What UK Lagers or bitters for sale in OZ
Discussion
Most aussie beer is gassy crap but there's usually one or two decent-enough options like Coopers, Little Creatures, Fat Yak etc. Very rare to see UK beers in any of the bars I've been in and I've been on the lash for the Lions across most of Eastern Australia in recent weeks!
I've been out of the UK for almost five years now and a good pint of ale or two in a proper non-poncy pub is an experience I still miss.
I've been out of the UK for almost five years now and a good pint of ale or two in a proper non-poncy pub is an experience I still miss.
The Lord Dudley, Sydney, Woolhara - Old Speckled Hen by the pint (but expensive) amongst others. Its a small slice of "pub" from home.
I don't think most aussie beers are gassy or bad actually. the old school stuff is but they are just as into micro brewery beers here these days as at home. Ok Ale doesn't get much of a look in and the country is obsessed by pale ale but when you consider Coopers Pale ale has been given best Australian draught beer 5-6 years in a roww is it any wonder?
I personally like the James Squires range, the Blue Tongue range is ok, plus there are any number of local beers....Longboard of Cronulla is one I had at the weekend.
But ale in its true sense is rare. Bitter is available but not common.
I don't think most aussie beers are gassy or bad actually. the old school stuff is but they are just as into micro brewery beers here these days as at home. Ok Ale doesn't get much of a look in and the country is obsessed by pale ale but when you consider Coopers Pale ale has been given best Australian draught beer 5-6 years in a roww is it any wonder?
I personally like the James Squires range, the Blue Tongue range is ok, plus there are any number of local beers....Longboard of Cronulla is one I had at the weekend.
But ale in its true sense is rare. Bitter is available but not common.
I could go on for ages about beer. Really, I could. The availability of decent beer in Australia is what led me to become a homebrewer, but things have gotten remarkably better in the last 10 or so years.
First up, availability of British beers on tap in pubs over here is limited, esp ales - they don't keep well in warm weather, the cellars aren't up to the job, and there's not really the market here for barrels of the stuff.
BUT - if you're in Sydney, other than the Dord Ludley, you might want to try The Lord Nelson in The Rocks, Redoak Cafe on Clarence St in the City, The 4 Pines in Manly or Murray's at Manly for one of their own brews. Most of these, and other small microbreweries have a beer engine and pull a good pint. Its not cheap, but its not that much more for a pint of Three Sheets than it is for a schooner of Tooheys in a city pub.
If you want bottles, then many UK ales can be bought - Dan Murphys usually do a decent range, but specialist stores like Warners at the Bay in, oddly enough, Warners Bay, and Leura Cellars in, you guessed it, Leura do a stunning range of world beers. And I mean stunning - I've sourced Brew Dog's Tokyo from Warners in the past. Its also opened my eyes to some of the beers from other countries that I'd never tried. A word of warning, though - if you go to either of those shops, have a budget in mind or leave the credit card at home - definitely not cheap stuff.
Online, you can try www.WorldofBeers.com.au or www.thebeercellar.com.au - both have a decent range to deliver.
And there are also microbreweries in some of the small regional towns worth trying. One of my favourites is Bootleg Brewery towards Margaret River WA - try the Raging Bull.
I still miss UK ales, especially Wadworth's 6X and Butcombe, both of which are nigh on impossible to find out here, but there is a decent range, and also the local stuff is improving all the time. Coopers is always good, especially Red on tap, and many of the micros are finding favour with bigger pubs.
First up, availability of British beers on tap in pubs over here is limited, esp ales - they don't keep well in warm weather, the cellars aren't up to the job, and there's not really the market here for barrels of the stuff.
BUT - if you're in Sydney, other than the Dord Ludley, you might want to try The Lord Nelson in The Rocks, Redoak Cafe on Clarence St in the City, The 4 Pines in Manly or Murray's at Manly for one of their own brews. Most of these, and other small microbreweries have a beer engine and pull a good pint. Its not cheap, but its not that much more for a pint of Three Sheets than it is for a schooner of Tooheys in a city pub.
If you want bottles, then many UK ales can be bought - Dan Murphys usually do a decent range, but specialist stores like Warners at the Bay in, oddly enough, Warners Bay, and Leura Cellars in, you guessed it, Leura do a stunning range of world beers. And I mean stunning - I've sourced Brew Dog's Tokyo from Warners in the past. Its also opened my eyes to some of the beers from other countries that I'd never tried. A word of warning, though - if you go to either of those shops, have a budget in mind or leave the credit card at home - definitely not cheap stuff.
