Gold Coast-based Black Hops Brewery has taken out the top spot in the 2020 Australian Craft Beer Survey, as almost 17,000 participants shared insights into how COVID-19 has impacted craft beer purchasing habits.
In its fifth year, the survey, run by Beer Cartel, is the largest study of Australian craft beer drinking trends. The 2020 survey was run between July and September and included a range of questions relating to what was called 'Peak COVID-19' (April to May 2020) and 'After Peak COVID-19’.
Black Hops moved from fifth place to first in this year’s survey, knocking out Balter who has held the top spot for the past two years. Bentspoke and Stone & Wood also shifted down one place each, while Deeds jumped 114 spots from the 2019 survey.
Key findings in the survey include Australians’ increase in purchasing online through brewery websites, doubling from 14 per cent in 2019 to 28 per cent in 2020, with a further increase of Australian craft beer purchases.
“This coincides with increased awareness in the Independent Seal (60 per cent awareness) and 93 per cent of respondents agreeing that 'Australian breweries need our support more than ever,” the report said.
“Weekly spend prior to COVID-19 compared to 2019 was slightly higher with the average weekly spend $60, compared to $56 in 2019."
Since COVID-19 began, 45 per cent of respondents said they purchased takeaway beer from an on-premise venue, which was permitted in many states for a shirt term.
The 2020 survey also focused on the trending niches of alcohol-free and gluten-free/gluten-reduced beer, with 41 per cent having consumed the former and 35 per cent trying the latter at least once in the past year.
Similar to last year, the craft beer drinker profile remained consistent, with only small changes to gender and age, as the 40-49 and 50+ year age brackets increased by one and two percentage points respectively, and a two per cent drop in female craft beer drinkers to 21 per cent, alongside a two per cent increase in male craft beer drinkers to 79 per cent.
The full results of the 2020 Australian Craft Beer Survey can be viewed here.
