Beer
Years ago If you wanted to drink a beer in Australia, you usually only had the choice between the major popular brands, such as VB (Victoria Bitter), XXXX (Queensland), Tooheys, Carlton or Coopers. In addition, there were a few international beers, such as Heineken or Guinness.
That has changed very much now. In every pub and even more in the liquor stores, you will find an extremely wide selection of brands, types and styles from both Australia and many other countries around the world.
The selection is almost overwhelming. You have the choice between a craft beer, international full- or mid strength, light or a low carb beer. Moreover, should it be a lager, dark beer, wheat beer, pilsner, ale or a pale ale, IPA, amber ale and golden ale?
In most states, alcohol can only be bought in pubs or in specially licensed liquor stores (“liquor stores” or simply “bottle shops”). However, I have never seen such a large selection in a liquor store as here in Australia. For example, DanMurphy’s offers 665 (!) different craft or 356 (!) international beers.
Unfortunately, beer in Australia is also quite expensive. A good pilsner costs in a liquor store about AUD 3 (about EUR 2) per ½ litre, a normal lager about AUD 2.70 (about EUR 1.80) and a craft beer can easily be AUD 5 (approx. EUR 2.50). In addition, these prices depend on the quantity you purchase. Some bottles cost up to 100% more if you buy them individually. For example, “VB” as a single bottle AUD 4, -, in a pack of six AUD 19.80 (AUD 3.30 per bottle) and in a box of 24 AUD 48, – (AUD 2 per bottle)
Interestingly, the cheapest beer does not come from Australia but from Europe. It is Oettinger from Germany and Hollandia (in Europe under the name Bavaria) from … Holland.
The huge offer makes the choice difficult and to compare the prices you need a calculator. This is partly because prices vary according to the quantity and partly because the beer is sold in bottles and cans with different quantities. There are bottles (so-called stubbies) of 0.330L, 0.345L, 0.355L and 0.375L as well as cans of 0.330L, 0.375L, 0.440L and 0.500L. However, one cannot say that bottles are generally more expensive than cans (or vice versa). The boxes come in different sizes to 24 or 30 units.
A good offer with 24 bottles can then turn out to be more expensive than the supposedly worse offer at a higher price per carton. And the Australian Unit Pricing Code does not include alcohol and is only mandatory for grocery retailers with more than 1000 squares metres of floor space who sell the minimum range of food-based grocery items.
On my mobile phone, therefore, I have a small spreadsheet, which calculates the litre price. This results in amazing differences. Some examples:
Well, anyway, I still choose my brew primarily to my liking. Moreover, I try repeatedly unknown ones. And that will keep me busy for a while.
So cheers!