Online, you can try www.WorldofBeers.com.au or www.thebeercellar.com.au - both have a decent range to deliver.
And there are also microbreweries in some of the small regional towns worth trying. One of my favourites is Bootleg Brewery towards Margaret River WA - try the Raging Bull.
I still miss UK ales, especially Wadworth's 6X and Butcombe, both of which are nigh on impossible to find out here, but there is a decent range, and also the local stuff is improving all the time. Coopers is always good, especially Red on tap, and many of the micros are finding favour with bigger pubs.
Google [bot] said:
This mob are pretty good http://www.beercartel.com.au/
They're not bad, but a trip to Warners at the Bay would show you a real range of beer, and I think Warners would be a bit cheaper too. Yep, I'm a fan 
BTW, went to Dan Murphy's on the weekend and got a good mix of about 12 different beers for $41, including a couple from Hook Norton, a bottle of Directors, Sierra Nevada Torpedo and a bottle of Weston's Old Rosie, for those pissed-from-the-feet-up moments...
PomBstard you have saved me the effort of raving about Warners at the Bay. Although what you haven't mentioned is the fantastic growlers (2L flagon) they offer. The range for the growlers is always changing and often craft beers that you would be lucky to find on tap. If 2L is too much they now offer a sqealer which is about 1L. The Prince of Wales in Merewether also fill growlers.
If you want a beer from a hand pump the Albion in Wickham, Newcastle have 2 dedicated taps. I also believe that the new bar The Grain Store is getting a couple soon as well.
In terms of pom beer thankfully I haven't seen any cans of UK brewed Stella anywhere but you will find the odd beer at either Dan Murphy's or First Choice.
Things for beer with flavour have come a long long way in the last 5 years downunder.
If you want a beer from a hand pump the Albion in Wickham, Newcastle have 2 dedicated taps. I also believe that the new bar The Grain Store is getting a couple soon as well.
In terms of pom beer thankfully I haven't seen any cans of UK brewed Stella anywhere but you will find the odd beer at either Dan Murphy's or First Choice.
Things for beer with flavour have come a long long way in the last 5 years downunder.
SpridgetMitch said:
PomBstard you have saved me the effort of raving about Warners at the Bay. Although what you haven't mentioned is the fantastic growlers (2L flagon) they offer. The range for the growlers is always changing and often craft beers that you would be lucky to find on tap. If 2L is too much they now offer a sqealer which is about 1L. The Prince of Wales in Merewether also fill growlers.
If you want a beer from a hand pump the Albion in Wickham, Newcastle have 2 dedicated taps. I also believe that the new bar The Grain Store is getting a couple soon as well.
In terms of pom beer thankfully I haven't seen any cans of UK brewed Stella anywhere but you will find the odd beer at either Dan Murphy's or First Choice.
Things for beer with flavour have come a long long way in the last 5 years downunder.
Yep. They are getting hand pump in at the Grain Store very soon. I was in there last week. If you want a beer from a hand pump the Albion in Wickham, Newcastle have 2 dedicated taps. I also believe that the new bar The Grain Store is getting a couple soon as well.
In terms of pom beer thankfully I haven't seen any cans of UK brewed Stella anywhere but you will find the odd beer at either Dan Murphy's or First Choice.
Things for beer with flavour have come a long long way in the last 5 years downunder.
Also in Newcastle the Landing on Honeysuckle does some great Australian beers on tap including White Rabbit which is pretty tasty.
I'm looking at property in Warners Bay at the moment, funnily enough.
SpridgetMitch said:
PomBstard you have saved me the effort of raving about Warners at the Bay.
Happy to help SpridgetMitch said:
Although what you haven't mentioned is the fantastic growlers (2L flagon) they offer. The range for the growlers is always changing and often craft beers that you would be lucky to find on tap. If 2L is too much they now offer a sqealer which is about 1L. The Prince of Wales in Merewether also fill growlers.
Fair enough, I'm just not in the area often enough. The 4 Pines in Manly also does growlers, and that includes the beers that make it no further than the pub, such as their Triple IPA and other deliciousness.Te quality and range of beer has come a long way recently and its not just in NSW, but seems to be a national thing. Which is always good.
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