Getting to Australia is a test of patience and stamina. Over 24 hours in the air will leave even the most seasoned traveller exhausted, but what awaits you is worth it. While there are plenty of home remedies for jetlag, in my lived experience of getting through that horrid flight, nothing beats a cold one ‘off the wood’. But be warned! This sunburnt land may appear to be paradise, but underneath the beautiful surface lies a country divided on a core aspect of its personality – the lingo!

Depending on where you are, if you ask about the footy, people will start talking about three different sports (Aussie rules, rugby league or soccer). If you're after some pub grub, make sure you know if you're in 'Parma' or 'Parmi' country, and when you’re going for a swim don’t forget your bathers (Western Australia/Victoria/ South Australia), your togs (Queensland) or your swimmers (New South Wales). I hope you’re still with me here because they’ve saved the most complicated exercise for the simplest task – ordering a beer.

Melbourne, you’ll be given a dirty look and handed a ‘pot’ instead. In Adelaide a half is a 'schooner', but order a schooner anywhere else in the country and you'll get a 425ml glass. You could be forgiven for assuming asking for a pint would solve all these issues, but still, those pesky Adelaideans (I can say that, I’m from there) will trip you up, as it’s an ‘Imperial Pint’ there.

The good news is once you’ve worked your way through this regional dilemma, you’ve no shortage of choice of brilliant beers to imbibe. So park up at the bar, in the beer garden, or on the deck overlooking the ocean, and treat yourself to a few – you’ve earned it! In the end, no matter what glass it’s in – middy, pot, schooner or pint – that ‘ahhh!’ of satisfaction from the first sip needs no translation. 

My favourite Aussie pubs

The Exeter Hotel, Adelaide 
The Exeter is Australian pub heritage. Come here and you'll rub shoulders with the locals and uni students and be treated as one of their own. It's also the only place in the world that serves Krug champagne in a beer glass.

The Mitre, Melbourne
Among the skyscrapers is the oldest standing structure in Melbourne, and of course, it's a pub! Best visited before going to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or with the after-work crowd racing to push the worries of the week from their mind.

Burleigh Pavilion, Queensland
You won't find any sticky carpets or fruit machines here, this isn't a traditional pub, instead this is home to one of the most beautiful spots you'll ever get to enjoy a beer. As you sit on the deck and gaze across the Pacific Ocean and Burleigh Beach with a cold one in hand, think of me!

Aussie Brews

Mountain Culture – Status Quo
The new kid on the block has bolted out of the gates, winning the GABS Hottest 100 craft beer award backto-back-to-back from 2022 to 2024.
Hailing from the Blue Mountains, the brewery was originally known for its big NEIPAs, but it's absolutely nailed the brief with this juicy, hop-forward pale ale.

Stone & Wood - Pacific Ale
Launched in Byron Bay in 2008, Pacific Ale was one of the first beers in the world to showcase Galaxy hops. Its tropical, fruity aroma and easy-drinking style has captured the adoration of Australia’s beer drinkers. Perfect for a postsurf sunset or a lazy afternoon by
the beach.

Coopers - Sparkling Ale
First produced in 1862 at what is now Australia’s largest and oldest family-owned brewery, it’s part of the fabric of Australian beer history. Bold, with fruity and floral characters balanced by a malty palate and firm hop bitterness, it’s a must-try. If you’re drinking it from a bottle, try your hand at the famous ‘Coopers roll’ before you open it.

Victoria Bitter
‘A hard-earned thirst needs a big cold beer, and the best cold beer is Vic.’ So goes the jingle, and they might just be right! Built for the climate, it’s crisp, bitter, and best served ice-cold. It’s a beer emblematic of the Australian people – laid-back, unpretentious, and all
about what’s on the inside.

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