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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.



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