Great Northern has been revealed as Australia’s highest-selling beer for 2022, the second year in a row it’s claimed the top spot.
According to figures from market research company IRI Australia, the mid-strength beer topped this year’s list.
But while some have rejoiced in Australia’s good beer taste, Great Northern’s triumph has left a bad taste in the mouth of some punters who have called it the “worst beer ever”.
Carlton Dry was in second place with XXXX Gold taking out third. South Australian-brewed Coopers was placed fourth while Corona was sixth.
New South Wales brew Tooheys took the seventh spot, followed by Hahn, Pure Blonde and Asahi rounding out the top 10.
Victorian lager Victoria Bitter (VB) which once dominated sales for decades, slipped to fifth place.
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Nine of the ten beers foreign owned
Beer reviewer Matt Kirkegaard told The Daily Telegraph that Great Northern was a “juggernaut” because of its slick marketing that targeted less “blokey” men compared with the VB sales pitch.
“VB used to be one in four beers sold in Australia. It was built on being so blokey but the market shifted,” he said.
The data was based on retail beer sales, with pub sales not included.
Eight of the top 10 beers are Australian born, bred and brewed. The only foreign-originating drops are Corona and Asahi.
However, nine of the brands are ultimately foreign owned – with two Japanese companies owning eight brands – even most of those beers with an Aussie heritage. Asahi owns Carlton and United Breweries, makers of Great Northern, Carlton and others, with Kirin the parent of Lion which makes number three beer XXXX Gold.
The only true blue Aussie beer is fourth placed Coopers which is still independent and Australian owned.
Great Northern’s triumph divides
Beer lovers reacted to the list on Facebook, with some fans glad Great Northern topped the list.
“As it should be!! Now stock the 30x slab of Great Northern original everywhere,” one person wrote.
“And as it should be because it’s a great beer. I love a stubbie of Great Northern or two,” a second said.
“Great Northern is correct,” someone else wrote while another added: “You can’t beat a Great Northern”
But other social media users disagreed with the list.
“Wow. How does that terrible beer make the top 10,” one person wrote.
“Great Northern is the worst beer ever,” a second person said
“Carlton Dry should be first! Best beer I’ve ever had, ”commented another.
“Great Northern is OK (but) didn’t think it would be number 1, I’ll take a Corona or Heineken over that any day,” said one punter
Australia’s top selling beers of 2022
1. Great Northern (Brewed by CUB, part of Asahi)
2. Carlton Dry (CUB/Asahi)
3. XXXX Gold (Lion, part of Kirin)
4. Coopers (independent)
5. Victoria Bitter (CUB/Asahi)
6. Corona (Anheuser-Busch InBev, brewed in Australia by CUB/Asahi)
7. Tooheys (Lion/Kirin)
8. Hahn (Lion/Kirin)
9. Pure Blonde (CUB/Asahi)
10. Asahi (CUB/Asahi)