Feral Brewing is rated Australia's best craft brewery, while Victoria is considered the best state for craft beer. Pale Ale is the most popular craft beer style. The typical Australian craft beer drinker is male, aged 30-39, and believes the government should support the industry more. They enjoy a variety of craft beers while travelling and socializing.

1. 2016 AUSTRALIAN CRAFT
BEER SURVEY
Research to Better Understand the
Australian Craft Beer Landscape

2. Foreword
7 years ago we (the Founders of Beer Cartel, Richard Kelsey & Geoff Huens), were working in
market research dreaming of craft beer. Back then the Australian market was in its absolute
infancy. We were just starting our monthly beer subscription, operating out of a tiny Kennards
storage shed, with a very limited range to choose from.
Fast forward to today and we now stock over 1,000 craft beers in store and online. The market
in Australia is exploding. We are hugely passionate about the craft beer industry and see this
research as an opportunity to use our skills from a previous working life for the benefit of the
industry.
The report that follows is the most robust, publicly available survey that has ever been
undertaken for the Australian craft beer market. In total over 6,500 Australian craft beer
drinkers took part in the survey. This report summarises their responses.

3. Summary of Key Findings
• Feral Brewing is Australia’s best craft brewery
• 3 of Australia’s top 10 breweries are less than two years old
• Victoria is Australia’s best state for craft beer
• Pale Ale is Australia’s most consumed craft beer style
Australian craft beer drinkers:
• Are frustrated by the beer selection at sporting and music events
• Believe the Government should do more to support the craft beer industry
• Are drinking less but better quality than they used to

4. Feral Brewing is Australia’s best craft brewery, with
newcomer Pirate Life second

5. Three of the top ten craft breweries have been around
less than 2 years; Pirate Life, Balter & Modus

6. Pale Ale is Australia’s most consumed craft beer style,
with India Pale Ales (IPAs) also widely enjoyed

7. Australian’s enjoy a wide variety of beer styles with ales
more popular than lagers/pilsners

8. While Pale Ale is the most consumed style in Australia,
more consider IPA their “favourite”

9. Victoria leads the way, taking the title of best Australian
state for craft beer

10. Victoria’s dominance as the best Australian state for
craft beer is clear, voted by half of all respondents

11. Australian’s are highly loyal; considering themselves the
best beer producing nation in the world

12. In addition to Australia, a large number consider the
USA, Belgium and Germany excellent beer producers

13. The Australian craft beer drinker is typically male, aged
30-39 and based on Australia’s Eastern Seaboard

14. Most are frustrated with the beer selection at events,
and think the government should assist craft breweries

15. Craft beer drinkers actively search for craft beer when
travelling and eating out

16. Craft beer is changing beer consumption habits, with
most saying they now drink less but better quality

17. While the use of cans in the Australian craft beer
industry is growing, most believe bottles are better

18. A large proportion of craft beer drinkers visit liquor
stores, craft beer bars and breweries on a regular basis

19. Craft beer drinkers are spending on average $56 a
week on beer

20. For those that drink craft beer it is widely preferred
over the alternatives; mainstream beer and homebrew

21. Craft beer drinkers enjoy a range of other alcoholic
beverages, with wine/champagne widely enjoyed

22. Most craft drinkers have been to a beer festival, dinner
or tap takeover in the last year

23. Following Victoria being voted Australia’s favourite craft beer
state, Melbourne is Australia’s favourite craft beer week

24. Melbourne’s Good Beer Week and Sydney Craft Beer
Week are the most widely attended craft beer weeks

25. By usage The Crafty Pint is Australia’s favourite craft
beer news website

26. Almost half of all craft beer drinkers visit The Crafty
Pint for beer news

27. Over a third of craft beer drinkers use beer apps, with
Untappd and Now Tapped the most used

28. Australia’s favourite beer blog is The Beer Pilgrim, with
Radio Brews News the leading podcast

29. At present most blogs and podcasts are relatively
niche, with The Beer Pilgrim leading the way

30. THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE SURV
2016 AUSTRALIAN CRAFT BEER SURVEY www.BeerCartel.com.au

31. About Beer Cartel
Beer Cartel is Australia’s leading craft beer retailer,
stocking over 1,000 craft beers from Australia and
overseas. Purchases can be made through the
Beer Cartel website (www.beercartel.com.au) and
its’ Sydney store.
Media Contact:
Richard Kelsey
Phone: 0405 251 864
Email: richard@beercartel.com.au
Website: www.beercartel.com.au
Please feel free to share any of the charts in this
presentation. Each is downloadable, by clicking on the
chart. We simply ask that a link to Beer Cartel
www.beercartel.com.au is included.