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Big beer ‘craftily’ squeezing out Aussie brewers

AAP

AAP

So-called ‘craft’ beer sold on-tap at Australian pubs is no longer the niche, locally-brewed product its name suggests.

Overseas mega companies have swallowed up many of the most popular craft brands in order to charge higher prices, a consumer advocacy group reports.

One of the biggest brewing giants, SAB Millar, which owns Foster’s Group, has forced out genuine local craft brews from pubs, CHOICE has found.

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A leaked contract obtained by CHOICE reveals that the company blocks local brewers from selling their craft brews in any of the pubs with which they have agreements.

Craft brewer

Big companies swallow up local beer producers. Photo: AAP

“While it might seem like you have a huge choice when buying tap beer in your local pub the fact is most taps are controlled by one of two international brewing giants, SAB Miller or Kirin, at the expense of genuine Australian craft brewers,” says CHOICE head of media Tom Godfrey.

Popular ‘craft’ brews such as Little Creatures, James Squire, Fat Yak and Matilda Bay are all foreign-owned, and continue to be more expensive than the regular beers sold by the big companies.

“These big global beer barons know there’s a price premium on claiming to be craft brews and it’s now clear their ‘craft washing’ strategy extends to exclusive dealing, which sees genuine Australian craft beers locked out of the market,” Mr Godfrey says.

Consumer watchdog the ACCC has confirmed to The New Daily that these practices are under investigation.

In a statement, ACCC spokesman Duncan Harrod said the watchdog is “continuing its market enquiries to better understand aspects of the supply conditions within the wholesale beer market(s)”, but declined to comment further.

Supermarket giants Coles, with Steamrail Ale, and Woolworths with Sail and Anchor, also sell supposedly ‘craft’ offerings.

CHOICE’s Mr Godfrey is pushing for consumers to support genuine, local brands.

“If you want to support an Australian owned microbrewery, find out who owns the brand you’re drinking and ask your local publican to put it on tap.”

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