
Australia has a rich history of beer culture, with a wide variety of brands that have become synonymous with Australian identity. However, many of these popular beer labels are not Australian-owned. In fact, Asahi, a Japanese food and beverage giant, is Australia's largest brewing company. The company owns many well-known Australian beers, including Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, and Great Northern. Another Japanese company, Kirin, owns several Australian beers, such as XXXX, Tooheys, and Byron Bay Lager. Despite the dominance of foreign-owned breweries, there are still some Australian-owned beer brands worth highlighting. Coopers, the largest Australian-owned brewery, has been in operation since 1862 and is known for its pale ales. Other Australian-owned breweries include Travla, Better Beer, Young Henrys, and Nail Brewing. These breweries offer unique and flavourful beers that cater to the Australian palate and use local ingredients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian-owned breweries | Coopers Brewery, Travla, Better Beer, Young Henrys, BentSpoke Brewing Co, Nail Brewing Australia, Grifter, White Bay, Alby, Hawkers, Jetty Road, Mismatch, Slipstream, FogHorn, Vale Brewing, Fox Hat, Hobo, Capital Brewing Company |
| Largest Australian-owned brewery | Coopers Brewery |
| Australian-owned beer brands | Travla, Better Beer, Young Henrys, Coopers, Nail Brewing Australia, Grifter, 4 Pines |
| Foreign-owned Australian beer brands | VB, Great Northern, Carlton Draught, Tooheys, XXXX, Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), Lion, Mountain Goat, Little Creatures, James Squire, Hahn, Byron Bay Lager, James Boag, Emu Export, Swan, Kosciusko, Pirate Life, Crown Lager, Green Beacon, Wild Yak, Fosters, Melbourne Bitter, Reschs, Balter |
| Foreign owners of Australian beer brands | Asahi Breweries (Japanese), Kirin Holdings (Japanese), AB InBev (multinational), Anheuser-Busch InBev (multinational) |
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What You'll Learn

Coopers is the largest Australian-owned brewery
While most Australian beers are owned by foreign companies, there are a few exceptions. Coopers Brewery Limited, the largest Australian-owned brewery, is one of them. Based in the Adelaide suburb of Regency Park, Coopers is known for its variety of beers, most famously its pale ale and sparkling ale. The company was founded in 1862 by Thomas Cooper and has been passed down through the generations, with shares primarily owned by the extended Cooper family.
Coopers has a rich history, beginning in the eastern Adelaide suburb of Norwood and moving several times before settling in Regency Park in 2001. The brewery has faced various challenges over the years, including economic depressions and takeover attempts, but it has persevered and thrived. Today, Coopers holds about 5% of the Australian beer market and produces around 100 million bottles and 60 million cans of beer annually.
The company has a strong focus on quality and tradition, with family members actively involved in the business. Dr Tim Cooper, a former cardiologist, has been the managing director since 1990, and Melanie Cooper, Thomas Cooper's great-great-great-granddaughter, is the chair of the board. The family's dedication to the business and commitment to producing good beer have contributed to its success and longevity.
In addition to its core beer range, Coopers also manufactures DIY kits, reusable plastic bottles, and boxed brew enhancers. It is also the world's largest producer of homebrewing beer concentrate in cans. While Coopers is the largest Australian-owned brewery, it is worth noting that the overall largest brewing company in Australia is Asahi, a Japanese food and beverage giant that acquired Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) in 2019.
Despite the dominance of foreign-owned companies in the Australian beer market, Coopers stands as a testament to the resilience and success of local, family-owned businesses. With its long history, dedication to quality, and diverse range of products, Coopers has established itself as a beloved and iconic Australian brand.
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Travla is an Australian-owned ultra-low carb lager
Travla is a refreshing Australian-owned lager that tastes just like the country it's made in. It is a unique offering in a crowded market, with a select few brands brewing good beer that is also Australian-owned. Travla offers both mid- and full-strength options, catering to a range of consumer preferences.
The beer industry in Australia is primarily overseas-owned, with foreign companies accounting for 89% of beer volume sales in 2011. This trend has continued, with heavyweights like VB, Great Northern, and Carlton Draught owned by Japan's Asahi, and Tooheys and XXXX owned by another Japanese company, Kirin. Despite this, Travla remains committed to its Australian roots, providing a genuine Australian beer option for consumers.
In a market dominated by foreign-owned companies, Travla stands out as a proudly Australian-owned lager. It offers a unique combination of a refreshing, ultra-low carb drink with a distinct Australian taste. Travla's mid- and full-strength options cater to diverse consumer preferences, making it a versatile choice for those seeking an authentic Australian beer experience.
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Young Henrys is an Australian-owned independent brewery
The company has since grown, but its core values have remained the same. Young Henrys is committed to brewing beer that suits the modern Australian palate and climate, with a focus on showcasing Australian hops and malts. Their core range features well-balanced, easy-drinking beers, while their limited-release beers offer something a little more experimental. Young Henrys has also collaborated with Australian and international musicians, such as You Am I and Foo Fighters, to create special edition beers.
