What are Canberra brewers drinking on International Beer Day?

What started as a simple celebration at a local bar in Santa Cruz, California, in 2007, has since grown into a worldwide event, with countries around the world raising a glass to beer.

While statistics show Australians are drinking less alcohol than ever before - note, the latest figures were calculated well before lockdown - our nation still likes a lager.

Australian Bureau of Statistics' research shows that the average Australian consumed the equivalent of 224 stubbies of beer in 2016-17. In 1974-75, we hit "peak beer", with consumption equal to more than 500 stubbies per person.

So for some ideas on International Beer Day we turned to Canberra top brewers from Capital Brewing Co. and BentSpoke Brewing and asked what they might be downing on the day. We even let them choose one of their own.

We'll drink to that.

Iconic California brewery, Sierra Nevada's yearly "holiday IPA" is an absolute banger. Hopped with full cone Chinook hops it gives you a big citrus and pine aroma that always brings back nostalgic feelings.

Barelywine is an underrated, misunderstood style of beer. Alesmiths' Old Numbskull is a great example of top notch American style Barleywine. Rich toffee, malt smoothness and a big hop kick to finish it off makes this 11%er dangerously sessionable.

A white peach and salted sour ale. Sweet, fruity, sour and only 2.9%! This beer is well balanced and goes down a treat on a hot summer day.

Wildflower is a brewery that only makes beer with their house culture of yeast which they cultivated themselves from a farm in NSW. This beer in particular is made fully from ingredients sourced in NSW. Funky, tart, and down right delicious.

Well I had to put at least one of my beers in here right? Rock Hopper is a sentimental beer for me. It was the first recipe we brewed out of our own brewhouse here in Fyshwick. It is a West Coast style IPA. Big, bitter, and dry. I'm not sure which I like better, making it, or drinking it.

We sat down to lunch with the monks at this brewery in Belguim eating cheese and drinking beer. Known for its pronounced hoppy aroma, Brettanomyces sweatiness and extra dry taste. One of the all time favourites!

Another classic Belgium farmhouse ale. We love the balance of this refreshing but complex beer.

A Belgian family-run brewery just like ours, the family is wonderful and they make the best complex, funky beers in the world.

Legendary IPA from one of the founders of IPA in the US. Great balance, hop forward character and made with lots of care and love.

One of BentSpoke's founding beers and now we are the only Aussie brewery with an IPA as its biggest selling beer. Always got time for a pint of cranky.

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