Ale’s Well That Ends Well: A Down Under Beer Tale

Author – Devavratha Shetty N

Pint-Sized Introduction

As far as we can retrace history, beer was, is, and will always be a part of humanity. If you’re wondering what’s with the obsession with beer anyway? And why is Australia synonymous with beer? 

Well, today is your lucky day, because what you read below will make you grab a six pack and brag about your knowledge the next time you’re with your beer buddies! Grab a pint or two, and sit tight! Also, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE! Although, a wise man once said, beer makes you fly, if so, is it still called driving then? Moving on…

Did You Know?

First and foremost, a little DID-YOU-KNOW fact: There was a time when beer was the safest liquid to drink because clean water was rare. *Well, gone are those good ale days!*

Before The Brits & After They Wouldn’t Leave

What’s the one good thing that happened because of the colonisation of Australia? *Well, Aussies, now is when you cheer!*

Captain James Cook, the British explorer, along with his crew and some beer, landed his HMS Endeavour in Botany Bay in 1770. Until then, Aussies were along the lines of “Where is my bloody rum?” Yes, Rum was so popular in Australia until the colonisation that it was used as a sort of semi currency as well. But apparently, pre-colonised Australia did not handle rum quite that well. The unrestricted consumption of rum resulted in streets filled with intoxicated mates and jails filled with convicts. The government, wanting to end this epidemic, began promoting beer as a much healthier drink. Post that, the Australians took the advice so seriously that technically speaking, beer put the country on the map. *Also cricket, but mostly beer.*

Brews 101: The Beer Basics

Want to end religious hate? Read on!

From what research tells us, Beer was invented by the Sumerians who lived in, as it is known today as Iraq. And an honorary toast to women, because ancient tablets have revealed that women were the original brewers. Women, well, what would we do without you?

The DID-YOU-KNOW part doesn’t end there. The Sumarians even had a goddess of beer named Ninkasi. Somewhere in the world there exists a poem honoring the goddess. *I’m pretty sure that a religion created under the name of Goddess Ninkasi, would be a lot more peaceful and non-violent.* 

From Mesopotamia, beer spread to ancient Egypt, where it became a staple drink for both the rich and poor. *No wonder the mummies keep coming back to life* The Egyptians refined brewing techniques and even used beer as currency and an offering to the gods. The Babylonians later developed regulations for beer production, as seen in the Code of Hammurabi (around 1754 BCE).

In Europe, beer brewing was further developed by the Romans and Celts, but it was the monasteries of the Middle Ages that perfected brewing techniques. Monks in Belgium and Germany experimented with ingredients, leading to the widespread use of hops (first documented in the 9th century) to preserve and flavour beer.

By the Industrial Revolution (18th-19th century), brewing became more standardised and commercialised, thanks to advances like the steam engine and pasteurization, it led to the rise of large breweries producing lagers and ales on a mass scale. *Thank you Louis Pasteur and Thomas Newcomen*

The 20th and 21st centuries witnessed the domination of beer culture with independent brewers innovating new styles and flavours, leading to today’s diverse and vibrant beer industry. Today, Lagers and Ales have flavours and shades! *Is this an attempt of cross-segmentation into the ice cream and cosmetics (lipsticks in particular) industries? Shades? Flavours?*

Stats: ‘Ale’Gebra And Lager-Thematic

Czech Republic should basically declare a holiday dedicated to Goddess Ninkasi considering their per capita consumption volume, 188.5L, according to recent studies. Australia secures the 22nd position with 70.6L. 

Don’t judge Australia by the stats, considering their position as per the per capita beer consumption volume. The Cascade Brewery established in Tasmia in the year 1824 is still operational. So now you know how serious they take their lager.

Shades Of Ale And Lager

Beer is broadly categorized into two main types based on fermentation: Ales and Lagers.

1. Ales

What are ales? Ever pondered about it before gulping it all down? Well, Ales are fermented at warmer temperatures (15–24°C) using top-fermenting yeast, which creates bold and complex flavours. To name a few popular ales: Pale Ale, Indian Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Belgian Ale, and Stout.

2. Lagers

On the other hand, Lagers are fermented at cooler temperatures (7–13°C) using bottom-fermenting yeast, resulting in a clean, crisp taste. Few of the popular lagers are Pilsner, American Lager, and Dortmunder Export, and Bock.

3. Speciality Beers

And then there are these. Beer was universally accepted and loved, so I wonder why they came up with these kinds of ‘beers,’ yet not so much. *Please ignore my opinion* The most preferred ones are Kölsch, Fruit Beers, and Sour Beers.

I could go on explaining the brewing process as well. But let’s be honest here, even though you can look up the recipe online, it’s a process of research and understanding the palette of the customer. If you ask me, it’s a process of trial and error. 

To be even more blunt, would it really matter when you’re handed over a glass of fresh brewed beer with froth slithering off the mug’s mouth? 

Nah, you’d get straight to chugging!