In addition to their focus on great-tasting beer, Young Henrys is dedicated to environmentally sustainable brewing practices. They were the first brewery in an Australian capital city to crowd-fund solar panels, and they have also installed microalgae bioreactors to turn their CO2 waste into oxygen. This project reduces their greenhouse gas emissions by 127 tonnes per year.
Young Henrys is a proud Australian-owned company that is making waves in the craft beer industry. They are a testament to the quality and innovation of local Australian brews and are helping to lead the way towards more sustainable brewing practices.
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Nail Brewing is an independent brewery from Perth, Western Australia
Although most beers in Australia are not brewed by Australian-owned companies, there are a few exceptions. One such exception is Nail Brewing, an independent brewery from Perth, Western Australia.
Nail Brewing was founded in 1996 by John Stallwood, who registered the company as Nail Brewing Australia. In March 2000, Nail Brewing opened its first microbrewery at Bobby Dazzler's Ale House, a pub in Murray Street, Perth. The brewery's first release was Nail Ale, an Australian-style pale ale.
In 2004, Stallwood was assaulted after intervening in a fight in Fremantle, resulting in serious head injuries that caused him to fall into a coma for ten days. This incident led to a halt in Nail Brewing's operations, and the equipment was sold. However, Stallwood resumed brewing in 2006 at Jarrah Jacks brewery in Pemberton, and in December 2007, Nail Brewing relocated to Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus.
Nail Brewing has since released a variety of beers, including Nail Golden, a Golden Ale; Nail Red, an American Red Ale; Nail Stout, an oatmeal stout; and Clout Stout, a Russian Imperial Stout. In late 2010, Nail Brewing produced the Antarctic Nail Ale, which became the world's most expensive bottle of beer. This limited-edition ale was made with water melted from Antarctic ice and sold for as much as A$1,850, with all proceeds going to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Nail Brewing has won several awards, including the Australian International Beer Awards, and continues to operate as an independent brewery in Western Australia.
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Better Beer is an Australian-owned zero-carb beer
While Australians are known for their love of beer, most of the beer they consume is not brewed by Australian-owned companies. However, there are a few exceptions, including Better Beer, an Australian-owned zero-carb beer.
Better Beer was founded by Matt Ford and Jack Steele, also known as The Inspired Unemployed. The pair, who were tradies-turned-influencers, wanted to create a beer that was free of the unhealthy components typically found in beer. The result was Better Beer, a zero-carb, zero-sugar, and low-calorie beer. The brand offers a range of options, including an alcoholic ginger beer, middy, arvo ale, and zero-alcohol variety.
Better Beer has experienced significant growth since its launch in October 2021, achieving $100 million in revenue in the first 30 months of trading. It has a strong digital presence, with over 220,000 social media followers, and appeals to younger adult consumers. The beer is made with simple ingredients: water, malt (malted barley), hops, and yeast. While it contains minimal amounts of gluten, it is not guaranteed to be completely gluten-free.
Better Beer is not the only Australian-owned beer brand. Coopers, founded in 1862, is the largest Australian-owned beer brand and is known for its pale and sparkling ales. Hawke's Brewing, co-founded by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, donates all royalties from his likeness on the cans to Landcare Australia. Young Henrys, founded by an Aussie duo, creates beer specifically catered to the Australian palate, including a natural lager, IPA, and extra pale ale. Travla, founded by actor Travis Fimmel, offers mid- and full-strength, ultra-low-carb Australian lager made entirely from Australian ingredients.
Despite the presence of these Australian-owned brands, the beer industry in Australia is largely overseas-owned. Asahi, a Japanese company, is the country's largest brewing company, owning many of the country's most-awarded breweries. Kirin, another Japanese giant, owns popular brands such as Tooheys and XXXX. Nonetheless, Australian-owned beers like Better Beer are making their mark in the industry, providing consumers with a range of high-quality, locally owned options.
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Frequently asked questions
Some Australian-owned beer brands include Travla, Better Beer, Young Henrys, Coopers, BentSpoke Brewing Co, Nail Brewing, Grifter, and Hawke's Brewing.
Many popular Australian beers are owned by foreign companies. For example, VB, Great Northern, and Carlton Draught are owned by Japan-based Asahi. Meanwhile, Tooheys and XXXX are owned by another Japanese company, Kirin.
The largest Australian-owned brewery is Coopers Brewery. It is also the oldest brewery in the country, founded in 1862.
The Cascade Brewery, established in Tasmania in 1824 and now owned by Asahi, is the oldest brewery still in operation in Australia.
Microbreweries in Australia produce a limited amount of beer and usually focus on distinctive and flavourful products. While there is no strict definition for a microbrewery in Australia, a brewer that sells less than 40 million litres of beer per year and is not more than 20% owned by a larger brewer can be considered a microbrewery.











































