Exploring Australia's Beer: A Guide To Local Brews

Australia has a diverse and thriving beer culture, with a range of local and international brands available. While lager is the most popular type of beer consumed in the country, the market is increasingly fragmented, with smaller microbreweries popping up everywhere. Beer offerings and brand loyalty tend to be quite regional, so when travelling around Australia, it's common to find different beers on tap in different areas.

Some of the most popular beers in Australia include Great Northern Brewing Co, Carlton Dry, XXXX Gold, Coopers, Victoria Bitter, Tooheys, Corona, Pure Blonde, and Furphy Refreshing Ale. Beer serving sizes also vary across the country, with different names for the same size glass in different states, adding to the unique drinking culture in Australia.

Popular Australian beers

Beer is a big deal in Australia, and it is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the country. Lager is the most popular type of beer consumed in Australia, and in 2004, the country was ranked fourth internationally in per capita beer consumption.

The Big Brands

• Carlton Draught is a mega-popular lager, particularly in Victoria, where it is the go-to beer. It has become increasingly popular in New South Wales, too.
• Victoria Bitter (VB) is an iconic Australian lager, particularly associated with Melbourne. It has a higher alcohol content of 4.9%.
• XXXX (pronounced Four-Ex) is a Queensland favourite, with a full-strength pale lager and a mid-strength variety, XXXX Gold.
• Toohey's is the most ubiquitous beer in Sydney, brewed there since 1869. It is also popular in New South Wales.
• Coopers is the largest Australian-owned brewery, based in Adelaide. It produces a variety of beers, notably the green-capped pale ale.
• James Boag's is the beer of choice in the north of Tasmania.
• Great Northern is a popular beer in Queensland, particularly on a hot day.
• Castlemaine XXXX is a historic Queensland beer, brewed in Milton since the early 20th century.
• Melbourne Bitter is another popular Victorian beer.
• Swan and Emu are the most commonly consumed beers in Western Australia.

The Craft Beers

• Furphy Refreshing Ale is a recent addition to licensed venues and is becoming more and more popular.
• Iron Jack is an up-and-coming lager, marketed as perfect for Australia's dry conditions.
• Young Henry's Newtowner is a pale ale from an inner-city Sydney suburb, Newtown.
• James Squire is a craft brewer, with beers such as the One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale.
• Matilda Bay is a Perth craft brewery with successful products such as Fat Yak and Redback.
• Hahn Super Dry is a low-carb beer, with 70% less carbs than regular beer.

Beer serving sizes in Australia

In Sydney, the typical glass size is 425mls and is called a "schooner". This is the default size, and you will likely receive this if you simply ask for a beer. A "pint" in Sydney is 570mls, and a "middy" is 285mls.

In South Australia, a "schooner" is used for a 285ml glass, while a "pint" is 425mls. In Western Australia, a "schooner" is not a standard drink size, and people opt for 570ml "pints" instead.

In Tasmania, a "middy" (285ml) is called a "seven". In Queensland, a "middy" is called a "pot", and a "seven" glass is just called a "beer". In the Northern Territory, a "middy" is known as a "handle".

A "pint" in Australia is 570mls everywhere outside of South Australia, where it is referred to as an "imperial pint" to differentiate from the 425ml glass they call a "pint". A "pot" in most states is 285mls, but in Queensland, it is 200mls. A "seven" is 200mls in most states, but in Tasmania and Queensland, it is simply called a "beer". A "butcher" is a 200ml glass in South Australia.

A "boutique schmiddy" is 350mls and is used for craft or foreign beers, while a "pony" is 140mls, though glasses smaller than 285mls are losing popularity.

Larger serving measurements have become increasingly popular, such as "jugs" (1140mls), "Maß" (1 litre), and "beer towers".

Beer drinking culture in Australia

Beer drinking is an integral part of Australian culture and is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the country. In 2004, Australia was ranked fourth internationally in per capita beer consumption, with around 110 litres consumed per year.

History of Beer in Australia

Beer first arrived in Australia with British colonisation. Captain James Cook brought beer with him on his ship, HMS Endeavour, in 1768. Beer was still being consumed on board in 1770 when Cook became the first European to discover the east coast of Australia.

The first official brewer in Australia was John Boston, 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.

Beer Drinking Culture

Beer is commonly consumed in pubs and is often served at social and cultural events. In recent times, there has been an increase in the popularity of boutique beers, particularly in inner cities, where there are wealthier drinkers with more particular tastes. Most bars will provide some of the more popular local craft and international import beers on tap.

