View source for Beer in Australia

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
[[File:Australian beer production 1945.jpg|right|thumb|A bottling machine being used in 1945 as part of an Australian beer production operation]]
[[File:StateLibQld 1 91556 Advertisement for Bulimba Gold Top beer, Queensland.jpg|thumb|Advertisement for Bulimba Gold Top beer, Queensland, circa 1933]]

'''Beer in Australia''' can be traced to the beginning of [[History of Australia#Establishment of British colonies|British colonisation]]. Lager is by far the most popular type of beer consumed in [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beerandwine.guide/beer/australian-beer/|title=Australian Beer|date=2018-01-04|website=Beer & Wine Guide|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>

The oldest brewery still in operation is the [[Cascade Brewery]], established in [[Tasmania]] in 1824 and now owned by [[Asahi Breweries|Asahi]]. The largest Australian-owned brewery is [[Coopers Brewery]]; the other two major breweries, [[Carlton & United Breweries]] and [[Lion Nathan]], are owned by Japan's Asahi Breweries and [[Kirin Company]] respectively.

==Market characteristics==
Within an alcoholic beverage market worth some $16.3&nbsp;billion, beer comprises about 48% compared to wine at 29% and spirits at 21%. Within the beer sector, [[Beer#"Premium"_beers|premium beers]] have a 7.8% share of the market; full-strength beer has 70.6%; mid-strength holds 12%; and light beer has 9.6%. Overall, 85% of beer is produced by national brewers, the remainder by regional or microbreweries. Microbreweries manufacturing less than 30,000 litres receive a 60% [[excise]] rebate.<ref name="foodweek.com.au">{{cite web |url=http://www.foodweek.com.au/main-features-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=2808 |title=Aussies drinking less beer – and getting choosier |work=FoodWeek Online |date=29 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416021035/http://www.foodweek.com.au/main-features-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=2808 |archive-date=16 April 2009}}</ref>

==History==
===18th century===
The history of Australian beer starts very early in Australia's colonial history. [[James Cook|Captain James Cook]] brought beer with him on his ship [[HMS Endeavour]] as a means of preserving drinking water. On 1 August 1768, as Cook was fitting out the Endeavour for its voyage, Nathaniel Hulme wrote to [[Joseph Banks]] with a recommendation:

{{blockquote|"a quantity of Molasses and Turpentine, in order to brew Beer with, for your daily drink, when your Water becomes bad. … [B]rewing Beer at sea will be peculiarly useful in case you should have stinking water on board; for I find by Experience that the smell of stinking water will be entirely destroyed by the process of fermentation."|Letter to Joseph Banks 1768}}

Beer was still being consumed on-board two years later in 1770, when Cook was the first European to discover the east coast of Australia.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

The drink of choice for the first settlers and convicts was [[rum]], as represented in a supposed traditional convict song:

::''Cut yer name across me backbone''
::''Stretch me skin across yer drum''
::''Iron me up on [[Fort Denison|Pinchgut Island]]''
::''From now to Kingdom Come.''
::''I'll eat yer [[Flagellation#Australian penal colonies|Norfolk Dumpling]]''
::''Like a juicy Spanish plum,''
::''Even dance the [[Hanging#Australia|Newgate Hornpipe]]''
::''If ye'll only gimme Rum!''<ref name="Rober Hughes – 1987 – The Fatal Shore – page 292">{{cite book|last=Robert Hughes|author-link=Robert Hughes (critic)|title=The Fatal Shore|publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]]|date=1987|edition=[[Random House]] 2010 reprint|pages=292|isbn=9781407054070|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nKVlKHn29xcC&q=%22Norfolk+Dumpling%22+Pinchgut&pg=PA292|access-date=2 June 2014}}</ref>

The first official brewer in Australia was [[John Boston]] who brewed a beverage from Indian corn<ref>{{cite book|last1=Illis|first1=Judith|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|chapter=Boston, John (?–1804) |chapter-url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/boston-john-1804|date=1966|publisher=Australian National University|access-date=20 January 2016|edition=Online }}</ref> bittered with [[Physalis peruviana|cape gooseberry]] leaves. It is likely though that beer was brewed unofficially much earlier. The first pub, the Mason Arms was opened in 1796 in [[Parramatta, New South Wales|Parramatta]] by James Larra, a freed convict.

