UK Beer exports to Australasia in 1898

I expected more Scottish beer. Why? Because a list of beers imported into Sydney in Australian Brewers' Journal of 21st February 1910 has a very high percentage of Scottish beers. Though, having said that, the percentage of Scottish beer is in line with the overall proportion of toal exports, at around 25%.

Almost half the exports went to New South Wales. Which makes sense as that was the most populous part of Australia. But, all totalled together, Australia was the largest market for UK exports. Accounting for around 22% of the total.

That may seem odd, given how far away Australia was and how long - months - it would take beer to get there. But British was tough and capable of long journeys without refrigeration. Unlike poncey Lager which couldn't cross the road without being chilled. It's weord to think that the most important market for UK beer was as far away as possible. I guess that's what happens in an empire where the sun never sets.

The average value of the beer - over 79 shillings a barrel - implies that it was mostly pretty strong beer. The price list from 1910 lists mostly Pale Ales, Scotch Ale and Stout. A surprising amount of it already bottled.  

UK Beer exports to Australasia in 1898
Destination	From England.		From Scotland.		From the U.K.
	Quantity.	Declared Value.	Quantity.	Declared Value.	Quantity.	Declared Value.
	Barrels	£	Barrels	£	Barrels	£
Australasia:
West Australia	13,043	51,686	4,156	15,118	17,799	66,804
South Australia	3,645	16,030	1,390	7,008	5,035	23,038
Victoria	12,299	49,975	5,837	26,731	18,136	76,709
New South Wales	31,950	114,055	12,436	44,817	44,385	158,872
Queensland	8,441	41,917	1,945	7,295	10,386	49,212
Tasmania	897	4,714	-	-	897	4,714
total Australia	70,275	278,377	25,764	100,969	96,638	379,349
New Zealand	4,781	25,742	47	275	4,828	26,017
Fiji Islands	39	152	30	45	69	197
Islands in the Pacific	101	459	-	-	104	459
Total	75,196	304,730	25,841	101,289	101,639	406,022
Source:
The Brewers' Journal vol. 35 1899, June 15th 1899, page 344.
Note:
Year ending 30th September 1898.