Australia’s love of craft beer
The craft beer industry has become an ever-expanding segment of Australia’s beer market, long dominated by big beer brands and major breweries. Australians have developed a taste for locally owned and brewed beers, with Black Hops Brewing voted Australia’s best craft beer brewery in 2022. Over the past decade, the number of independent and craft breweries in Australia has soared, and their success has not gone unnoticed. Many multinational beverage companies now sell their own brands of craft beer in the Australian market or have acquired independent breweries as part of their market portfolio.New South Wales and Victoria are home to the largest craft beer consumer bases across Australia, with the two states also boasting the highest concentrations of breweries and retail outlets. The largest share of craft beer consumers are aged between 30 and 39, with a significantly higher proportion of males. Craft beer consumers typically reach for pale ales, lagers, and IPAs, with pale ale on top as the most consumed beer style among Australia’s craft beer drinkers. Australia’s craft beer lovers have also exhibited a preference for full-strength beer; nevertheless, low- and non-alcoholic offerings are becoming more popular.