===19th century===
[[File:Cascade_Brewery_1.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Cascade Brewery]] is the oldest brewery in Australia,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bergman|first=Justin|date=2019-12-05|title=36 Hours in Hobart (and Environs) (Published 2019)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/travel/36-hours-in-hobart-and-environs.html|access-date=2021-01-13|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> having been founded in 1824]]
Rum was so popular—and official currency was in such short supply—that it became a semi-official currency for a period of time (see [[New South Wales Corps|Rum corps]]), and even played a role in a short-lived military coup, the [[Rum rebellion]] in 1808. Drunkenness was a significant problem in the early colony:

{{blockquote|"Drunkenness was a prevailing vice. Even children were to be seen in the streets intoxicated. On Sundays, men and women might be observed standing round the public-house doors, waiting for the expiration of the hours of public worship in order to continue their carousing. As for the condition of the prison population, that, indeed, is indescribable. Notwithstanding the severe punishment for sly grog selling, it was carried on to a large extent. Men and women were found intoxicated together, and a bottle of brandy was considered to be cheaply bought for 20 lashes... All that the vilest and most bestial of human creatures could invent and practise, was in this unhappy country invented and practised without restraint and without shame"|[[Marcus Clarke]] – [[For the Term of his Natural Life|''For the Term of His Natural Life'']], 1867}}

As a means of reducing drunkenness, beer was promoted as a safer and healthier alternative to rum:

{{blockquote|"The introduction of beer into general use among the inhabitants would certainly lessen the consumption of spirituous liquors. I have therefore in conformity with your suggestion taken measures for furnishing the colony with a supply of ten tons of Porter, six bags of hops, and two complete sets of brewing materials."|Lord Hobart in a letter to [[Philip Gidley King|Governor Philip King]] on 29 August 1802}}

Although modern Australian beer is predominantly [[Australian lager]], early Australian beers were exclusively top-fermented and quick-maturing [[ale]]s. Lager was not brewed in Australia until 1885. Early beers were also brewed without the benefit of hops, as no-one had successfully cultivated hops in Australia and importation was difficult. [[James Squire]] was the first to successfully cultivate hops in 1804, and he also opened a pub and brewed beer. The ''Government Gazette'' from 1806 mentions that he was awarded a cow herd from the government for his efforts.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

In September 1804, a government-owned brewery opened in Parramatta, followed by a rival privately owned brewery three months later. The government brewery was sold two years later to Thomas Rushton, who was its head (and only) brewer.<ref>[http://www.australianbeers.com/history/history3.htm The first steps], www.australianbeers.com</ref> Brewing rapidly expanded in all of the Australian colonies and by 1871 there were 126 breweries in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] alone, which at the time had a population of only 800,000.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

