Lyla Lindsey
Beer is a big part of Australian culture and is the most popular alcoholic drink in the country. The beer market in Australia is diverse, with a wide range of beers available, from easy-drinking lagers to flavourful ales. While Foster's Group owns many of the major breweries in Australia, Foster's Lager is not considered a local drink. Some of the most popular beers in Australia include Victoria Bitter, Pure Blonde, Great Northern, Carlton Draught, and Toohey's New. Beer serving sizes in Australia vary, with the typical glass size in Sydney being 425ml, called a schooner, while a pint is 570ml, and a middy is 285ml.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Beer serving sizes | Schooner (425ml), pint (570ml), middy (285ml), schmiddy (350ml), seven (200ml), pony (140ml) |
| Popular beers | Great Northern, Carlton Dry, Furphys, VB, Corona, Tooheys, Coopers, Pure Blonde, Asahi, XXXX Gold, Carlton Draught, Victoria Bitter, James Boag's |
| Beer brands | Kirin-owned Lion Co, AB InBev-owned Foster's Group, Coopers Brewery, Nail Brewing, Four Pines Brewery |
| Beer types | Lagers, ales, craft beer, Australian beer, easy-drinking beer, low-carb beer |
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What You'll Learn
Popular Australian beers
Beer is a big part of Australian culture and is the most popular alcoholic drink across the country. The beer market in Australia is diverse, with a wide range of beers available, from easy-drinking lagers to flavourful ales.
Some of the most popular beers in Australia include Great Northern, known for its crisp and refreshing taste and Victoria Bitter (VB), a classic Australian beer recognised for its robust taste and rich history. Other popular options are Carlton Dry, which is famous for its crisp, clean finish, making it a favourite among those who prefer less bitter lagers, and XXXX Gold, a mid-strength beer ideal for summer days. Toohey's is another well-known brand, offering a range of approachable beers perfect for social gatherings, including their standard lager Toohey's New, which is especially ubiquitous in Sydney.
In addition to these, Coopers is the largest Australian-owned brewery remaining, and it is known for its quality beers and traditional brewing methods. Some other popular Australian beers include Asahi, Corona, and Pure Blonde, a low-carb option with a light, crisp taste.
While Foster's Group owns many breweries in Australia, Foster's Lager is not considered a local drink and is more popular internationally. The beer market in Australia also includes speciality brews and craft beers from microbreweries, offering a wide variety of ales and innovative flavours.
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Microbreweries and craft beers
Australia has a thriving craft beer scene, with a steady stream of new microbreweries popping up across the country. In July 2017, there were around 500 small breweries in Australia, and that number has likely grown since then. These microbreweries exist throughout the country, even in small towns, and produce a wide variety of ales and speciality brews.
One notable example of Australian craft beer ingenuity is Nail Brewing from Perth, Western Australia. In 2010, they produced a beer using water from an Antarctic iceberg, selling 30 bottles at auction for US$1,850 to raise money for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Some other popular microbreweries and craft beers in Australia include BentSpoke’s Crankshaft American IPA, brewed in Canberra and voted Australia’s favourite craft beer of 2021; Capital Brewing from Canberra, which grabbed two spots in the top 10 craft beers of 2021 with its XPA taking out the best debut beer; and Stone & Wood Pacific Ale, which came in fourth place in the top 20 Aussie craft beers of 2022.
Other notable microbreweries and craft beers include:
- Ballistic Beer Co Hawaiian Haze Pale Ale
- Balter Brewing Hazy
- Pirate Life Brewing South Coast Pale Ale
- Young Henrys Newtowner Australian Pale Ale
- Brewtide Brewery in Brisbane, Queensland
- Yard Kings Brewing Co. in Morriset, New South Wales
- Four Pines Brewery in Sydney, New South Wales, which sells the Growler—a large bottle of approximately two litres intended for reuse
- Brew Garage, a craft brewery and urban winery in East Victoria Park, Western Australia
- Union Brewery & Distillery in Fremantle, Western Australia
- Hip Hops Brewers, an independent craft brewery, taproom, and kitchen in Brendale, Queensland
- Little Green Men Brewing, an independent pub and brewery in Deloraine, Tasmania
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Beer serving sizes
In Sydney, most people order schooners, or "schooeys," which are about 425 mL. In Melbourne, you can order a pot, which is 285 mL. Many pubs also offer pints, but Australians seem to prefer ordering smaller sizes.
