Features of Australian beer

Beer appeared in Australia only in the 2004th century, along with the English colonialists, but by 110 the country ranked fourth in the world in terms of the amount of foamy drink consumed per capita (1824 liters per person per year). The oldest brewery operating to this day is called Cascade Brewery, it was opened in 48 in Tasmania. Beer in Australia occupies about 29% of the local alcohol market, wine accounts for 21%, and spirits – XNUMX%.

History

The beer arrived in Australia on the British Captain James Cook’s ship Endeavor. During a long journey, sailors brewed beer from rotten water – any fresh drop is valuable on the high seas. Accordingly, the history of Australian beer can be counted from 1770, and the first official pub opened in the country in 1796.

However, for a long time, rum remained the main alcohol of the new colony – the drink was so popular that it was even often used in transactions instead of money. Alcoholism has become a serious state problem. The government began to promote beer as a less strong and healthier alternative to hard liquor.

Now in Australia there is a lot of lagers, which appeared in 1885, and in those days the most popular style was ale – the English influence affected. Hops did not grow in Australia, it was unprofitable to import them, so the first samples of beer were brewed with herbs, until in 1804 the Englishman James Squire, exiled to Australia, began to cultivate hops. The newspaper of 1806 mentions that the novice brewer was even awarded a government award and a valuable promotion in the form of a cow for this.

True, before that, James Squire received 150 lashes – since he stole the ingredients for beer in a pharmacy (supposedly for a pregnant girlfriend). This story is immortalized in the name of one of the brands of the James Squire brewery – One Fifty Lashes (one hundred and fifty lashes).

In 1804, private and state breweries began to appear; by 1871, in Victoria alone, with a population of 800 people, there were 126 beer industries.

In 1901, the government made home-brewing illegal, and many unlicensed breweries were forced to close. The remaining small industries quickly merged with large ones. Soon only two breweries remained in Sydney: Tooths and Tooheys, and in Melbourne there was only one – Carlton and United Breweries. Since 2011, the Foster’s Group has almost single-handedly dominated the Australian beer market.

Recently, craft brewing has been actively developing on the continent, there are a wide variety of varieties, up to beer brewed with wild hops and oak bark.

Australian beer types

Before the advent of the railroad in the 1880s, transporting beer to other cities and countries was difficult, often impossible, so each region of Australia developed its own recognizable beer style. In addition, there are international brands on the market, produced at local breweries under license: Kronenbourg, Carlsberg, Guinness, Heineken, etc.

The most common types are: ale, old ale, bitter, lager, stout, etc.

Volumes

Prior to the introduction of the European metric system, alcohol (like any liquid) in Australia was measured in ounces. At the same time, large cities adopted their informal name for standard beer portions.

Famous Australian beers

Victoria Bitter. The most famous Australian brand, popularly also called Very Best (the best), Vitamin B and so on. This is a classic Australian lager.

Tooheys. New South Wales brand created by Irish immigrants in 1869. The company produces lager and dark ale.

XXXX. There is a popular joke in Australia: “Why do the people of Queensland call their beer ‘four X’s”? Because the word “beer” is too complicated for them.”

coopers. The largest local manufacturer in the country (the only significant concern owned by an Australian family, and not by foreign corporations). The brand is famous for pale ale.

Cascade. Founded in 1824 in Tasmania, the production produces a classic lager.

Carlton Draught. A very popular Australian lager.

Little creatures. A young brand founded in 2000.

James Squire. The production is named after a British exile who grew hops in Australia. The company’s product line includes amber ale, pale ale.

Matilda Bay. The production has been operating in Perth since the early 1980s and is considered the first craft brewery in Australia.

Cock Incredibly Dry. The brand appeared in 1986 and initially positioned itself in the premium segment. Now the company’s policy has changed: emphasis is placed on the beneficial properties of products and low carbohydrate content.

Beer drinking culture in Australia

Australians do not have such a pronounced beer culture as, for example, the Germans, Czechs or Belgians, nor do they have their own beer style that has conquered the world market. But in local pubs you can find absolutely any type of beer, from the classic pilsner to gose or craft recipes from local craftsmen.

Australians love beer, especially since the country’s hot climate is more conducive to weak alcohol than strong alcohol. Australians inherited the custom of ordering beer in pubs in “rounds” from the British. According to tradition, each time one person is put down, paying for drinks for the whole company. On the next round, the “move” passes to another friend, and so on, until everyone treats friends.