Notable events from this period include:
*1832 – Peter Degraves starts the [[Cascade Brewery]] in [[Hobart]]. It is Australia's oldest operational brewery.
*1835 – [[Tooth and Co.|Tooth]] brewery established in [[Sydney]].
*1837 – James Stokes establishes the Albion Brewery, [[Perth]]'s first brewery, which later became the [[Emu Brewery]].
*1838 – John Warren starts "The Torrens", [[Adelaide]]'s first brewery.<ref>{{cite web |author= Alison Painter |url= http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/subjects/breweries-and-beer |title= Breweries and Beer |publisher= Wakefield Press |date= 2001 }} Updated 10 December 2013.</ref> 
*1838 – John Mills establishes the first brewery in [[Melbourne]].
*1844 – William Henry Clark founded the Halifax Street Brewery in SA (Later to be known as [[West End Brewery (Hindley Street)|West End Brewery]])
*1848 – James Stokes opens the Stanley brewery at the Foot of Mt Eliza. (Later Changed to the Emu Brewery)
*1853 – Queensland's first brewery, "The Brisbane Brewery" is opened by John Beach.
*1862 – [[Thomas Cooper (brewer)|Thomas Cooper]] establishes the [[Coopers Brewery]] in the Adelaide suburb of [[Norwood, South Australia|Norwood]]. The brewery continues to be owned and operated by the Cooper family, and since 2011 has been the largest Australian-owned brewery.<ref name=Coopers>{{Cite web |url=http://www.coopers.com.au/#/explore-coopers/our-history/coopers-today/ |title=Coopers|last=Coopers |website=/static/|access-date=17 October 2016 |quote=Today, Coopers stands proudly as the sole major brewer 100% owned by Australians, and holds over 5% of the Australian beer market.}}</ref>
*1864 – Carlton brewery opens in Melbourne.
*1881 – CS Button opens the Esk Brewery in Launceston 
*1882 – Cohn Brothers' Victoria Brewery in Bendigo becomes the first brewery in Australia to brew lager.
*1883 – In 1883, [[James Boag I|James I]] and his son took over the Esk Brewery. [[J. Boag & Sons]] was officially formed
*1887 – The Foster brothers arrive from New York with refrigeration equipment and establish the first lager brewery to use refrigeration in Australia.<ref name="Will" />
*1889 – Lager is first brewed in Queensland at the Castlemaine and Quinlan brewery.
Tasmania was the first Australian colony to tax beer.  Its Beer Duty Act of 1880 established a duty of 3 [[pence]] per [[gallon]] which was raised to four pence in 1892.<ref>{{citation|author=Brett Stubbs|title=Tasmania|work=New Developments in the Brewing Industry: The Role of Institutions and Ownership|page=143|year=2020|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>

===20th century===
By 1900 the number of breweries had begun to dwindle as a result of the recession of the 1890s. In 1901, just after [[Federalism in Australia|Federation]], the new federal government passed the Beer and Excise Act. This act regulated the making and selling of beer and made [[homebrewing]] illegal. The provisions in this act, regarded by many as draconian, led to the closure of many breweries. In Sydney 16 out of 21 breweries closed either immediately after the act's introduction or soon afterwards. The remaining breweries began a process of consolidation, with larger breweries buying out the smaller ones. Within a short period of time, only two breweries remained in Sydney: Tooths and [[Tooheys]]. In Melbourne, five breweries merged in 1907 to form the giant [[Carlton and United Breweries]].{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

*1951 - Harry Ellis-Kells founded the Darwin Brewery (to be known as N.T Brewery)

===21st century===
Since 2011, [[Kirin Company|Kirin]]-owned Lion Co and [[AB InBev]]-owned Foster's Group own every major brewery in Australia, with the exception of Coopers.<ref name=Coopers/>
[[Boag's Brewery]], previously owned by [[San Miguel Corporation|San Miguel]], was sold to Lion Nathan for [[Australian dollar|A$]]325 million in November 2007. In 2006 Boag's Brewery reported total revenues of A$92 million.<ref>{{cite news |title= Lion Nathan bags James Boags for $325m |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/lion-nathan-bags-james-boags-for-325m/2007/11/08/1194329377507.html |access-date=10 October 2013 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 November 2007 |author=Colin Kruger}}</ref>

Although [[Foster's Lager]] is not a popular domestic beer in the 21st century, its popularity internationally has grown and the product is made mostly in other countries. In January 2005, the brand was one of the ten best-selling beers globally.<ref name="Will">{{cite news |title=Beauty bottlers |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Good-Living/Beauty-bottlers/2005/01/24/1106415494308.html |access-date=10 October 2013 |newspaper= Sydney Morning Herald |date=25 January 2005 |author=Willie Simpson}}</ref>

