Craft beer is a type of beer that’s produced by small and independent breweries. These breweries are known for their innovative brewing techniques and experimentation with different ingredients, flavours and styles. They also tend to be locally focused—many are owned and operated by people living in the same community as their brewery.
Craft beers are typically more expensive than mass-produced beers because they’re made from higher-quality, more expensive ingredients and smaller batches that result in less efficiency. They also tend to have higher alcohol content.
Is It Its Impact on Our Taste Buds, the Way It Makes Us Feel, or Something More Ephemeral?
For beer lovers, there are as many answers to this question as there are beers. Different styles and brands speak to different people in different ways at different times. But that’s not to say there aren’t general guidelines for brewing enjoyable beers. Whether you’re a brewer yourself or just a lover of great craft beer, we can all benefit from understanding the science behind what makes a great brew.
In Australia, to be considered a craft brewer, you must brew under 40 million litres of beer per annum. This is a large enough volume to keep up with demand, but small enough to maintain high quality and remain independent. There are currently more than 400 craft breweries in Australia producing an endless variety of beers – from classic, traditional styles like pale ales, stouts and wheat beers through to modern interpretations using native Australian ingredients like wattle seed, lemon myrtle and bush tomatoes.
Best Australia Craft Beers
Here are the best Australia craft beers you can try right now:
Amber Ale: A Malty Brew That Has a Copper-Orange Colour and a Medium Level of Bitterness
The amber ale is a medium-bodied beer that has a caramel malt flavour and a rich copper colour.
The term “ale” primarily refers to the brewing process, which doesn’t include boiling hops or barley malt. It also refers to ales’ unique yeast, which ferments at higher temperatures than lagers do, giving them their signature fruity taste.
Pale Ale: A Crisp, Hoppy Brew With an Amber Colour
The term “pale ale” originally denoted an ale that had been brewed from pale malt. The pale ales of the early 18th century were lightly hopped and quite different from today’s pale ales. By the mid-18th century, pale ale was mostly brewed with coke-fired malt, which produced less smoking and roasting of barley in the malting process, and hence produced a paler beer. One such variety of beer was October beer, a pale well-hopped brew popular among the landed classes, who brewed it domestically; once brewed it was intended to cellar for a year.
IPA (India Pale Ale): Similar to Pale Ale, but With Higher Levels of Bitterness and Alcohol Content
IPA is best described as a hopped-up pale ale with higher alcohol content, generally between 5% and 7%. The appeal of an IPA lies in its bitter taste that can range from moderate to very strong. IPAs are the most popular craft beer around today.
Lager: A Lighter Style of Beer That Is Cold Fermented and Usually Golden or Pale Yellow in Colour
Because it is brewed at colder temperatures than some other beers, it also tends to have lower alcohol content. Lagers are clean-tasting, crisp and refreshing. The term “lager” stems from the German word “to store,” referring to the extended period of cold storage before bottling.
Stout: Dark-Coloured Beers Made With Roasted Malt or Roasted Barley
They’re usually thick and rich and can have coffee, chocolate or caramel flavours. Stout is made using roasted malt or roasted barley, hops, water and yeast. It was traditionally the generic term for the strongest or stoutest porters in the 17th century.
Australian Craft Beer Festivals
As the craft beer scene in Australia grows, so do the number of festivals dedicated to the celebration of all things fermented and delicious. The first Australian craft beer festival took place in 2002. It was called GABS, which stands for Great Australasian Beer Spectacular. It began as a small event in a pub in Melbourne and has since grown into one of Australia’s biggest craft beer festivals, with tens of thousands attending each year. If you happen to be visiting Australia in the spring, then you will be able to experience some of the country’s best craft beer festivals. Here are some of the most popular:
Melbourne Craft Beer Festival
The Melbourne Craft Beer Festival is held at Federation Square in the heart of Melbourne city. The festival features over 90 different breweries with hundreds of beers, ciders and spirits on offer. Each year it brings together a wide array of Australian craft breweries from each state and territory, as well as international craft brewers from Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. The ticket price includes a souvenir tasting glass and access to all beer tastings for the duration of the festival. Additional tasting notes and tokens are also available for purchase on site if needed.
Sydney Beer Week
Sydney Beer Week runs over nine days and features more than 100 events at various venues across the city. The festival showcases the best of Sydney’s craft beer scene, celebrating the local brewers, venues and businesses that make up the industry.
