Friday Rant And Flame Fest - What Is Australia's National Beer?

[chappo1970]

Ok so on the train this morning I was dutifully reading my latest Beer & Breweries mag. There is an article in there about Australia Beers and it questions what beer is iconically Australian. They leaned very heavily towards Fosters as the most recognised but posed is the Coopers Sparkling Ale perhaps more appropriate?
So what beer do you see as THE representative of Australia and it's Culture?

FLAME SUIT ON

I put up VB!

 

[Cortez The Killer]

Any mega swill

Cheers

 

[mwd]

I think VB is the most widely known beer within all of Australia you can get it nearly everywhere.

Fosters and Paul Hogan's brilliant TV adverts are what got Fosters International recognition.

My 2c.

 

[Adamt]

I'd like for it to be something like Sparkling Ale, LCPA or something good, but the question asks for the representative of Australia. Democratically, Australia is represented by VB.

Just like:

USA = Budweiser
Belgium = Stella Artois
UK = Guinness

All dry, flavourless piss. Even guinness when it's served freezing cold with nitrogen.

 

[MarkBastard]

Yeah agreed with the above, VB is the most well known and by far the most consumed in Australia. Fosters is the most well known worldwide (and again probably most consumed).

Coopers Sparkling, not sure why that was mentioned. I guess it's something we can claim as being uniquely Australian? It's not iconic or the national beer.

 

[kirem]

Coming from the wine world, I find this topic very interesting and very fertile ground for up and coming breweries.

Most people know what Grange is, but it is hardly the best wine in Australia, IMHO it is good but not the best.

Foster's have tried with the Ambassador. Cooper's the Vintage and a few others, Murray's anniversary.

I believe there are two parts to this question; a best beer by marketing and a best beer by quality.

And another question is what beer defines Australia?

When A-list Celebs come to town they ask for Grange, what beer should they ask for?

 

[chappo1970]

And another question is what beer defines Australia?

When A-list Celebs come to town they ask for Grange, what beer should they ask for?

Exactly kirem!

I shudder to think that we are know for VB... Truly? WTF <_<

And I agree with the Grange as well, it's noice (said kath and kim style) but far from our finest drop.

If I had the choice I rather Australia known for a beer such as JS Golden Ale or LC Bright Ale.

Give an American Beer? Budweiser or Coors?

NZ? tha Steiny of course

Australia???????? WTF!

 

[tdack]

Having lived all around Australia, and visited every capital on more than one occasion this is how I drink as I can't really pick a "national" beer...

Perth - Little Creatures or Matilda Bay beers
Adelaide - Coopers (personal preference is Pale)
Hobart - Cascade or Boags
Sydney - Squires Amber or Golden if I can get it on tap, otherwise Carlton Draught
Melbourne - in a pub "a pot of Draught thanks mate"
Brisbane - tough one this, I'm not a big fan of the XXXX, so when I'm in Bris Vegas I tend to go with the mega-swill brewery of choice depending on who owns/sponsors the pub
Darwin - anything cold and wet!

I avoid VB like the plague, I just find it to be a completely horrible thing to drink, no matter how cold it is.

Overseas I found Fosters rather popular and wondered why locals drank it when there were so many better beers on tap right next to the Fosters (Europe/UK and US)

 

[matti]

It would either be XXXX, VB or Toheeys New.
More people on the east coast, sorry WA,SA and Tasmania. The Northern territorty doesn't count as they drink any beer they get there hand on.
Appearently Blond has taken over and doing extremely well.

 

[blackbock]

Like it or not, Fosters is what people overseas think of when Australian beer comes to mind. It's kind of weird, because I can't even remember the last time I saw it available anywhere since the 80's..

 

[raven19]

I'd like for it to be something like Sparkling Ale, LCPA or something good, but the question asks for the representative of Australia. Democratically, Australia is represented by VB.

Just like:

USA = Budweiser
Belgium = Stella Artois
UK = Guinness

All dry, flavourless piss. Even guinness when it's served freezing cold with nitrogen.

+1.

Unfortunately, in this case the minority (flavoursome tasty home brew and the like) is not protected by the majority (commercialised cat p!ss).

Proud to say I have never bought a VB, but have had a few when its the only thing offered from a friends fridge.

I was forced to buy a Fosters in the UK once... felt so dirty afterwards too...

 

[chappo1970]

XXXX WTF is this stuff? Seriously what demented half witted brewer can up with the shyte? What's worse is they call it beer and it's iconically Qld???