The introduction of the Tap King product by Lion Nathan in mid-2013 caused controversy due to the perceived impact upon alcohol venues. The product is a home draught beer dispenser and raised concerns regarding lower patronage rates for venues due to a greater incentive for consumers to drink beer in home environments. The product is sold with a {{CO2}} gas chamber that is cooled for eight hours prior to use.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tap King: Beer of the Future or Frothy Fail? |url=http://www.thevine.com.au/life/news/tap-king-beer-of-the-future-or-frothy-fail-20131009-266454/ |work=The Vine |publisher=Digital Media |access-date=10 October 2013 |author=Matt Shea |date=9 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009211228/http://www.thevine.com.au/life/news/tap-king-beer-of-the-future-or-frothy-fail-20131009-266454/ |archive-date=9 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Beers by region==
Before [[Federation of Australia|federation in 1901]], Australia was a patchwork of separate colonies, each with different laws regulating the production and sale of alcohol. In addition, until the late 1880s when the [[History of rail transport in Australia|rail network]] began to link the capital cities together, the only means of transporting foods in bulk between the colonies was by sea. This prevented even the largest breweries from distributing significant amounts outside their home city. This allowed strong regional brands to emerge; and, although all but one of the major regional brands ([[Coopers Brewery|Coopers]]) are now owned by multinational companies, loyalty to the local brewery remains strong today.
*Australian Capital Territory: [[Bentspoke Brewing Co]] and [[Capital Brewing Company]]
*New South Wales: [[Tooheys Brewery|Tooheys]], [[Reschs]] and [[Tooth and Co.|Tooths]]
*Northern Territory: [[NT Draught]]
*Queensland: [[Castlemaine XXXX]], [[Power's Brewery|Powers]] and [[Great Northern Brewing Co.|Great Northern]]
*South Australia: [[Coopers Brewery|Coopers]], [[West End Draught|West End]] and [[Southwark Bitter|Southwark]]
*Tasmania: [[Boag's Brewery|Boags]] in the north, [[Cascade Brewery|Cascade]] in the south<ref name=Huett>{{citation |author=Sandra Huett |title=Only in Tasmania |publisher=Striped Wolf Publishing |year=2012 |isbn=9780987185006 |quote=our two big players in the beer brewing industry – Boags and Cascade}}</ref>
*Victoria: [[Carlton Draught]], [[Melbourne Bitter]], [[Victoria Bitter]] 
*Western Australia: [[Swan Brewery|Swan]], [[Emu Brewery|Emu]] and [[Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Company|Kalgoorlie]]

While Foster's Group owns many of these brands, [[Foster's Lager]] itself is not considered a local drink anywhere in Australia.<ref name="Oliver2011">{{cite book|author=Garrett Oliver |title=The Oxford Companion to Beer |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gYVLHMmplRcC&pg=PA371 |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-536713-3 |pages=370–371}}</ref>

== Speciality beers ==
{{main|List of breweries in Australia#Microbreweries}}
Speciality brews in Australia are produced by both major brewers and [[microbrewery|microbreweries]], and include a wide variety of ales. Microbreweries exist throughout the country, including small towns, but the availability of such beers on-tap in venues is often limited.

Microbrewery [[Nail Brewing]], from Perth, Western Australia, produced a beer in 2010 using water from an Antarctic iceberg, and sold it at auction for US$1,850. The batch of 30 bottles was created to raise money for the [[Sea Shepherd Conservation Society]], which assisted with the procuring of the ice.<ref>{{cite web|title=A tactical but non-nuclear whale of an ale|url=http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2010/11/a-tactical-but-non-nuclear-whale-of-an-ale/|work=Australian Brew News|publisher=Cuneiform Pty Ltd|access-date=10 October 2013|date=1 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Dave, A 19-Year-Old Craft Beer With A $2,000 Price Tag|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/10/08/230535459/meet-dave-a-19-year-old-craft-beer-with-a-2-000-price-tag|work=NPR|access-date=10 October 2013|author=MAANVI SINGH|date=9 October 2013}}</ref>

== Australian styles ==
Australia has some unique beer styles of its own:

{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
|-
! style="width:110px;"|Name
!Description
! class="unsortable" style="width:70px;"|Image
|-

|-
|[[Australian lager]]
|A [[lager]] with an amber hue and slightly bitter flavour typically brewed with Pride of Ringwood hops or its descendants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://learn.kegerator.com/pride-of-ringwood-hops/|title=Pride Of Ringwood Hops: The Variety From Down Under|date=8 August 2017|website=Kegerator.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 November 2019 |title=Lagers to pale ales: Australian brewers look to classic beer styles |url=https://www.goodfood.com.au/drinks/beer-cider/lagers-to-pale-ales-australian-brewers-look-to-classic-beer-styles-20191107-h1jgll}}</ref>
|[[File:Australian style lager (cropped).jpg|Australian style lager (cropped)|120px]]
|-

