Most people don’t actively choose to drink mid-strength beers, but it appears the trend has well and truly shifted with more and more local breweries offering a middy as part of their selection. While Queensland is the true home of the ‘middy’ – XXXX Gold is the biggest-selling beer by volume in Australia, followed by Great Northern – the likes of New South Wales, Victoria and Adelaide are now getting in on the mid-strength action.
While drinking a mid-strength beer was once seen as weak or unmanly (much like Rosé ), we’re here to tell you that being sensible is cool – and so is waking up sans hangover! Not to mention some of the best Aussie craft breweries now make one or more mid-strength options. Gone are the days of lifeless low-alcohol lagers that haunted the bottom of the esky the morning after a family BBQ. I’m here to tell you that there is an array of mid-strength beers worth prioritising next time you’re standing in front of the fridge at the bottle-o. Tuck into our list below.
Here are our picks for the best Aussie mid-strength beers to session. Bridge Road Brewers Little Bling IPA
ABV – 3.4%
One of the first to take advantage of the rapid increase in mid-strength drinkers, Bridge Road Brewers Little Bling IPA taste exactly like its older brother, the Bling IPA, but with half the alcohol percentage.
Mountain Culture Scenic Route
ABV – 4%
Winners of 2022 Gabs Hottest 100 , it’s safe to say Mountain Culture know how to make a delicious malted barley drink. Their lesser known Scenic Route Session Hazy is the can to reach for when you’re in for the long haul. New World hops give this beer a juicy, citrusy kick with the haze we all love, while a smooth mouthfeel gives way to a clean, dry finish.
Little Creatures Rogers’ Amber Ale
ABV – 3.8%
Little Creatures Roger’s is a delightfully silky session ale that goes down a treat. If you fancy yourself a craft beer connoisseur you might be able to pick up subtle hints of roasted hazelnut, toffee and caramel malt flavours, or if you’re like me, you taste a well rounded full bodied froth that tastes like it should be 5.8%, not 3.8%.
Colonial Brewing Co. Small Ale
ABV – 3.5%
First established as a microbrewery in the heart of the Margaret River in Western Australia, Colonial Brewing Co. now sports a brewery in Port Melbourne after establishing itself as one of the best craft breweries in the country. Colonial’s take on the middy is brewed using the same ingredients as their IPA, but with a few slight adjustments to lower the alcohol content. What you’re left with is a refreshing ale with a bitter aftertaste that goes great with a few snags on the barbie.
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4 Pines Pacific Ale
ABV – 3.5%
Described in their own words as having “big fruity hop aromas of passionfruit, pineapple and pear complemented by a smooth, dry, easy finish,” 4 Pines Pacific Ale is exactly what the doctor ordered on those warm summer days. While I can’t say I can identify the flavours as accurately as they describe them, I can confirm this ale has a refreshingly fruity taste. Great drop.
Brick Lane Backyarder Crisp Lager
ABV – 3.5%
$46 for a case is practically unheard of these days, and that’s reason enough to give Brick Lane’s Backyarder Crisp Lager a whirl. Fresh, clean and hoppy enough to satiate even the most demanding craft drinker, the Backyarder is a brew that doesn’t skip a beat.
Cage Roads Side Track All Day XPA
ABV – 3.5%
A beer best paired with care-free days, Side Track All Day XPA is the ideal go-to beer for a moment of refreshment with bright citrus, tropical fruit and a hint of pine. A light malt base prompts a smooth body and crisp bitterness for extreme drinkability. A mid-strength beer with no compromise on flavour.
Akasha Little Smith IPA
ABV – 3.5%
Like Akasha’s familiar brew, big hop flavours dominate this little IPA so don’t be fooled by the name. Little Smith IPA is low on ABV but big on flavour, expect pine and fruit to explode out of your glass. Perfectly balanced, Little Smith is refreshing and delicious.
James Squire Mid River Pale Ale
ABV – 3.5%
Comprising of three malts blended with five different hops, the Mid River Pale Ale from James Squire certainly has a unique taste. While not as enticing as the iconic 150 Lashes Pale Ale, this is still a full-flavoured and easy to drink beer, ticking the two main boxes when it comes to what makes a great mid-strength froth.
Young Henrys Stayer Mid
Balter Captain Sensible
ABV – 3.5%
As the name implies, Captain Sensible is Queensland brewer Balter’s take on the middy. The cheeky title reflects those involved in Balter with pro surfers Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson two of the seven founders of the brewery, which is now Asahi owned. One of the first middies to make middies ‘cool’, it’s also one of the nicest to drink.
Stone & Wood Green Coast Crisp
ABV – 3.5%
Byron Bay brewery Stone & Wood are well and truly a household name in 2023, with every second pub you walk into having their Pacific Ale on tap. Along with that great drop, Stone & Wood craft a sublime middy in Green Coast Crisp brewed with Australian pale malts and Saaz hops for a super crisp finish.
Pirate Life Throwback IPA
Great Northern Super Crisp Lager
ABV – 3.5%
Brewed with an outdoor lifestyle in mind, Great Northern Super Crisp lager is the ultimate refreshment for the top end conditions. Slightly lower in ABV than the OG Shimano Champagne, Australian pale malt, lager yeast and a light stable hop and malt extract produce a refreshing, crisp beer without compromising on taste.
XXXX Gold
ABV – 3.5%
Arguably Australia’s favourite beer, XXXX brings big Aussie feels, best enjoyed from big Aussie boxes. With 30 cans costing just north of $50, it’s hard to go past the XXXX Gold made from Golden Cluster hops brewed with the finest ingredients to give the lager its signature taste – a smooth, balanced flavour and body, complemented by mild bitterness.
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