Australia is known for producing some fantastic beers. With a rich history of brewing dating back to the country's early colonial days, Aussies have perfected the craft of brewing crisp, refreshing lagers as well as big, bold ales.
If you're visiting Australia or just want to sample some of the country's best beers, here are 5 popular Australian beers that you need to try:
1. Victoria Bitter
Who: Victoria Bitter (affectionately called VB by Aussies) is a lager produced by the Carlton & United Breweries company. With 4.9% alcohol by volume, it's a full-strength and full-flavored beer.
What: VB is one of Australia's most iconic and widely available beers. It has a pale golden color with a slight haze and a medium body. The flavor profile is crisp and refreshing, with bready malt flavors and moderate hop bitterness.
When: VB was first brewed in Victoria in 1854, making it one of Australia's oldest continual beer brands. It really took off in popularity after World War 2 and is now one of the top selling beers in the country.
How to Try: Order a VB at any pub or bottle shop in Australia for an authentic experience. It's widely available on tap and in stubbies (small bottles). VB goes great with classic Aussie pub fare like burgers or fish and chips.
Pros: Easy-drinking lager flavor, refreshing, iconic brand, very accessible
Cons: Maybe a bit basic for some craft beer fans
Alternatives: If you want something a bit more craft, try Victoria Bitter's sibling Victoria Pale Ale, brewed by the same company but with a hoppier taste.
2. Coopers Pale Ale
Who: Coopers Brewery, the largest Australian-owned brewery, produces this flagship pale ale. With 4.5% ABV, it's a classic pale ale style beer.
What: Deep amber in color, Coopers Pale Ale is unfiltered and naturally conditioned, giving it a cloudy appearance and signature yeast flavor. Medium-bodied with fruity, caramel malt notes and tangy, herbal Aussie hop flavors.
When: Thomas Cooper founded the Coopers brewery in Adelaide in 1862. The pale ale style debuted in the 1950s and is based on traditional English pale ale recipes.
How to Try: Buy Coopers Pale Ale in bottles or on tap at pubs and restaurants around Australia. The cloudy, unfiltered nature gives it a unique flavor profile. Try pairing it with barbecue!
Pros: Unique flavor from unfiltered brewing method, quintessential Aussie pale ale
Cons: Some find the cloudy appearance unappealing
Alternatives: If you prefer a clearer looking pale ale, try Little Creatures Pale Ale for a similarly hop-forward taste.
3. James Boag's Premium
Who: James Boag's is brewed by Lion, now part of the Japanese beverage giant Kirin. But its origins trace back to James Boag establishing a brewery in Tasmania in 1825. This premium lager has 5% ABV.
What: Bright golden and perfectly clear, James Boag's Premium Lager is crisp, clean and refreshing. It's an excellent example of a preservative-free Aussie lager, with subtle bready malt notes and mild floral hop bitterness in perfect balance.
When: Though its history dates back centuries, James Boag's Premium debuted in the early 1990s and helped cement Boag's as a top modern Australian beer brand.
How to Try: James Boag's Premium is available in bottles and on tap coast to coast in Australia. Enjoy it icy cold by itself or with seafood like fish and chips or oysters.
Pros: Crisp, refreshing easy drinking lager, preservative-free
Cons: Could use a bit more distinct flavor for some
Alternatives: If you like this style but want more flavor, try Hahn SuperDry for an extra crisp, dry lager.
4. Fat Yak Pale Ale
Who: Fat Yak is produced by Matilda Bay Brewing Company, founded in 1984 in Western Australia and now owned by Carlton & United Brewers.
What: This hop-forward American style pale ale packs a punch at 4.7% ABV. It pours a hazy orange with a white head. The hoppy aroma leads into flavors of tropical fruit, citrus and resin balanced by biscuit malt. Bitterness is assertive but drinkable.
When: Released in the 1990s, Fat Yak played a major role in turning Australians on to highly hopped "new world" pale ale styles versus traditional English bitters.
How to Try: Find it in bottles or on tap at trendy pubs and bars, especially in major cities. The bold hop flavor pairs great with burgers or spicy foods.
Pros: Tropical and citrusy hop flavor, trendy craft beer, good for hopheads
Cons: Strong bitterness could be off-putting to some
Alternatives: If you want something a bit mellower, try Little Creatures Pale Ale or Coopers Pale Ale.
5. James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale
Who: James Squire is the craft brand of the Malt Shovel Brewery, owned by Lion/Kirin. The unconventional name refers to an early Australian brewer and offers a nod to Australian history.
What: This Australian-style pale ale balances tropical hop aroma with biscuit malt for an easy drinking 4.2% ABV brew. It pours deep golden with a creamy white head. The flavor profile hits fruity and citrusy notes from the Galaxy hops used alongside bready, caramel malt with low bitterness.
When: Released in 1999, James Squire One Fifty Lashes has won numerous awards and is Australia's best selling craft beer.
How to Try: Widely available on tap and in bottles at restaurants and craft beer bars all over Australia. A versatile pairing for all types of foods!
Pros: Very drinkable hoppy craft beer, refreshing flavor, hugely popular
Cons: Craft beer snobs say it's too mainstream
Alternatives: For a similar Australian pale ale but more boutique, try Feral Brewing Company's Biggie Juice or Modus Operandi Former Tenant.
FAQs about Popular Australian Beers
What are the most popular beer styles in Australia?
Australia's most popular beer styles are pale lagers like Victoria Bitter, as well as pale ales from both Australian and American influences. Australian sparkling ale is also iconic.
Which Australian beer has the highest alcohol content?
Coopers Sparkling Ale has the highest alcohol content at 6.3% ABV. Other strong Aussie beers are Little Creatures Rogers at 7.4% ABV and Jamieson Beast IPA at 6.5% ABV.
What is unique about how Australians drink beer?
A popular way Australians drink beer is ordering a "shout" - each person takes turns buying a round of drinks for the whole group. Owing to the hot climate, Aussies also often add lemon or lime slices to their beer.
Is craft beer popular in Australia?
Australia has a rapidly growing craft beer scene. Some iconic craft breweries include Feral, Stone & Wood, Pirate Life, Modus Operandi, and Balter. Craft beer bars can be found in most major cities.
Which Australian beers are available internationally?
The most internationally distributed Australian beer brands are Foster's, Cooper's, VB, Crown Lager, Pure Blonde, Carlton Draught, Cascade, Boag's, Little Creatures, and James Squire. But local microbrews are also gaining global popularity.
Conclusion
With its laidback drinking culture and wealth of both huge iconic brands and small craft breweries, Australia offers amazing variety of high quality beers. From classic Aussie lagers like VB to trendsetting hop-forward pale ales like Fat Yak, make sure to sample an array of the top beers Australia has to offer. Grab a cold one at a pub, enjoy the variety of flavors, and drink in the rich history behind these brews. Cheers!