|-
|[[Australian pale ale]]
|A beer style with a balanced malty profile, a slightly floral hop profile and dry finish.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian-Style Pale Ale (Ale) Beer Style Guidelines |url=https://beermaverick.com/beer-style/australian-style-pale-ale/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pale Ale Quick Guide &#124; for Beginners |url=https://alkypal.com.au/beer/ale/pale-ale.html}}</ref>
|[[File:Australian pale ale (cropped).jpg|Australian pale ale (cropped)|120px]]
|-

|-
|[[Pacific ale]]
|A hazy pale ale brewed with malt, wheat and galaxy hops. Pacific ales have a tropical fruit aroma and a natural sweetness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://craftypint.com/news/1965/the-story-of-pacific-ale|title=The Story Of: Pacific Ale|website=The Crafty Pint}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Australia's Fine Wine Specialist &#124; Buy Wine Online |date=30 August 2022 |url=https://www.vintagecellars.com.au/grapevine/beer-and-cider/beer-spectrum-your-guide-to-popular-styles}}</ref>
|[[File:Pacific ale q (cropped).jpg|Pacific ale q (cropped)|120px]]
|-

|-
|[[Sparkling ale]]
|A highly carbonated ale with low to medium maltiness and a lightly fruity flavour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://learn.kegerator.com/australian-sparkling-ale/|title=Australian Sparkling Ale: The Beer Style Born Down Under|date=6 April 2016|website=Kegerator.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=26 January 2016 |title=Recap: The birth of Australia's own beer style |url=https://www.brewsnews.com.au/2016/01/26/australias-own-beer-style/}}</ref>
|[[File:Sparkling ale (cropped).jpg|Sparkling ale (cropped)|120px]]
|-

|}

==Brewed under licence==
[[File:Heineken .jpg|thumb|Heineken 330 mL bottle brewed under licence in Australia]]
Imported [[Beer#"Premium"_beers|premium beers]] have started to gain market share in Australia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/business/premium-beers-cause-for-cheers-20090823-ev2h.html |title=Premium beers cause for cheers |work=The Age |first=Eli |last=Greenblat |date=24 August 2009 |access-date=23 October 2010 |location=Melbourne}}</ref> The two Australian corporate brewers responded to this by signing licence agreements with foreign brands to brew their beers here. Foster's Group brews [[Kronenbourg Brewery|Kronenbourg]]. Coopers Brewery brews [[Carlsberg Group|Carlsberg]] in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Carlsberg Group – Australia and New Zealand|url = http://www.carlsberggroup.com/Markets/ExLid/Pages/AustraliaandNewZealand.aspx|website = www.carlsberggroup.com|access-date = 4 August 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150703094712/http://www.carlsberggroup.com/Markets/ExLid/Pages/AustraliaandNewZealand.aspx|archive-date = 3 July 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> [[Lion Nathan]] locally produces [[Guinness]], [[Heineken Pilsener|Heineken]], [[Beck's]], [[Stella Artois]] and [[Kirin Brewery Company|Kirin]]. Brewers claim that their locally produced product tastes better because it is fresher, and local operations are overseen by the parent brewers using strict guidelines. However, groups such as the [[Australian Consumers Association]] say that such beers should have clearer, more prominent labels to inform drinkers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/is-that-a-foreign-beer-or-a-case-of-brewers-dupe-20081220-72p8.html |title=Is that a foreign beer or a case of brewer's dupe? |work=The Age |first=Mark |last=Russell |date=21 December 2008 |access-date=23 October 2010 |location=Melbourne |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317105607/http://www.theage.com.au/national/is-that-a-foreign-beer-or-a-case-of-brewers-dupe-20081220-72p8.html |archive-date=17 March 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

== Sizes ==
=== Beer glasses ===
{{See also|Beer glassware}}

Before metrication in Australia, one could buy beer or cider in glasses of 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15 or 20 [[Imperial system|(imperial)]] [[fluid ounce]]s. Each sized glass had a different name in each Australian state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beerbrewguru.com/beer-brew-news/beer-size-guide-to-australian-beer-measurements/|title=Beer Size Guide to Australian Beer Measurements|date=16 September 2009|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614194949/http://beerbrewguru.com/beer-brew-news/beer-size-guide-to-australian-beer-measurements/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

These were replaced by glasses of size 115, 140, 170, 200, 285, 425 and 570 mL, and as Australians travel more, the differences are decreasing.

