February 2023 – For The Love Of Beer

Best Selling Beers 1990 – 2020

I’m always quite interested in what people drink and the most popular beers. Gotta say, some people tend to drink a lot of garbage haha. I did a bit of research into the best selling beers in Australia over the past couple decades. Here’s what I found.

From 1990 through to 2020, the best selling Australian beer and beer brands were generally lagers from major breweries. In 1990, Tooheys Extra Dry was the most popular beer brand with approximately 280 million litres sold in Australia that year. This was followed by Carlton Draught (150 million litres) and Victoria Bitter (127 million litres).

In the early 2000s, Foster’s Lager was the most popular beer brand in Australia, selling around 257 million litres in 2001 and 245 million litres in 2002.

In 2003, this was overtaken by Victoria Bitter (which sold around 263 million litres) and both brands maintained a lead until 2007 when VB’s sales dropped to 188 million litres, making Carlton Dry the top seller with approximately 220 million litres.

Since 2008, XXXX Gold has been the best-selling Australian beer brand for 11 consecutive years. In 2009 it sold approximately 247 million litres and increased steadily over the next decade, reaching a peak of 309 million litres in 2018. This is followed by VB on 125 million litres and Tooheys New on 115 million litres.

Overall, the total amount of beer sold in Australia has decreased since 2007, with an estimated 2.7 billion litres in 2020, down from 3.1 billion litres in 2007. Despite this trend, XXXX Gold remains a popular choice for Australians and is projected to remain the top selling Australian beer brand through 2021.

The data shows that Australians are increasingly opting for light beers, with an estimated 1.2 billion litres of low-carbohydrate and mid-strength beer being sold in 2020.

This accounts for 44% of total beer sales – up from just 38% in 2007.

With brands such as Hahn Super Dry, Tooheys Extra Dry Light and Victoria Bitter Ultra competing for attention, we can expect to see further changes in the top selling Australian beer brands over the next decade.

7 Alternatives To Beer

While beer may be a popular beverage choice for many people (myself included), it’s not for everyone. I love trying different gins for instance. Fortunately, there are many delicious and satisfying alternatives to beer that can be just as enjoyable. I’d like to cover a few options for you to consider.

Whether you’re looking to avoid alcohol, have a gluten intolerance, or simply want to try something new, there are plenty of options available.

One option is cider, a fermented drink made from apples or other fruit. Cider comes in a variety of flavours and can be either sweet or dry.

Another popular alternative is wine. Wine can be a great choice for those looking for a drink that is lower in alcohol content but still has complex flavours.

Non-alcoholic alternatives to beer include flavoured sparkling water, kombucha, and tea. These options offer a refreshing and healthy alternative to beer while still satisfying your thirst.

With so many alternatives to choose from, there’s no reason to limit yourself to beer alone. Let’s take a look at some of my favourite beer alternatives.

Gin – With so many gin distilleries popping up, you’re going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to gin options. Choose a gin with lots of flavour and complexity, like a London Dry Gin. Serve it up in a rocks glass over ice with tonic water (a 2:1 ratio is best), garnish it with a lime or lemon wheel and you’re good to go!

Tequila – Tequila is perfect for summer days. Pour over ice and mix with a splash of lime juice and your favourite soda water. Add a twist of lime to the top and sip away!

Whiskey – Irish whiskey can offer up some complexity in flavor, so don’t be afraid to try something new! Try it on the rocks with a few drops of bitters and a splash of soda water. For an added zest, try adding a twist of lemon or orange peel.

Vodka – Whether you prefer it straight up or on the rocks, vodka can be enjoyed in many formats. Try serving it up with a splash of cranberry juice and topped off with club soda for an easy sipper that’ll hit all the right notes.

Wine – Wine lovers will love exploring new varietals and styles when looking for an alternative to beer! From sweet rosé to bold red blends, there is something for everyone. Pour your favourite over ice and top off with sparkling water for a refreshing summer treat.

Mezcal – If you’re looking for something smoky and bold, try mezcal! Serve it up in a rocks glass with a splash of orange juice, then garnish with an orange twist.

Cider – Hard cider is perfect for when you want the taste of beer but not the heavy carbonation that many beers have. Pour your favourite over ice and top off with ginger ale or club soda to get the just right balance of sweet and tart flavours. Enjoy!

Phew! With all of these options, you won’t miss beer for a second! So go ahead and share your favourite alternative to beer with friends at your next get-together.

Cheers to alternatives! 🍻 🥂 🍷 🍸 🥃

How Many Calories In Beer and Popular Beverages?

Alcoholic drinks are a ubiquitous part of many social gatherings, but they can also be a significant source of empty calories.

