melbourne, Victoria, and is considered one of the most popular beers in Australia. XXXX Gold, on the other hand, is a mid-strength beer that is particularly popular in Queensland, where it is as cherished as mangos, Powderfinger, and Wally Lewis.

Coopers Brewery, the largest Australian-owned brewery, is located in Adelaide, South Australia, and is known for its high-quality Sparkling Ale and Pale Ale. Victoria Bitter (VB) is another iconic Australian lager with a classic 'hard-earned thirst' jingle that has been a staple since 1968.

Tooheys, founded in 1869, is a historic brand from Sydney, New South Wales, that offers a range of beers, including Tooheys New, Tooheys Old (a dark ale), and Tooheys Extra Dry. James Boag's Brewery, located in Launceston, Tasmania, produces a variety of beers, including James Boag's Premium Lager, Boag's Draught, and Boag's Honey Porter.

With a vibrant and diverse beer culture, Australia offers a wide array of beer styles, including Pale Ale, Stout, Wheat Beers, Belgian Ales, Sour Beers, Amber Ale, Golden Ale, Pilsners, Saison, and Farmhouse Ale.

Carlton Draught is the most popular beer in Australia

The brand has a rich history and is known for its quirky, comical advertisements. In 2003, the formulation of Carlton Draught was changed slightly to reduce the alcohol content from 5.0% to 4.6% in response to an increase in alcohol taxes. The logo was also updated, and a new advertising campaign was introduced to target a wider market. The beer was promoted with humorous billboards and advertisements as being "made from beer".

Carlton Draught has also been a long-time sponsor of the Australian Football League, dating back to 1877, and is the official beer of the AFL. The brand's popularity has been further boosted by its sponsorship of major sporting events and its association with Australia's favourite pastime.

In addition to its wide availability and marketing campaigns, Carlton Draught is also known for delivering the freshest draught beer. The brand showcases its commitment to freshness with the glorious copper tanks of Brewery Fresh Carlton Draught Tank Beer, which contain a vast golden sea of unpasteurised Carlton Draught. This focus on freshness, combined with its value for money, has made Carlton Draught a favourite among Australians.

Aussies drink different beers in different states

In New South Wales, beers like Tooheys, Hahn, and James Squire are popular. Victoria Bitter (VB) is also found on many pub menus throughout the state. Tooheys has been around since 1869 and is brewed in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe. Hahn Brewery, which has been around since 1986, produces several low-carb beers. James Squire, Australia's first commercial brewer, lends his name to a Sydney-based brewery that produces several beers, including Amber Ale and Golden Ale.

In Tasmania, the beers are generally split between Cascade in the south and Boags in the north. Cascade Brewery, located in Hobart, is considered the oldest brewery in Australia that has been operating continuously. Boag's Brewery, on the other hand, is located in Launceston and was founded in 1883.

Victoria, the state south of New South Wales, is known for VB and Carlton Draught beers. VB, or Victoria Bitter, is the top-selling beer in Australia, brewed in Melbourne but enjoyed nationwide. Carlton Draught, another pale lager produced in Melbourne, is also one of the country's most popular beers.

As you cross the border into Queensland, you'll start seeing XXXX, the state's most popular beer. XXXX is brewed in Milton, Brisbane, and is found on tap in most Queensland pubs, offering options like XXXX Bitter, XXXX Gold, and XXXX Summer Bright Lager.

In South Australia, popular beers include Coopers, West End, and Southwark. Coopers Brewery, headquartered in Adelaide, is a family-run business that has been crafting beers like Sparkling Ale, Pale Ale, and Best Extra Stout since 1862. The South Australia Brewing Company combines two breweries, producing both West End and Southwark beers.

Finally, in Western Australia, regional favourites include Swan and Emu. The Swan Brewery, located in Perth near the Swan River and Swan Valley, produces Swan Draught and Swan Stout. Emu Brewery, now bought out by Swan Brewery, continues to brew Emu Bitter, Emu Export, and Emu Draught at the Swan Brewery site.

While Foster's is often advertised abroad as an Australian favourite, it is rarely found in the country, as most of its production is sent straight to export.

Beer arrived in Australia with British colonisation

The first official brewer in Australia was John Boston, a former convict who brewed a beverage from Indian corn bittered with cape gooseberry leaves. However, it is likely that beer was brewed unofficially much earlier. The first pub, the Mason Arms, was opened in 1796 in Parramatta by James Larra, a freed convict.

The drink of choice for the first settlers and convicts was rum, which even became a semi-official currency for a period of time. Drunkenness was a significant problem in the early colony, and beer was promoted as a safer and healthier alternative to rum.

In 1804, James Squire became the first person to successfully cultivate hops in Australia and opened a pub and brewery. The first lager brewery in Australia was established in 1885, and by 1900, there were numerous breweries operating across the country.

Today, lager is by far the most popular type of beer consumed in Australia, and the country boasts a diverse beer culture with a wide array of styles available, including India Pale Ale (IPA), Pale Ale, Stout, Wheat Beers, Belgian Ales, Sour Beers, and more.

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