Smaller sizes have been phased out over time, and in the 21st century, very few pubs serve glasses smaller than 200&nbsp;mL (approximately 7&nbsp;[[Imperial system|imp]] [[fluid ounce|fl&nbsp;oz]]).

Those typically available are the 200&nbsp;mL, 285&nbsp;mL (10 fl oz) and 425&nbsp;mL (15 fl oz), with increasingly many pubs also having pints (570&nbsp;mL, approximately 20&nbsp;imp fl&nbsp;oz) available. It is also common for pubs and hotels to serve large jugs filled to 1140ml ( approximately two imp pints).

Many imported beers are also served in their own branded glasses of various sizes, including {{convert|250|mL|impoz|1}}, {{convert|330|mL|impoz|1}} and {{convert|500|mL|impoz|1}} for many European beers.

{{Aust Beer Glass}}

[[File:Newstead Brewing Company 03.jpg|thumb|upright|A glass of beer, produced by the Newstead Brewing Company]]

With the introduction of the National Trade Measurement Regulations in 2009 there are no prescribed sizes for beverage measures for the sale of beer, ale and stout, so terms such as seven, middy, pot or schooner do not legally specify a particular size.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.measurement.gov.au/Industry/Business/Pages/Alcohol.aspx|title=Alcohol|website=www.measurement.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2017-09-15}}</ref> A typical "schooner" glass can be calibrated to hold 425ml to the rim but poured with 15mm of head, resulting in a "schooner" of 375ml of beer and 50ml of froth.

South Australia in particular has some unusually named measures:
* 6&nbsp;fl oz (170&nbsp;mL) &ndash; prior to metrification this glass was known as a "Butcher"<ref name=OldButcher>{{cite web |url= https://www.brewsnews.com.au/2012/06/take-a-butchers-hook-at-the-butcher-glass/ |title= Take a butcher's hook at the butcher glass |author= Dr Brett J. Stubbs |date= 9 June 2012 |publisher= Australian Brews News }}</ref>
* 7&nbsp;fl oz (200&nbsp;mL), became known as a "Butcher" in later years after smaller sizes were phased out
* 10&nbsp;fl oz (285&nbsp;mL) known as a "[[schooner (glass)|schooner]]". Prior to metrication and standardisation of glass sizes throughout Australia, schooners in SA were 9 fluid ounces (256 mL).
* 15&nbsp;fl oz (425&nbsp;mL) known as a "pint"
* 20&nbsp;fl oz (570&nbsp;mL) known as an "imperial pint"

Many of these sizes are now rarely used. In contemporary SA pubs and restaurants, the most frequent measures are the "schooner" of 285&nbsp;mL (an imperial half pint), and the "pint" of 425&nbsp;mL. "Imperial pints" are also increasingly popular, along with the sale of "premium" and non-locally brewed beer in bottles of between 300&nbsp;mL to 375&nbsp;mL.

Note that the SA "schooner" and "pint" are considerably smaller than the measures of the same name used elsewhere: 
*the SA "schooner" (285&nbsp;mL) is the same size as other States' pot / middy / half pint 
*the SA "pint" (425&nbsp;mL) is the same size as other States' schooner, and is three-quarters of an imperial pint.

Headmasters is one of the most common glass manufacturers, at least for the schooner size. Many pubs, in Sydney and Melbourne particularly, offer Guinness style and/or conical pint glasses along with [[tankard]] glass and British dimpled glass pint mugs.

Larger serving measurements have become increasingly popular, such as Jugs, 1 fluid litre [[Maß]] (pronounced like "mass", normally in German-themed bars) and [[beer tower]]s (although technically illegal due to strict self-service of alcohol laws, these are in some Asian bars/karaoke parlours) have grown in popularity around Australia in tourist spots.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

===Beer bottles===
[[File:Darwin stubby.jpg|thumb|right|The [[NT Draught]] Darwin Stubby]]

Before metrication, beer bottles were frequently {{convert|1/6|impgal|impoz mL|1|adj=pre|of an}}, while a carton of beer contained a dozen bottles (two gallons) of beer. 
Originally, the bottles were reduced slightly to {{convert|26|impoz|mL|0}}, but with metrication they became {{convert|750|mL|impoz|1}}, with a carton of {{convert|9|L|impgal|2}} of beer.

