Resch’s crowned Australia’s favourite beer in news.com.au poll

Thousands of votes have been counted and news.com.au can now reveal Australia’s favourite beer. And the winner might take you by surprise.

A surprising runaway winner has taken the crown for the nation’s favourite beer in a news.com.au poll.

After stoking fury with a list of my top five tipples, more than 11,000 of you voted for the fizzy stuff that best tickles your tastebuds.

It’s clear that I’ve probably enjoyed too many Victoria Bitters over the years, because I forgot to close last week’s poll yesterday — meaning now a whopping 36,000 of you have now voted and significantly changed the original result.

Click here to see how my monumental error has affected the rankings.

Beer is supposed to bring us all together, but it was clear from the comments that my picks did not go down well with some in the alcohol-drinking community.

“Any top 10 Aussie beer list that has Victoria Bitter as the best and also contains Tooheys & Resch’s should be challenged (or ignored)” wrote commenter.

“These are old-school, dated and, quite frankly, revolting.”

“Sure this is taking the piss?” asked another commenter. “This looks more like a list of the worst beers in Australia.”

Clearly, I have bad taste. However, 11,000 people surely can’t be wrong.

Hold your breath, because here’s what you chose as the nation’s finest beer.

WINNER: RESCH’S

I wrote in my previous list that Resch’s tastes like 1970s floorboard and I loved it.

It seems you guys dig the funky and refreshing taste of this fine nectar too, as a massive 25 per cent of you voted Resch’s as your favourite beer.

That makes it our runaway winner.

It turns out the old man drink has gained a cult-like following in recent years.

Resch’s Appreciation Society member Greg Mowbray told me membership in their fan group has exploded in recent months.

He believes the beer’s popularity is a direct pushback against the proliferation of craft beers in Aussie pubs.

Resch’s — created by German migrant Edmund Resch in 1897 in Sydney after he spent time working in minefields, hotels and breweries across the country — enjoyed its heyday in the mid-20th century.

There’s been a resurgence in Resch’s popularity in recent years. Picture: Resch’s Appreciation Society

When craft beers took off about a decade ago, Mr Mowbray said Resch’s began vanishing from the beer taps.

However, he says a new generation of Resch’s fans are fighting back.

“Our group was started 10 years ago,” he told news.com.au. “It was at a time when availability of Resch’s was declining and the craft beer movement was taking off.

“We not only love the taste of Resch’s but also what the brand stands for which is simplicity, hard work and mateship.

“We want our beer to taste like just one thing — beer. Not mango, not strawberry, not perfume — just beer.

“Anecdotally, it seems to be making a comeback, with more and more venues bringing it back.”

JOINT SECOND AND THIRD: STONE & WOOD AND JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES

Coming in at second and third place are Stone & Wood and James Squire’s One Fifty Lashes, which both won 12 per cent of the votes.

Brewed in the Northern Rivers of NSW, Stone & Wood has become a major player on the market since it all started in 2008.

A cloudy and golden Pacific Ale is the most brewery’s most widely known brew, and it’s clear from out poll results that its bold fruity taste is a hit around the nation.

Stone & Wood came in second, alongside James Squire’s One Fifty Lashes.

Sharing the coveted second-place spot is another cloudy and fruity liquid — James Squire’s One Fifty Lashes.

The story goes that convict brewer James Squire — who’s credited with the first successful cultivation of hops in Australia around the start of the 19th century — was discovered stealing ingredients from the stores to make the colony’s first batch of beer.

As punishment, the judge ordered the rebel beer maker 150 lashes, but at least he got a cool beer name out of it.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

South Australian brewers Coopers claimed the fourth spot by raking in 11 per cent of the vote, while my personal favourite Victoria Bitter languished in fifth with 9 per cent.

Carlton Draught and Little Creatures came in at joint sixth.

And, the wooden spoon is shared three ways between Furphy, Tooheys New and XXXX Gold.

AN UPDATE

Since yesterday, an additional 25,000 of you have voted on our poll.

Here’s how the results have changed.

As you can see, Resch’s has dropped down fourth place after taking 11 per cent of the votes.

The new joint winners are Stone & Wood and James Squire’s One Fifty Lashes, which have leapfrogged to the top after taking 15 per cent of the votes a piece.

Cooper’s has risen to third, with a 12 per cent share — followed by Resch’s, Little Creatures, Carlton Draught and VB.

Furphy and XXXX have seen an improvement, rising to a 7 per cent and 6 per cent share respectively.

However, the updated result are not kind on Tooheys New, which has officially taken the wooden spoon with 5 per cent of the votes.