It’s possible you’ve read the articles or heard the news: beer consumption across Australia is down. There are many reasons for this, including changing consumer demands, generational choices, healthier lifestyle options, and more. Cost of living is another big issue, with those who are continuing to drink beer making swaps from small, independent, craft brands back to the basics: XXXX, VB, Great Northern, etc.

Now, more than ever, these small breweries need your support. And yes, it’s likely you’ve been hearing that refrain since the pandemic, but it doesn’t make it any less true. With excise set to rise again next month, the cost of your pint might increase. But please, don’t blame the breweries. Think about how your own bills at home have gone up, then apply that on a grander scale: electricity, fuel, water, storage, labour, rent, and groceries. All those price increases affect your beer, not just in production but in buying raw materials to brew with in the first place. On top of that there’s excise on the final product (see chart below), which is unrelated to the twice yearly increase that is (supposedly) in line with the CPI.

ATO Beer Excise Table

The Australian Beer Industry Matters

The 600+ independent breweries throughout Australia – most of which are small to medium business – that exist in big cities and small communities throughout Australia employ locals, engage with, and give back to their communities.

The Independent Brewers Association’s member breweries provide tourism destinations and support the agricultural sector through local malted barley and hops. Profits stay in Australia and are repurposed back in the business to facilitate continued investment and to provide important jobs for locals.

The independent brewing industry contributes:

• Approximately $1.93 billion annually to the national economy;
• Much needed employment opportunities in regional and rural Australia, with over 35,000 Australians employed: 10,000 directly and over 25,000 indirectly in the agricultural, manufacturing, distribution and hospitality industries;
• 3.8 jobs in associated industries, including agriculture, tourism, logistics, manufacturing, and hospitality;
• Small independent craft breweries employ 51% of the whole brewing industry, with over 8,000 people employed

These numbers come only from breweries who are IBA members; there are many small, independent breweries who are not members but still have a huge impact and contribution to their neighbourhoods and communities.

source: https://independentbrewers.org.au/2024/09/11/independent-brewers-continue-the-push-for-reform/

Why should I care?

Think about it this way: when you’re going out for a quick breakfast, would you rather grab a pie and support your local bakery, or head to Maccas? If one or the other had to close – all things being equal (prices, offerings, opening hours, etc.) – which would you be more disappointed to lose?

Breweries are the same. Some say they’ve reached saturation point, whereas others see room for growth. When a new brewery opening is announced, so many social media comments are along the lines of, “Another brewery?! There are too many already!?” or, “Oh great, another overpriced beer pub.” But if a new cafe or restaurant opens, are the comments the same? Why is it “allowed” to have 3 cafes in a span of 2 blocks, all with the same coffee menu, but put 3 breweries in a span of 2km and it’s overkill?

Times are tough. We’re all challenged with dwindling disposable income and a growing number of options. But now is the time to support your local brewery. Buy a carton, grab a drink with a friend, attend a trivia night or – if money is really tight – share their posts on Facebook and Instagram and spread the word.

It’s only $15

The money you spend at your local brewery may not seem like a lot. $15-20 here and there for a couple schooners or a tasting paddle with mates – does it have an impact? Of course it does! Imagine 10 people come through the door and spend $15 each – that’s $150 a day. Now imagine that happens 4 times a week – that’s $600. Over a month (4 weeks), that’s $2400.

What does that $2400 do for a small brewery? It helps them on board new staff or pay the electricity bill; it boosts their hops or malt budget so they can buy new varietals from local Australian producers; it gives them the extra funds they need to host a special event or fundraiser. It matters.

So what now? Maybe skip your Starbuck’s run twice this week and keep that $15 in your wallet, then on your way home from work on Friday swing into your local brewery (or bar serving delicious craft beer) and treat yourself to a schooner. While you’re at it, grab a pizza for dinner and a 4-pack to enjoy with it. Voila! You’ve saved yourself washing up, plus made yourself, the bartenders, the pizza makers, and the brewery owners very happy. Don’t you feel like a better person for it?!

Why now?

Why are we writing this now? It’s been an important issue that we have been passionate about for years, but over time the impacts are becoming more and more obvious. Breweries that seem to have it all entering Voluntary Administration – thankfully, most have come out unscathed – and friends in the industry struggling to keep their heads above water. We know the high quality of their products and the passion they have for not only their brewery and beers, but for the entire Aussie beer scene, and it hurts our hearts to see the anguish and stress so many are feeling.

The “drying up” impact that decreasing beer sales is suffering is something too many people trivialise. Look at any Facebook post about a brewery shutting up shop and there are far too many comments that somehow take joy in this, all because that person doesn’t like their beer or thinks that all craft/independent is hipster garbage. Who in their right mind celebrates someone having to close down a business that was their dream?

Put the naysayers to bed. Buy a beer or two from your local. Take a roadtrip and visit somewhere new. Bring a friend to a brewrey with you next time and help them understand that craft beer isn’t all the same. Book a tour with a local brewery tour company and support another business whose business it is to support other small businesses. Speaking of business, make it everyone’s business. It’s not just the owners, the brewers, and the hospo staff. It’s the patrons, the hops growers, the malt suppliers, the artists creating the labels, the tourism operators depending on those doors staying open. Celebrate innovation and fun and quality and community. Get everyone involved – neighbours, friends, family, weird Uncle Joe, your cousin who only drinks rose.

There is a beer out there for everyone, so head to your local brewery and do some taste testing until you find the one for you. We promise you’ll be happy you did. Please #supportindiebeer to whatever extent you can.

Cheers and beers,
Jos and Matt

Read On

Here are a few more interesting articles (some date back to 2012) discussing the changing relationship Aussies have with beer, rising taxes and the impact on the cost of your pint, and a few others:

The Exploding Cost of Brewing Beer

Drinking down, deaths up

Yes, your G&T is getting more expensive

Calling time on alcohol taxation in Australia

#supportindiebeer #beertourism #beereducation #craftbeer #independentbeer #brewerytours #brewerytour #supportlocal #drinklocal