Beer production in Australia has traditionally been dominated by regional producers. Since the 1980s, there have been a steady stream of takeovers and amalgamations, and now the two major producers (who were once Australian-owned) are Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) and Lion.

In December 2011, CUB became a subsidiary of British multinational SABMiller (the world's then-second-largest international brewing company) and in October 2016 CUB became 100% owned by AB InBev the world's largest brewing company, based in Belgium. AB InBev then sold CUB to Japanese company Asahi Breweries on 1 June 2020.[1]

Since October 2009, Lion has been a subsidiary of Japanese brewer, Kirin Company a brewing company established in 1885. The largest remaining Australian owned brewer is Coopers Brewery[2] with a market share of about 4% of total beer volume sales in Australia.[3]

The two foreign-owned companies accounted for 89% of beer volume sales in 2011, with CUB's market share at 48% (declining from a 55% market share in 2006)[4] and Lion at 41% (increasing from 37%).[5]

In May 2012 the dominant Australian-produced beers were XXXX Gold, which accounted for 12.4% of all beer consumed in Australia, VB, with 12.3%, Carlton Draught 9.3%, Tooheys New 7.1%, Tooheys Extra Dry 4.4% and Carlton Mid 3.8%.[6]

Breweries owned by major companies

Owned ByAustralian
Subsidiary		BreweryLocation(s)Estab.Main Beers / Notes
Asahi Group Holdings Carlton & United Breweries Carlton & United Breweries Abbotsford, Victoria & Yatala, Queensland 1907
Cascade BreweryHobart, Tasmania 1824
Matilda Bay Brewing Company Healesville, Victoria 1984 Australia's first craft brewery, originally established in Fremantle. In 1990 it was purchased by Carlton & United Breweries who subsequently closed the Western Australian brewery. 'Grand Champion' and 'Champion Large Brewery' at the 2008 Australian International Beer Awards.[7]
Balter Brewing Company Currumbin, Queensland 2016 Balter Brewing are a multiple award-winning Gold Coast based brewery that was acquired by Carlton & United Breweries on 5 December 2019.[8] Their awards include Best Newcomer and Champion Medium Australian Brewery at the 2017 Australian International Beer Awards and Champion Large Australian Brewery in 2019.
4 Pines Manly, New South Wales 2008 Winner of 'Champion Large Australian Brewery' at the 2015 Australian International Beer Awards.[9] 4 Pines announced on 22 September 2017 that they had been purchased by AB InBev.[10]
Pirate Life Brewing Port Adelaide, South Australia 2014 The award-winning South Australian brewery was purchased by AB InBev on 30 November 2017.[11]
Mountain Goat Beer Richmond, Victoria 1997 Mountain Goat Beer was purchased by Asahi in September 2015 and is therefore no longer an independent owned microbrewery. They have won many local awards including Champion Australian Beer at the 2015 Australian International Beer Awards.
Green Beacon Brewing Co. Teneriffe, Queensland & Geebung, Queensland 2013 Green Beacon was purchased by Asahi on 21 August 2019.[12] Green Beacon is a multi-award-winning brewery having been named 2017 Champion Small Australian Brewery and 2018 Champion Medium Australian Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards.
Kirin Company Lion J. Boag & Sons
(orig. Esk Brewery)		 Launceston, Tasmania 1883
(1881)
Castlemaine Perkins Milton, Queensland 1878
Hahn Brewery Auburn, New South Wales 1988
Malt Shovel Brewery Camperdown, New South Wales 1998 Part of Lion, famous for the James Squires range and Orchard Crush cider. Also brews Malt Shovel Brewers (once named Mad Brewers) and Kosciuszko Pale Ale.
South Australian Brewing Company Thebarton, South Australia 1859 West End Brewery, founded 1859 closed 1980. Thebarton "Southwark" brewery closed in June 2021.[13][14]
Swan Brewery Thebarton, South Australia 1837 Brewery was previously in Canning Vale, Western Australia
Tooheys Lidcombe, New South Wales 1869
Little Creatures Brewery Fremantle, Western Australia & Geelong, Victoria 2000 In 2012 the company became part of Lion.
White Rabbit Brewery Geelong, Victoria 2009 Originally owned by Little World Beverages, in 2012 the company became part of Lion. In 2015 the Healesville brewery was closed and production moved to Geelong.[15] Beer range includes White Ale, Dark Ale & Pale Ale. The White Ale was named 2017 Champion Australian Beer at the Australian International Beer Awards.[16]
Stone & Wood Brewing Co. Byron Bay, New South Wales 2008 Originally owned by Fermentum, Stone and Wood was purchased by Lion on 9 September 2021.[17] Winner of 'Champion Large Australian Brewery' at the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards[18]
Two Birds Brewing Spotswood, Victoria 2011 Australia's first Female owned and operated brewery founded by Jayne Lewis and Danielle Allen. Initially sold to Fermentum in January 2021 and later onsold to Lion when the Fermentum family of brands were acquired by Lion on 9 September 2021.[17] Winner of 'Champion Medium Sized Australian Brewery' at the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards.[19]
Coopers Brewery Cooper Family Regency Park, South Australia 1862
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australian Beer Company[20] Yenda Brewing Company Yenda, New South Wales 2013 [21]
Feral Brewing Company Baskerville, Western Australia 2002 Feral is a multi award-winning brewery that was named as 2009 'Grand Champion' and 2012 'Champion Large Australian Brewery' at the Australian International Beer Awards. It was announced on 12 October 2017 that it had been fully acquired by Coca-Cola Amatil.[22]
Bickford's Australia / Vok Beverages Vale Brewing Willunga, South Australia 2008 Vale Brewing was originally established as the McLaren Vale Beer Company before becoming Vale Brewing. In 2010 their Vale Ale was the winner of the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of the Year. They also brew beers under the Fox Hat Brewing label.[23] They were purchased in October 2017 by beverage company, Bickford's Australia.[24]

