Hawkes Brewing, Public Brewing Co: Australia’s political and election brews, from Scott Morrison to Bob Hawke
Scott Morrison posed with a can of ScoMo’s Strong Economy on the campaign trail, but what other beers have been dedicated to public figures? Check out some of Australia‘s political brews.
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Bob Hawke famously set the world record for sculling a yard of beer in 1954 – putting away 2.5 pints of ale in 11 seconds – and later remarked this feat, and his penchant for a drink, helped to endear him to the Australian public.
Australians love beer and our politicians love posing with it.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently appeared at East Coast Canning in the NSW electorate of Gilmore to pose with a beer – albeit an empty can – of his own.
‘ScoMo’s Strong Economy’ beer can, put together by East Coast Canning, had the label made using a cutting-edge printing machine the company bought from Germany with the help of a $1 million grant.
Mr Morrison, however, is far from the only elected figure to have a beer named after them.
ScoMo’s Strong Economy
Although empty, the prime minister was eager to both pose with a beer and promote his management of the economy.
On the side of the ScoMo’s Strong Economy can it reads: “our economy has a lot of moving parts and a lot of risks, but also many opportunities”, a commonly versed campaign line the prime minister has been using.
The label goes on to boast how the federal government “saved around 700,000 jobs” from the Covid pandemic.
“We have achieved the biggest budget turnaround in 70 years with our plan delivering an extra $100bn to the country’s bottom line,” it says.
“Our economic growth is one of the best in the developed world.”
The business behind the can is Australia’s first ever mobile cannery, providing printing services for breweries and distillers.
The Albo, Willie the Boatman
St. Peters-based brewery Willie the Boatman has produced a pale ale in honour of their local MP, and leader of the opposition, Anthony Albanese: ‘The Albo’.
Described as an American-style corn ale, The Albo includes “delicate flavours of Galaxy and Ella hops, with a hint of corn,” Willie the Boatman’s online store reads.
The Albo has a pale colour with a finish of sweetness.
Previously sold under a ‘Corn Ale’ name and branding, the labelling has been revamped to now include a picture of Mr Albanese during his university days and what Willie the Boatman dubs as ‘Hot Albo’.
Mr Albanese lives in the area and helped launch the Inner West Brewery Association.
“Albo Pale, it‘s a winner,” their website proclaimed.
Hop MorrisCan, Public Brewing Co
Victoria-based brewery Public Brewing Co launched their ‘Hop MorrisCan’ last year.
A tropical pale ale which pokes fun at the prime minister’s Hawaii trip in 2020, it’s packed with Australian-grown hops.
“We released Hop MorrisCan with entirely good intentions,” head brewer Gab Porto previously said to The Australian.
Released during the late 2021 lockdown, the beer was released on a limited run.
“This is a great beer to share; even if it is over Zoom or FaceTime,” Mr Porto said.
Dan AnBrews, Public Brewing Co
Public Brewing Co released their first politically tinted beer during the height of the August lockdown in Victoria last year.
‘Dan AnBrews’ was released on a limited run and was inspired by the Victorian premier’s “get on the beers” quote.
Made with Amarillo and Cascade hops, it is a full-flavoured yet light craft beer with a well-balanced bitterness and subtle fruity aroma.
“We’ve pivoted like Dan said and tried to find a way to sell beer … it’s our civic duty to get on the beers but in a responsible way,” Mr Porto told The Herald Sun last year.
Hawke’s Brewing Co.
The most famous of politician-inspired beers, the three-beer collection from Hawke’s Brewing Co. includes Hawke’s Lager, Hawke’s Patio Pale and Hawke’s Underdog Session Lager.
A now well-known story, Hawke’s Brewing Co. was founded by homesick friends David Gibson and Nathan Lennon – and former prime minister Bob Hawke – after asking themselves ‘who would we most want to have a beer with when back in Australia’.
Mr Hawke’s only condition for the venture was his royalties be donated to Landcare Australia, the environmental charity he established in 1989.
The company was launched and the first beer poured by Mr Hawke at The Clock in Surry Hills in 2017, and the brewery’s new site in Marrickville opened last month, decked out with Hawke memorabilia.
Please Explain Aussie Spirit, Sunshine & Sons
Not a beer but a gin, newly launched ‘Please Explain (Aussie Spirit)’ comes from Pauline Hanson and has been released to mark the 2022 federal election.
Described by Ms Hanson as a “pineapple parfait gin best served with tonic and garnished with a wedge of watermelon”, only 5000 bottles of Please Explain have been made and the revenue raised will go into One Nation’s campaign.
Produced by Sunshine Coast distiller Sunshine & Sons, a bottle of Please Explain sells for $99.
“Regardless of your politics, I encourage you to raise a glass to Australia, to celebrate our Democracy – and enjoy some Aussie Spirit,” Ms Hanson said.
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Originally published as Hawkes Brewing, Public Brewing Co: Australia’s political and election brews, from Scott Morrison to Bob Hawke
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