When you want to get your drink on without going overboard, Australia’s best mid-strength beers will serve you well. Featuring crisp carbonation, manageable ABVs, and surprising amounts of flavour, they’ll carry you from day to night without wearing you down or busting your belt. They come to us from brands like Great Northern, XXXX, and Coopers, and run the full gamut in terms of both taste and style. In turn, you’ll find craft IPAs and low-calorie lagers and everything in between.
Because of their lower alcohol content, even the top mid-strength beers suffer something of a bad rap among serious sippers. However, new iterations defy trends and expectations alike, bringing richer textures, deeper layers, and bolder notes than ever before. This is in direct response to consumer demand, as more and more drinkers take a connoisseur’s approach toward their everyday suds. Pair that with fewer calories and food pairing potential and you’ve covered all your proverbial bases.
At the end of the day, being active, looking good, and drinking beer remain integral to the Australian lifestyle. That makes the best mid-strength Aussie beers less of a casual beverage and more like a national past time. As such, you’ll continue to find them at sporting events, beach parties, weekend barbies, camping trips, and anywhere else an Aussie may roam.
But enough preamble: let’s get to the beer! Without further delay, here are the 18 best mid-strength beers in Australia (and NZ). Crack your first one open at noon and your last one at midnight. That said, please remember to drink responsibly.
Table of Contents
- Best Australian Mid-Strength Beers
- 1. Great Northern Super Crisp Lager
- 2. Bridge Road Brewers Little Bling IPA
- 3. Little Creatures Rogers’ Amber Ale
- 4. Colonial Brewing Co. Small Ale
- 5. Pirate Life Brewing Throwback IPA
- 6. XXXX Gold
- 7. Carlton Mid
- 8. Hahn SuperDry 3.5%
- 9. Coopers Mild Ale
- 10. Pure Blonde Ultra Low Carb Lager
- 11. Ice Beer
- 12. Steersman Ultra Dry
- 13. Bluey Ultra Crisp Lager
- 14. Carlton Cold
- 15. Windhoek Premium Lager
- 16. TUN Gold Mid
- 17. Pacific Beverages Radler
- 18. Cricketers Arms Session Ale
- 19. 4 Pines Pacific Ale
- 20. James Squire Mid River Pale Ale
- 21. Young Henrys Stayer Mid
- 22. Balter Captain Sensible
- 23. Stone & Wood Garden Ale
- Alternatives to the Best Mid-Strength Beers
- General FAQ
Best Australian Mid-Strength Beers
1. Great Northern Super Crisp Lager
Queensland’s own Great Northern frequently delivers impeccable mid-strength beer, and this one is no exception. True to its name, the brand’s Super Crisp Lager is super crisp indeed. With its low alcohol percentage and lean calorie count, it’s the kind of beer you can drink anytime, anywhere. Don’t roll up to the next barbecue without a six-pack, if not a whole case.
Low carb: no
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $46/case
2. Bridge Road Brewers Little Bling IPA
Despite its lower ABV, Little Bling IPA offers nearly just as much flavour as its stronger counterpart, the beloved Bling IPA. Swirling within its semi-dark body is a deft balance of hop bitterness and malt taste, making this some of the best mid-strength low carb beer that Australia can muster. You did good, Bridge Road, you did good.
Low carb: yes
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $72/case
3. Little Creatures Rogers’ Amber Ale
Rich flavour and deep complexity are not two things you might normally associate with mid-strength beer, and yet this craft ale delivers both in spades. With every full-bodied sip comes an assortment of subtle, but impressive flavours, including hazelnut and caramel. You might think it’s too good to be true, but don’t let that stop you from drinking it.
Low carb: no
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.8%
Calories: 121
Price: $56/case
4. Colonial Brewing Co. Small Ale
One of Australia’s best mid-strength beers comes from one of the nation’s best breweries. That brewery goes by the name of Colonial and it began as a small operation in Western Australia before relocating to Port Melbourne. For the aptly named Small Ale, Colonial took its popular IPA and made a few tweaks to the alcohol content. In turn, you get notes of caramel malt and citrus along with a soft underbelly of hoppy bitterness.