Microbreweries

A microbrewery, or craft brewery, is a modern brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, usually with an orientation toward distinctive and flavourful products. In Australia, there is no strict definition for a microbrewery; however, the definition for membership of the Independent Brewers Association provides a fair guide that could be considered appropriate. That is, a brewer sells less than 40 million litres of beer per annum and is not more than 20% owned by a brewer that produces more than 40 million litres of beer per annum anywhere in the world.[25]

The following is a list of notable microbreweries in Australia, listed alphabetically. In July 2017, there was approximately 500 small breweries in Australia.[26]

NameLocation(s)Estab.Notes
Ballistic Beer CoSalisbury, Queensland2016 Named after the local area's munition factory history of WWII, they won 3 Gold at the 2017 Australian International Beer Awards[27]
Batch Brewing CompanyMarrickville, New South Wales2013 Placed 15th in top craft breweries in Australia in the 2018 Beer Cartel Craft Beer Survey.[28] Key beers; West Coast IPA, Just Beer, Elsie the Milk Stout.
Bentspoke Brewing CoCanberra, Australian Capital Territory2014 In March 2019 Bentspoke won two medals at the International Brewing Awards in London, a gold medal for their "Barley Griffin" Pale Ale and a silver medal for their "Crankshaft" IPA.[29] This was the second time in a row that Bentspoke had been awarded a gold and a silver medal at the show.[30]
Bootleg BreweryMargaret River, Western Australia1994
Broo BrewerySorrento, Victoria2009 Producers of Broo Premium Lager and Australia Draught - marketed as 100% Australian owned and manufactured.
Burleigh Brewing CompanyBurleigh Heads, Queensland2006 Gold Medal winner at the 2012 World Beer Cup in the category 'South German-Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier'.
Capital Brewing CompanyFyshwick, Australian Capital TerritorySeptember 2016 Winner of the 'Champion Small Brewery' at the 2016, and the 'Champion International Small Brewery' and 'Champion Australasian Brewery' at the 2017 Australian International Beer Awards.
Colonial Brewing CompanyMargaret River, Western Australia2004 Winner of the 'Champion Small Brewery' at the 2006, and the 'Champion International Small Brewery' and 'Champion Australasian Brewery' at the 2007 Australian International Beer Awards.
Gage Roads Brewing CompanyPalmyra, Western Australia2005 One of Australia's largest independently owned craft breweries, although in 2009 Woolworths acquired a 25% stake in the company. In 2016 Woolworths was bought out of its 25% via a capital raising.
Holgate BrewhouseWoodend, Victoria1999Winner of the Premier's Trophy for Best Victorian Beer at the 2008 Australian International Beer Awards.
Lobethal BierhausLobethal, South Australia2007
Mash Brewing CompanyHenley Brook, Western Australia1998 Winner of 'Champion Australian Beer' at the 2014 Australian International Beer Awards.[31]
Mountain Culture Beer Co. Katoomba, New South Wales 2780 Winner of GABS Hottest #1 2022 with Status Quo,[32] first brewery to win the GABS Hottest #1 on debut, Highest Rated brewery on Untappd,[33] Winner of NSW Favourite Brewery Venue 2023.[34]
Moo BrewHobart, Tasmania2005Located at the site of the Museum of Old and New Art.
Nail BrewingBassendean, Western Australia2000 Producers of the world's most expensive beer, the Antarctic Nail Ale.[35]
Newstead Brewing Co.Newstead, Queensland2013 Winners of Champion Specialty Beer at the 2015 Craft Beer Industry Association Awards for their 3 Quarter Time Session Ale[36]
Port Dock Brewery HotelPort Adelaide, South Australia1986 Historic 1855 hotel closed in 1909 and reopened in 1986 as a brewpub. New microbrewery added in 2007.[37]
Stockade Brew CoSydney, New South Wales2015 Winner of Worlds Best Imperial Stout at the World Beer Awards.[38]
The Craft & CoCollingwood, Victoria2016 Producer of Australia's first amphora beer.[18][39][40]
Thunder Road Brewing CompanyBrunswick, Victoria2011 Winner of 'Champion Medium Sized Australian Brewery' at 2014 and 2015 Australian International Beer Awards.[31][9]
Young HenrysNewtown, New South Wales2012