Larger serving sizes, such as jugs, one-liter Maß, and beer towers, have gained popularity in tourist spots.
The most common bottled beer sizes are 250 mL, 375 mL (stubbies), and 750 mL (long necks). A "slab" refers to a carton of nine liters of beer in stubbies or cans.
In South Australia, some unusual measures are used, such as the "Butcher," which is 170 mL, and the "schooner," which is 285 mL.
The National Trade Measurement Regulations introduced in 2009 state that there are no prescribed sizes for beverage measures for the sale of beer, ale, and stout. Thus, terms like seven, middy, pot, or schooner do not legally specify a particular size.
Overall, Australia has a range of beer serving sizes, with the most common being 200 mL, 285 mL, and 425 mL, and larger sizes like pints and jugs also available.
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Australian-owned breweries
Australia has a diverse range of beers, from easy-drinking lagers to flavourful ales, and Australian beers are known for their quality ingredients and brewing methods. The beer market is increasingly fragmented as smaller microbreweries have popped up everywhere.
Since 2011, Kirin-owned Lion Co and AB InBev-owned Foster's Group have owned every major brewery in Australia, with the exception of Coopers, the largest Australian-owned beer company left. Coopers offers a range of beers renowned for their quality and traditional brewing methods.
There are many Australian-owned breweries that are independent or craft breweries. For example, Hawkers, which launched in 2014, is one of Victoria's largest independent breweries and has won several major awards. White Bay, which launched in 2020, was one of the first to push hard into craft lagers, and in 2024 it was named the official beer partner of the Sydney Swans football club. Other independent breweries include Prickly Moses in Victoria, Mephisto Brewing Co in South Australia, and Brouhaha Brewery in the Sunshine Coast.
Some Australian-owned breweries are family-owned, such as Victoria's Mitta Mitta Brewing Company, which opened in 2018, and Lucha Brewing Co, which opened in 2022 in a western suburb of Brisbane, Queensland.
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International vs domestic popularity
Beer is a big part of Australian culture and is the most popular alcoholic drink across the country. The beer market in Australia is diverse, with a wide range of beers available, from easy-drinking lagers to flavourful ales. Beer in Australia is characterised by the use of local ingredients, particularly Australian hops, and is known for its quality and traditional brewing methods.
Some of the most popular beers in Australia include Victoria Bitter (VB), which is known for its robust taste and rich history; Toohey's, which offers a range of approachable beers perfect for social gatherings; and Carlton Draught, a mega-popular lager. Other popular options include Great Northern, known for its crisp and refreshing taste, and Coopers, the biggest Australian-owned beer left and the only independent brewery on the list.
When it comes to international vs domestic popularity, some beers that are not considered popular domestic drinks in Australia have gained recognition abroad. For example, Foster's Lager is not a well-known brand in Australia, but it has grown in popularity internationally and is often associated with the country. On the other hand, beers like VB and Toohey's are iconic within Australia but may not have the same level of recognition internationally.
The Australian beer market is also influenced by the increasing presence of microbreweries and craft beers, which has led to a fragmentation of the market. Australians are also exposed to a wider range of beers due to increased travel, and imported premium beers have started to gain market share. In response, some Australian brewers have signed licence agreements with foreign brands to brew their beers locally.
Overall, while some Australian beers have gained international recognition, the domestic market offers a diverse range of options that cater to different tastes and preferences, with a mix of well-known brands and smaller craft breweries.
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Frequently asked questions
Popular beers in Australia include Great Northern, Carlton Dry, Furphys, VB, Coopers, Corona, and Tooheys.
Australian beer brands include James Boag's, Castlemaine, and Cascade Brewery.
Australians drink a variety of beer styles, including lagers, ales, and craft beers.
The typical serving size for beer in Australia is 425ml, called a "schooner." A "pint" is 570ml, and a "middy" is 285ml.
