Beer in Australia: history, traditions and breweries
In Australia a cold beer is part of the way of life – and hops such as Galaxy supply aromas for brewers all over the world.
History
Long before the Europeans, Aboriginal people in some areas made mildly fermented drinks, for example in Tasmania from the sap of the cider gum, a type of eucalyptus.
The First Fleet brought the first convicts and settlers to Australia in 1788. One of the convicts, James Squire, was among the first to brew beer in the colony and was the first to grow hops successfully in Australia. In 1795 he was granted land at Kissing Point near Sydney, where he opened a brewery and tavern.
The Cascade brewery in Hobart, Tasmania, is considered the oldest continuously operating brewery in Australia. In 1862 Thomas Cooper founded the Coopers brewery in Adelaide, which still belongs to the family today. In the late 1880s the American Foster brothers brought refrigeration equipment to Melbourne and brewed lager there.
From 1916 pubs in several states had to close at 6 pm. After work there was only an hour left, in which men drank as much as they could – the “six o’clock swill”. In South Australia the rule was only abolished in 1967.
Since the 1980s hundreds of craft breweries have opened. Pioneers include the Matilda Bay Brewing Company and Little Creatures, both in Western Australia.
Traditions and drinking culture
Whoever pays for a round “shouts”. Glasses have different names depending on the state: a “schooner” usually holds 425 ml (about 14.4 fl oz), a “middy” in Sydney 285 ml (about 9.6 fl oz), and in Melbourne and Brisbane this smaller glass is called a “pot”.
A cold lager belongs with a barbecue and with cricket, often in an insulating “stubby holder”.
Fun facts
- South Australia does it differently: there the 285 ml (about 9.6 fl oz) glass is called a “schooner” and the 425 ml (about 14.4 fl oz) glass a “pint”.
- Little Creatures in Fremantle has been brewing in a former crocodile farm since 2000.
- In 1954 the student and later prime minister Bob Hawke drank a yard glass of beer in eleven seconds at Oxford – a record that made him famous.
- Castlemaine’s XXXX goes back to old strength marks on casks. Australians joke that Queenslanders can’t spell “beer”.
- Coopers still brews its Sparkling Ale with secondary fermentation in the bottle; the yeast at the bottom is part of it.
Typical beer styles
- Australian sparkling ale
- Lager
- Pale ale
- Pacific ale
Beer cities and their stories
Sydney
The First Fleet landed here in 1788. In 1795 the convict James Squire opened a brewery and tavern at Kissing Point, today’s Ryde.
Hobart
The Cascade brewery at the foot of Mount Wellington is considered the oldest continuously operating brewery in Australia.
Adelaide
Thomas Cooper founded the Coopers brewery here in 1862. Its sparkling ale is bottle-conditioned and therefore has yeast sediment.
Melbourne
In 1907 five breweries merged here to form Carlton & United Breweries. In the late 1880s the Foster brothers had already brewed lager here with refrigeration equipment.
Fremantle
Little Creatures has been brewing at the harbour in a former crocodile farm since 2000.
Brisbane
XXXX, Queensland’s beer, is brewed at the brewery in the suburb of Milton.
Perth
The Swan Brewery was founded on the Swan River in 1837 – one of the oldest breweries in Western Australia.
Breweries and their stories
Cascade
Considered the oldest continuously operating brewery in Australia. Peter Degraves was long regarded as its founder; today we know that Hugh Macintosh was the main partner.
Known for: Cascade Premium Lager
Coopers
The largest Australian-owned brewery still belongs to the Cooper family.
Known for: Sparkling Ale, Pale Ale
Carlton & United Breweries
Formed from five breweries; known for Victoria Bitter and Foster’s.
Known for: Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Foster’s
Castlemaine Perkins (XXXX)
Brews XXXX, Queensland’s cult beer.
Known for: XXXX Gold, XXXX Bitter
Little Creatures
Started in a former crocodile farm at the harbour and, with its pale ale, became a pioneer of the Australian craft beer scene.
Known for: Little Creatures Pale Ale
Timeline
- 1788Sydney
The First Fleet lands in Sydney. Among the convicts is James Squire, one of the colony’s first brewers.
- 1795Sydney
James Squire receives land at Kissing Point and opens a brewery with a tavern. He is the first to grow hops successfully in Australia.
- 1824Hobart
The Cascade brewery is founded at the foot of Mount Wellington – Australia’s oldest continuously operating brewery.
- 1862Adelaide
Thomas Cooper founds his brewery. Coopers still belongs to the family today.
- 1888Melbourne
The American Foster brothers bring a refrigeration plant to Melbourne and brew lager.
- 1907Melbourne
Five breweries merge to form Carlton & United Breweries.
- 1916whole country
In several states pubs have to close at 6 pm – the start of the “six o’clock swill”.
- 1924Brisbane
XXXX is launched in Brisbane, still Queensland’s beer today.
- 2000Fremantle
Little Creatures starts brewing in a former crocodile farm at the harbour.