Australia is a nation of beer drinkers, so it should come as no surprise that the nation has a lengthy and extensive history of making beer. Since the early days of European arrival in Australia in the late 1700s, beer has really been a common libation. But which Australian beer is the oldest? To learn out, let’s examine the development of beer in Australia.
Let’s clarify what a schooner beer is before delving into the history of Australian beer. Schooners are a popular style of beer glass in Australia. It normally holds 425ml, or a little less than a pint, of beer. Schooners are the kind of ships that were popular in Australia in the 1800s and give rise to the word “schooner”. Much like the individuals who partake in a schooner of beer, these ships were created to be swift and maneuverable. How Come It’s Called a Schooner?
A beer glass is only referred to as a “schooner” in Australia, and it is thought that Sydney is where the term first appeared in the 1950s. Many American sailors were frequenting the city’s clubs and pubs at the time, which coincided with the city’s tourism boom. The sailors were used to drinking beer out of a shot glass, which was smaller and held just 280ml. Sydney bars began adopting a larger glass, which they dubbed after the fashionable sailing ships of the time, to cater to the American sailors and their penchant for larger drinks.
What is the oldest Australian beer? Let’s get to the main point now that we understand what a schooner is. The solution is “Cascade Pale Ale,” which was created in Tasmania in 1832 and was first produced in 1833. Frenchman Peter Degraves, who immigrated to Tasmania in the early 1800s, was the maker of the beer. At the foot of Mount Wellington in Hobart, Degraves constructed a brewery and started making beer with the spring water’s pure, clean energy. The popularity of Cascade Pale Ale swiftly expanded from Tasmania to the mainland. Is Foster’s Beer Still Available?
An classic Australian beer, Foster’s Lager, was created in Melbourne in the 1880s. Foster’s: Australian for Beer, the motto of a popular 1980s advertising campaign, helped it gain recognition on a global scale. Nevertheless, Foster’s Lager is no longer brewed in Australia, despite its widespread appeal. In 2011, a multinational brewing corporation purchased the brand, and production was shifted elsewhere. Even though Foster’s Lager is no longer the well-known Australian beer it once was, it is nevertheless sold in several nations today.
Finally, beer has long been a significant part of Australian culture dating back to the earliest days of European arrival. Cascade Pale Ale, which was invented in Tasmania in 1832, is the oldest beer ever produced in Australia. And although though Foster’s Lager isn’t made in Australia anymore, it is still widely recognized as a representation of Australian culture. So, get a schooner of beer the next time you’re in an Australian pub and raise a glass in honor of the country’s long and illustrious beer tradition.