At least VIc and NSW have something close drinkable?

Qlder's swear by it. They would bath in it if they could. I have lived in Qld for 20 years now and I just can't drink the muck and don't start me on the 4ex Gold! But the megaswiller Qlder thinks it's god's milk????? Am I surrounded by morons?

 

[Wolfy]

I think the National or Australian Iconic beer depends on which state/location you are in - which I realise is a strange thing to say - but what I've noticed is that the 'beer of the masses' - which is what I suspect you are asking about - is different depending on where you are. From an outside perspective, Fosters is mostly all that gets publicity/mention outside the country, but I don't know anyone here who actually drinks it, usually its a different mega-swill depending on where you're drinking.

 

[Fents]

I think VB has the most $$$ thrown into marketing and crammed down our eyeballs known beer within all of Australia you can get it nearly everywhere.

Fosters and Paul Hogan's brilliant TV adverts are what got Fosters International recognition.

My 2c.

fixed.

 

[Muggus]

Like it or not, Fosters is what people overseas think of when Australian beer comes to mind. It's kind of weird, because I can't even remember the last time I saw it available anywhere since the 80's..

The Poms seem to drink more Fosters over in there than they do of their own stuff! It seems to be on tap in every pub.
While it's damn well hard work finding it anywhere over here, tap, bottle or otherwise.

Having said that, with all the Aussies over in the UK there does seem to be a fair bit of VB around too.
I get the feeling that VB probably also seen as a renowned Aussie beer, with them sponsoring the Cricket and such.

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

I used to be a big fan of Redbank Sally's Paddock, but one of us has changed in recent years and now ... not so much.

There's a bunch of chaps working outside my house with *really big* earth-moving equipment. The foreman offered to do something for me in return for a slab. I asked him what colour and his response was either green or red.

I got my wonderful wife to buy a slab of VB (I don't want the locals to see me buying it) and the blokes thought it was christmas.

Australia's National Beer must be VB. As much as it pains me to say it...

 

[mwd]

I should not admit to this here but I have bought the odd case of VB when its on special at the bottleshop. I have no real problem drinking it and it goes O.K. mixed with a strong heavy stout to make an acceptable Black and Tan.

Better go and hide in the garage for a week or two :icon_offtopic:

 

[Jase71]

Like it or not, Fosters is what people overseas think of when Australian beer comes to mind. It's kind of weird, because I can't even remember the last time I saw it available anywhere since the 80's..

I thought that too. Been reading a biography of Billy Connoley, authored by his australian wife who mentioned that when they lived in LA they has an annual Australia Day ritual by dressing up their house with Oz kitcsh - the photograph included an inflatable platypus and a couple of empty fosters cans with flags popped in them.

It made me think, the next time I go to a pub I'm going to order a Fosters if they have it. My discant recollections were that it was crap - that was even when I was on the megaswill. And that the bubbles were smaller, kind of like the pepsi vs coke carbonation difference.

 

[hoohaaman]

I thought that too. Been reading a biography of Billy Connoley, authored by his australian wife who mentioned that when they lived in LA they has an annual Australia Day ritual by dressing up their house with Oz kitcsh - the photograph included an inflatable platypus and a couple of empty fosters cans with flags popped in them.

It made me think, the next time I go to a pub I'm going to order a Fosters if they have it. My discant recollections were that it was crap - that was even when I was on the megaswill. And that the bubbles were smaller, kind of like the pepsi vs coke carbonation difference.

Billy Connolly and his australian wife,will no doubt thank you.But to read his biography and still spell his name wrong...please

It reeks of GFR

 

[antains]

So what beer do you see as THE representative of Australia and it's Culture?

FLAME SUIT ON

I put up VB!

I'm leaning towards the Coopers claim. I'm happy to drink it in any circumstance. However, the one that I would buy when I want to have an uncomplicated IDGAF session is Carlton Draught. It's the one that's always been on tap in pubs in Melbourne (as opposed to VB). A jug of Draught in a beer garden in a dirty Fitzroy pub (they're not that dirty anymore ) was just brilliant.

don't start me on the 4ex Gold! But the megaswiller Qlder thinks it's god's milk????? Am I surrounded by morons?

Now, this has been explained to me in terms that I can appreciate: one can/stubby of XXXX Gold is one standard drink, which makes it easier to keep track of how much has been drunk.

I like the logic, but it's not making me drink it.