From the 1950s, bottles known as "stubbies" (as compared to traditional bottles, they were "stubby") of {{convert|2/3|imppt|impoz mL|1|adj=pre|of an}} were introduced. In 1958, cans were introduced by CUB, which were originally in steel and the same size as the bottle; other breweries introduced these in the 1960s.

Originally the stubbies and cans were reduced slightly to {{convert|13|impoz|mL|0}}, but with metrication they became {{convert|375|mL|impoz|1}}, and the cans were later made of aluminium to accommodate its increasing use and lower cost compared to steel.

A carton of nine litres of beer in stubbies (i.e. 24 bottles) or cans became known as a "slab" because compared to the more cube-like shape of the traditional cartons, they were flatter, and hence, like slabs.

Traditional bottles subsequently became known as "long necks" or "tallies" to distinguish them from stubbies, and in Western Australia, the 750ml "long neck" bottle is known as a "king brown" because of the size and typical brown coloured glass (the term being wordplay in reference to the [[king brown snake]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Brown |url=https://australian_slang.en-academic.com/4682/King_Brown |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias |language=en}}</ref>
 
In the 21st century, most bottled beer in Australia is sold in 250&nbsp;mL (Throwdown/Twist Top), 375&nbsp;mL (Stubby) or 750&nbsp;mL (Long Neck) sizes. Carlton United briefly increased to 800&nbsp;mL in the 1990s and 2000s, but this has since been reduced to the original 750&nbsp;mL.

Bottle sizes of 330&nbsp;mL, 345&nbsp;mL and 355&nbsp;mL (imported from the United States, equal to 12 US fl oz) are becoming increasingly common, particularly among microbreweries, so-called "premium" beers, and imported beers.

In the Northern Territory, the once-common "Darwin Stubby", a large two litre bottle, is now sold largely as a tourist gimmick, albeit very successfully.

Most bottles are lightweight "single use only", though some are still reusable, and in some cases (e.g. [[Coopers Brewery|Coopers]] 750&nbsp;mL), breweries are reintroducing refillable bottles, such as the [[Growler (jug)|Growler]] (a large bottle of approximately two litres intended for re-use) sold by Four Pines Brewery – a boon to home brewers. In [[South Australia]], [[Container deposit legislation in Australia|container deposits]] on beer bottles and cans (and some other types of beverage containers) support a well established network of recycling centres, providing significant environmental benefits as well as generating employment opportunities for unskilled workers.

==Beer-related organisations==
The [[Australian Hotels Association]] represents hoteliers around Australia.  It was established in 1839. The [[Brewers Association of Australia]] and New Zealand was set up to advocate on behalf of brewers in both countries.<ref name="baabus">{{cite web |url=http://www.brewers.org.au/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=Brewers Association of Australia and New Zealand |access-date=26 February 2013 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921044146/http://www.brewers.org.au/about-us/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Drinkwise]] is an industry funded organisation that funds alcohol-related research and conducts public education activities.  [[Ocsober]] is an Australian fundraising initiative that encourages people to give up alcohol for the month of October, while [[Dry July]] encourages people to give up alcohol for the month of July.

==See also==
{{portal|Beer|Australia}}
* [[Australian pub]]
* [[Beer and breweries by region]]
* [[List of breweries in Australia]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Further reading===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Deutsher-BrewAust-2nd|ref=none}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
{{commons category|Beers of Australia}}
* [http://www.australianbeers.com/ Your guide to Australian beers], AustralianBeers.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070517045510/http://www.beerguide.com.au/ Beer Guide (Australia)], Beer Guide
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011210515/http://vnv.org.au/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=195&Itemid=133 Vegetarian Beers in Australia], Vegetarian Network

{{Beers of the world}}
{{Beer Styles}}
{{Economy of Australia}}
{{Australian cuisine}}

[[Category:Beer in Australia| ]]