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AB InBev completes sale of Carlton & United Breweries to Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd" (PDF). AB InBev. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  2. ↑ "Coopers to become Australia's largest brewer" (PDF). Coopers' (Press release). 22 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012.
  3. ↑ Gibson, Rory (10 December 2011). "Lager louts are out in this ale nation" (PDF). The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Bryant, Robert (25 May 2011). "Brewing up a storm". IBISWorld. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Wilson, Neil (27 January 2012). "Fight is brewing between the Boutique Beer Brigade and CUB's and Lion". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Greenblat, Eli (30 May 2012). "VB:the second best cold beer". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Fat Yak births Lazy Yak; CUB revises craft beer strategy". Brews News. 3 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "CUB buys Balter Brewing Co". 4 December 2019.
  9. 1 2 "AIBA 2015 Results". Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Ltd. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "AB InBev buys 4 Pines Beer". Brews News. 22 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "World's biggest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev buys Pirate Life". Australian Financial Review. 29 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Green Beacon sale rumours finally true". 21 August 2019.
  13. ↑ Richardson, Tom (13 October 2020). "End of the West End: tears flow for historic brewery as Lion quits SA". InDaily. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "Lion plans to close SA's West End Brewery". Brews News. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  15. ↑ "Lion to close White Rabbit Brewery". Brews News. 12 November 2014.
  16. ↑ Allenby, Tam (19 May 2017). "2017 AIBA winners announced".
  17. 1 2 "Lion acquires Stone & Wood parent Fermentum". Brews News. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Good beer week set to showcase Melbourne strangest brews". Herald Sun. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  19. ↑ "AIBA 2016 Results". Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  20. ↑ "History of Australian Beer Co". australianbeerco.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  21. ↑ Rochfort, Scott (29 March 2015). "Coca-Cola Amatil craft beer brand Yenda yearns for growth". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  22. ↑ Jackson, Deborah (12 October 2017). "Feral Brewing has been sold".
  23. ↑ "Fox Hat Brewing". The Crafty Pint.
  24. ↑ "The Bickford's Group acquires Vale Brewing". Brews News. 12 October 2017.
  25. ↑ "IBAE Summary" (PDF). gallery.mailchimp.com. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  26. ↑ "Brewery List: Update No. 14 (July 2017) -". 28 July 2017.
  27. ↑ "Sunshine State shines at AIBA 2017". Australian Brews News. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  28. ↑ 2018 Australia's Best Brewery (12 September 2018). "2018 Australia's Best Brewery". Beer Cartel. Retrieved 6 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ↑ Sahli, Megan (19 March 2019). "Aussie breweries medal at International awards". brewsnews.com.au. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  30. ↑ Roberts, Lachlan (23 March 2019). "BentSpoke goes back to back at International Brewing & Cider Awards". aboutregional.com.au. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  31. 1 2 "AIBA 2014 Results". Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  32. ↑ "AUS GABS Hottest 100 – gabshottest100". gabshottest100.com. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  33. ↑ Team, The Untappd. "Untappd". Untappd. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  34. ↑ "'We must be on the right track': Mountain Culture named best brewery venue in NSW". Blue Mountains Gazette. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  35. ↑ Simpson, Willie (14 December 2010). "Pure brew sells for $1850 a bottle". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  36. ↑ "Champion Breweries Australia 2015 Winners List" (PDF). Australian Craft Beer. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  37. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ↑ "World's Best Imperial Stout". www.worldbeerawards.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  39. ↑ "The 10 Wildest Beers and Ciders at GABS 2017". Broadsheet.
  40. ↑ "Amphora beer to be unveiled". Brews News. 5 May 2017.

Sources

  • Deutsher, Keith M. (2012). The Breweries of Australia (2nd ed.). Glebe, NSW: Beer & Brewer Media. ISBN 9780987395214.
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