While most people are aware that sugary cocktails and beer can add to their waistline, the exact number of calories in different alcoholic beverages may not be as well-known.

The calorie count of a drink can vary depending on the type of alcohol, the serving size, and any mixers or additives used.

Understanding the caloric content of your favourite alcoholic beverages can be an important step towards maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. It can also help you make more informed choices about what you drink, especially if you are watching your weight or trying to reduce your overall calorie intake.

In this article, we will explore the caloric content of various alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails. We will also provide tips on how to make healthier choices without sacrificing the enjoyment of a good drink.

If you’re counting calories, be sure to check out how much is in your favourite tipple!

Gin (neat) has a whopping 97 calories per 25ml serve. If you mix it with tonic, that skyrockets to around 180 per 100ml. Of course, if you go for the diet option and opt for soda instead, you’ll save yourself a few calories – just 80 per 100ml.

Full strength beer serves up 150-170 calories in every 100ml, while mid strength sips in at about 120-140.

If you prefer whiskey (neat), get ready for around 105 calories per 25ml serve. But if you mix that with coke, the calories climb to around 180-200 per 100ml.

Finally, vodka and soda adds up to around 74-80 calories per 100ml.

It pays to pay attention when you’re out having a drink – some drinks pack more of a calorie punch than others!

Remember to always drink responsibly and in moderation. Enjoy!

How To Make Home Brew

Making your own home brew beer has a number of benefits. Not the least, saving money. With rising costs of living and alcohol not immune to it, more and more people are getting into home brewing their own beer.

In this article I’ll be continually adding tips I find from across the internet to help beginner home brewers.

Tip 1: Choose the right beer to brew. This is very important as it will determine how your beer tastes, smells and looks in the end! Beginners should start with a simple ale or lager. These beers are easier to make and have fewer ingredients than other styles. You can then experiment with different grains, hops, and yeast later on when you feel more experienced!

Tip 2: Make sure you take regular readings of your fermenting beer’s specific gravity. Taking readings throughout the brewing process can help you identify any issues that may arise such as fermentation not occurring correctly due to incorrect temperatures or yeast strains. It is also important for ensuring consistency between batches of home brewed beer.

Tip 3: Once your beer is ready it’s time to bottle or keg your brew. It’s important to bottle or keg the beer soon after fermentation has finished so that CO2 levels remain consistent and no off flavours are produced. The bottling process can be tedious but if done correctly will ensure you have a great tasting beer in the end!

Tip 4: Store and age your beers properly. Temperature fluctuations can cause off flavours and your beers should be stored in a cool, dark place away from sunlight for optimal aging and quality. If you bottle with too much priming sugar, this can cause over-carbonation which can also lead to off flavours. Be sure to store your bottled beers upright and horizontally for at least 1 month prior to drinking.

Tip 5: Enjoy your beer! Home brew beer is a labour of love and the satisfaction that comes from producing something so delicious and unique for you and your friends to enjoy is an amazing feeling. You can experiment with recipes, ingredients, and processes as much as you like – the possibilities are endless! So sit back, relax and enjoy a cold one of your very own home brewed beers! Cheers! 🍻

Enjoying your beer is the best part of homebrewing. Congratulations on a job well done!

Tip 13: Share your brew with others and get their feedback. Getting honest feedback from friends and family can help you improve your recipes for future beers by learning what works and what doesn’t. You may even find that some people are interested in purchasing your craft beer to enjoy themselves. Sharing the fruits of your labour is one of the greatest rewards of homebrewing, so don’t be afraid to show off what you’ve created! 🍻.

The joy of homebrewing is that the possibilities are endless! Now that you’ve gone through these 7 tips, you should be well on your way to becoming a master brewer and creating unique and delicious beers for you and your friends to enjoy. So grab some brewing supplies, pick out a recipe, and get started today – cheers! 🍻. Happy Brewing! 🍺.

-END-

This article was written with reference to the following sources:

Bryson, K. (2018). The Everything Guide To Homebrewing Beer: All You Need To Know To Make Amazing Beers At Home!. Adams Media Corporation.

Daniels, R. (2015). Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles. Brewers Publications.

Papazian, C. (1984). The Complete Joy of Homebrewing. Avon Books.

Reisacher, G. (2014). Homebrew All-Stars: 25 Homebrewers Share Their Best Techniques and Recipes. Quarry Books.

Smith, B., & Fergus, P. (2018). Brew Better Beer: Learn (and Break) the Rules for Making IPAs, sours, pilsners, stouts and more!. Voyageur Press Incorporated.

Tonsmeire, M., & Mallet Jr., R.. (2015). American Sour Beers: Innovative Techniques for Mixed Fermentations. Brewers Publications.

White, J., & Zainasheff, J. (2011). Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation. Brewers Publications.