Reschs shortage: Fan club urges Carlton United Brewery to improve dwindling availability in pubs

It is a beer you can only get in NSW, which was loving referred to as the “nectar of the gods” by the PM himself. But the availability of Reschs is getting worse, which has devoted fans frothing.

It’s the “nectar of the gods” you can only find in NSW but a bitter fight – and a fight over bitter – is brewing over a shortage of Reschs.

Some Sydney pubs are limited to just one keg per week, while others have been completely emptied of the beer.

Even its spiritual home, The Resch House in Sydney’s CBD, fears it may become the pub with no beer in a matter of days.

And devotees of the beer are frothing about the shortage, blaming hipsters wanting sugary drinks and the Melbourne-based owners prioritising “substandard interstate beers like Victoria Bitter”.

Bartender from Reschs Bar in Sydney Freddie Lindop pictured pouring a beer for the Reschs Appreciation Society. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Members of the Resch’s Appreciation Society receive an Order of Resch medal as shown. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Now The Reschs Appreciation Society is calling on Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) to pour some effort into supplying Sydney’s beer.

The group was founded in 2009 when founding member Matt Smith and his mates were at a bucks party and frustrated when the venue didn’t stock Reschs.

Under the watchful eye of a huge poster of their idol and founder of the beer Edmund Resch, the men and women of the Reschs Appreciation Society meet regularly to sink schooners of their favourite beer – while they still can.

“It’s fresh, it’s always clean, and it has a deep flavour in it that makes it a great beer,” society member Stephen Jones, 48, said.

Members of the Reschs Appreciation Society pictured today (left to right), founding member Matt Smith, Jackie Woods, Jeremy Travers, Stephen Manns, Stephen Jones and Anthony Lally. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Jones and his fellow society members have been waging a campaign to get the beer available in more venues – and the prospect of no Reschs anywhere has them enraged.

“(The shortage) is a disgrace. These big brewers need to understand that people want good beer time after time after time,” Mr Jones said.

Other members have speculated a pivot to putting sugary, spirits-based beverages on tap like Vodka Cruiser and Hard Solo could be contributing to the shortage.

“No one knows the exact reason behind it but we are really struggling to get in the kegs that we need, we are running on emergency reserves,” bartender Freddie Lindop said.

Mr Smith is pointing the finger at CUB.

Members of the Reschs Appreciation Society pictured today (left to right) Anthony Lally, Jeremy Travers, Jackie Woods, founding member Matt Smith and Stephen Manns. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Our whole movement was started out of deep frustration that the beer we all saw our grandfathers and fathers drinking and the first beer we ever drank – the level of apathy, complacency and outright hostility towards our beer,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is even a fan, calling it “very special” in a radio interview and adding that devotees regard it as the “nectar of the gods”.

The society has become a crucial part of the lives of its members. Those who collect 100 stamps from different venues stocking the beer across the country are awarded the Order of Resch and immortalised on the wall of the pub.

A spokesman for CUB confirmed the shortage and apologised to customers for the delay in supply.

“We are currently experiencing temporary shortages of Reschs on tap in some venues due to keg availability,” a spokesman said.

“However we’ve put in place measures to ensure venues across NSW can still purchase Reschs kegs, including limiting how many kegs venues can order.

“In addition, new kegs arrive this week and we hope to return to full capacity soon.”