Beer Glass Sizes

When ordering a beer in Australia, it is important to note that glass sizes vary across the country. In Sydney, the typical glass size is 425ml and is called a "schooner". In South Australia, however, this same size glass is called a "middy", while in Western Australia and Melbourne, the preferred size is a 570ml "pint". Other glass sizes include the "middy" (285ml), the "boutique schmiddy" (350ml), the "seven" (200ml), and the "pony" (140ml).

Beer Drinking Etiquette

An important aspect of Australian drinking culture is the concept of the "shout", where Australians order consecutive rounds of drinks for each other. It is considered rude to choose a more expensive drink than what others are having, and it is expected that you will return the favour when it is your turn.

Beer brands in Australia

Beer is a big deal in Australia. It is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the country, with the nation ranking fourth internationally in per capita beer consumption in 2004.

Lager is the most popular type of beer consumed in Australia, and the country has a wide variety of beer brands. The largest Australian-owned brewery is the family-owned Coopers Brewery, which was established in 1862 and continues to be owned and operated by the Cooper family. Other major breweries, Carlton & United Breweries and Lion Nathan, are owned by Japanese companies Asahi and Kirin Brewing Company, respectively.

• Toohey's New – This is the most ubiquitous beer in Sydney, available on tap almost everywhere. It is a standard lager for the mass market with an alcohol content of 4.6%.
• Carlton Draught – This is a similar lager to Toohey's New and is very popular in Victoria.
• Victoria Bitter (VB) – VB is an iconic Australian beer that can be found on tap in most pubs, clubs, and bars. It has a slightly higher alcohol content of 4.9%.
• XXXX – Pronounced Four-Ex, this is a full-strength pale lager from Queensland with an alcohol content of 4.4%. It also has a mid-strength variety called XXXX Gold (3.5%).
• Coopers Original Pale Ale – Favoured by South Australians and hipsters, Coopers is one of the most widely available pale ales on tap in Australia. It is a cloudy and refreshing beer with a slightly higher price tag than mass-market lagers.
• James Squire 150 Lashes – Named after the convict who founded beer brewing in Australia, James Squire is a prominent craft brewer. Its 150 Lashes beer is a common fixture across the country and is known for its uncontroversial style that limits fruitiness.
• Furphy Refreshing Ale – This beer has recently emerged from the boutique Little Creatures label and is becoming more prominent in licensed venues. It is a great synthesis between craft and market styles at an affordable price.
• Iron Jack – Iron Jack is a light, watery, and crisp lager that is increasingly served on tap in many Australian pubs. It is marketed as perfectly suited to Australia's dry conditions.
• Young Henry's Newtowner – A newcomer to the scene, Young Henry's is a pale ale designed to mark the 150th anniversary of its home, the trendy inner-city suburb of Newtown. It is a little more expensive and harder to find on tap, but it offers a great blend of Australian malts with a bolder bitterness and fruitiness.
• James Boag – James Boag is a Tasmanian-owned brand that has been operating since 1881. It offers a range of lagers, ales, and beers, including Draught, XXX Ale, and Wizard Smith's Ale. James Boag was rated as the top pick in Canstar Blue's latest Australian beer ratings, receiving five stars for value for money, taste, packaging, and overall satisfaction.

Beer alternatives in Australia

Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Australia, with wine coming out on top for casual drinkers. Lager is the most popular type of beer consumed in the country, and the drinking culture varies across the states.

If you're looking for an alternative to beer, there are plenty of options available on the Australian market. Here are some suggestions:

• Wine spritzers: These are a brilliant alternative to beer, and the cult wine brand Tempus One offers zesty, bubbly, and fresh spritzers with fruit flavours such as passionfruit, berry, and watermelon. They have an alcohol volume of 4%, come in 330ml cans (one standard drink), and are a sessionable beverage at just 125 calories per can.
• Cider: Monteiths Crushed Apple Cider is an extremely light cider that doesn't have the typical 'brewed' taste of other ciders. It is made from sun-ripened New Zealand apples, has an alcohol volume of 4.5%, and approximately 145 calories per can.
• Hard seltzers: Hard Rated Can offers an adult version of Solo with an alcohol volume of 4.5%. It is a fresh and lemony alternative to beer, perfect for a hot day.
• Gin and soda: Archie Rose is a well-regarded gin brand in Australia, and their gin and soda mix with blackberry and lemon myrtle is a balanced drink with an ABV of 6%. It is slightly higher in calories, with 369 per can.
• Ginger beer: Brookvale Union, a brand known for brewing beer, offers a sweet, tangy, and spicy ginger beer. It has a higher ABV of 6% and approximately 198 calories per can.
• Kombucha: Naughty Booch Ginger & Lemon Can offers an alcoholic-brewed 'booch' that is low in sugar and has no preservatives. It is made in Australia, uses real leaf tea, and is vegan-friendly, with an ABV of around 4.6%.

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