Hope that convinced you to move on to the next part, and if it did, you’re a beer-lover and not a beer-maker!On the contrary, if you are a brewer and planning to enter the Australian market after being influenced by this article, *Just kidding; Or maybe not!* you should definitely level-up your game, because in one of the recent surveys on the best beer according to the Aussies, one of them said, and I quote, “Can’t wait for the day when people develop a taste for proper beer then and not flavoured water.” *Honestly, I don’t even want to know which beer made him/her say so, because if it were my brand, I’d pack up!*

Beer-Ictionary

So, if the benchmark is set so high, what are the Aussies’ fave? Here are the top 5 results from the GABS Festival Hottest 100 Craft Beers.

Mountain Culture – Status Quo Hazy Pale Ale NSW

Balter Brewing – Balter XPA Pale Ale QLD

BentSpoke Brewing Co – Crankshaft American IPA ACT

Stone & Wood Brewing Co – Pacific Ale Australian Pale Ale NSW

Your Mates Brewing Co – Larry Australian Pale Ale QLD

Alternatively, the most popular beers in Australia according to 2022 sales data by the market research company IRI Australia is as listed below.

• Great Northern Brewing Co (Brewed by CUB, via. Asahi)
• Carlton Dry (CUB/Asahi)
• XXXX Gold (Lion, part of Kirin)
• Coopers (Independent)
• Victoria Bitter (CUB/Asahi)

A small hint with a request to jog your memory. The previously quoted statement made by one of the Australians during the “Best beer survey,” was made after the above results were published. You know who he/she was referring to now! And I never said a thing!

Back to the point, who takes the cup? The only independent brewery on the list, The Coopers! Dear aspiring brewers, you know whose footsteps to follow now! *Thank me later for the insight…. With a beer, ofcourse!*

That’s basically about the stats and numbers. Let’s wobble our way to the next segment of how exactly did the home-made beer in Australia begin?

From Behind Bars To Behind Bars

John Boston, *random guesses?* a former convict, crafted Australia’s first beer using Indian corn.  

*Talk about globalisation: British explorer, Aussie land, Indian corn.* 

What’s the second best thing to a reformed story of a convict?

Another reformed convict story!

James Larra, *again* an ex-convict, opened Australia’s first legal pub called the Mason Arms in 1796, Parramatta.

Early Australian beers were quick maturing ales because they were brewed without hops. Successfully cultivating hops in Australia was close to impossible until… 

James Squire, *not another ex-convict*, successfully cultivated hops in 1804, after which he opened a pub and brewed beer. 

In the time during which epidemics spread like wildfire, Australia was in another dimension. By 1871, 126 breweries opened up in Victoria alone. Remember the Coopers? Well, Thomas Cooper established the Coopers Brewery in 1862 in Adelaide, suburb of Norwood. *Talk about legacy* Since 2011, Coopers has been the largest Australian-owned brewery.

What’s Cracking?

Enough with the monochrome era, currently, what are Aussies’ top 5 craft beer spots?

• Felons Brewing Co. – Brisbane
• Hemingway’s Brewery – Cairns City
• BentSpoke Brewing Co.- Braddon ACT 2612
• Matso’s Broome Brewery
• Young Henry’s – Newtown NSW

Is Beer A Rager Or A Fizzer?

Still a rager? Read on…

The Australian beer market size is valued at USD 22.7 billion in 2023. Australia has been one of the largest beer markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Aside from the love for beer, several other factors, such as increasing disposable income, demographic changes, and the trend of premiumisation in the beer sector drive the consumption of beer.

Although, Australians are slightly drifting towards lower-alcohol and lower-calorie beers. The overall consumption of alcohol trotted downhill during the early 2020. *Do not gasp, aspiring brewers looking to penetrate the Australian market*

A new data from Roy Morgan’s Alcohol Consumption Report shows that the proportion of Australians who drink alcohol was at 68.1% as opposed to the pre-pandemic period, which was at 66.3%. 

But… 

The most popular alcohol is wine, which has stretched its lead over the last few years, with the number of Australians drinking wine increasing from 8,096,000 (41.0%) pre-pandemic to 9,068,000 (44.1%) in the 12 months to September 2023, an increase of nearly 1 million people. 

*Not too late to shift your career to winemakers, eh?*

Drumroll please?

The Ultimatum

If beer existed since the existence of civilisation, I believe the last beer would see the ending days of an apocalypse as well. The rising competition from International brands pose an actual threat to Australian-owned breweries, although the loyalty of Aussies towards their home-breweries is to be applauded for. The Australian-owned breweries aren’t just counting on blind faith either. The quality, freshness, and variety in flavours have clearly earned the crown for the best beer in Australia.

Well, I’ve done my part with everything that you need to know about beer to where to find the best beer in Australia. From a dictionary to a travel guide, I hope this article serves you well. Cheers, mate!

Devavratha Shetty N

A penman aspiring to craft timeless stories! Wordy, yet monosyllabic! A scriber dangling between brevity and verbosity! A narrative writer longing to master consciousness narrative. On the contrary to my multipotentiality, the scripophily in me has echoed perpetually.