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $70/case
5. Pirate Life Brewing Throwback IPA
One look at a can of Throwback IPA and you’re already gearing up for another barbie. Just beyond the bright label design is a light-bodied middy, which pairs hoppy bitterness and malt flavour with subtle blasts of citrus and pine. It comes to us from Pirate Life, a craft brewery that went from the little leagues to the big leagues in what seemed like no time at all.
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $78/case
6. XXXX Gold
One of the best-selling beers in Australia, XXXX Gold makes for a surprisingly solid sipper. Should you live in Queensland, in particular, you’ve likely thrown down more of these bad boys than you can possibly count. Brewed using Australian malt, barley, and golden cluster hops, it comes in smooth and carries a sweet edge before leaving a trail of light bitterness in its wake.
Low carb: yes
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 110
Price: $45/case
7. Carlton Mid
Available in either bottle or can, Carlton Mid is another crisp middy of indisputably broad appeal. A recent drop from 3.5% to 3.0% ABV has drawn a fair amount of criticism, but on the bright side, this beer is arguably smoother than ever before…you know, the way water is smooth. As a result of a unique double-hopped brewing process, it still brings the flavour. Is it the best mid-strength beer in Australia? Probably not. But we have 23 slots to fill!
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.0%
Price: $47/case
8. Hahn SuperDry 3.5%
Between its supremely low carb count, mid-strength ABV, and affordable price tag, Hahn SuperDry 3.5% makes for a sound choice among body-conscious and budget-conscious drinkers alike. Carefully brewed using premium ingredients, it delivers the same bold taste as the popular SuperDry. Consume in moderation and you just might lose that beer gut once and for all.
Low carb: yes
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 78
Price: $44/case
9. Coopers Mild Ale
It might not be a craft beer per se, but a lot of craftsmanship goes into every bottle or can of Coopers Mild Ale. Sharing DNA with the brand’s signature ales, it balances smooth malt character with a trifecta of hops, and features no added sugar or preservatives. Crisp and light by design, this one is also quite flavourful.
Low carb: yes
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 127
Price: $47/case
10. Pure Blonde Ultra Low Carb Lager
The name pretty much says it all: Pure Blonde Ultra Low Carb Lager. To break things down a bit further, this refreshing mid-strength lager has 80% fewer carbs than regular beer and 50% fewer calories than wine per ml. Scorching summer days aren’t complete without it.
Low carb: yes
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.0%
Calories: 87
Price: $47/case
11. Ice Beer
Don’t want to overthink the whole mid-strength beer thing? Then pick up a case of Ice Beer and consider yourself equipped. Now head to the nearest beach or campsite and get chugging with your mates. PS. Be sure to have a designated driver on hand because this stuff will creep up on you.
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 4.0%
Price: $52/case
12. Steersman Ultra Dry
When 3% and 3.5% ABV won’t suffice, consider taking things up a notch with Steersman Ultra Dry. Distinguished by its well-balanced taste and dry finish, it has fewer carbs and less gluten than your average brewski.
Low carb: yes
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 4.2%
Calories: 126
Price: $44/case
13. Bluey Ultra Crisp Lager
In reading about the best mid-strength beers in Australia, you’ll see words like “crisp,” “refreshing,” “light-bodied,” “balanced,” and “dry” pop up over and over again. With that in mind, pardon us as we describe this easy-drinking lager as crisp, refreshing, light-bodied, balanced, and dry. It’s also quite affordable. Meanwhile, the brand takes its name from Bluey, i.e. history’s oldest living dog. What’s there not to love about Bluey beer?
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $40/case
14. Carlton Cold
Filtered below zero degrees celsius, Carlton Cold is big on taste and light on strength. Sip one and then sip another because this stuff goes down like carbonated glacier water, but with hints of bitterness and a dry finish. When you’re just not feeling Carlton Mid, grab one of these instead.
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 118
Price: $40/case
15. Windhoek Premium Lager
There are three ingredients in Windhoek beer and those ingredients are malted barley, hops, and water. That’s all it takes to make this mid-strength lager stand out from the pack, by way of its incandescent gold colour, slightly bitter taste, and clean finish. Technically, this beer comes from Africa and not Australia, but that hasn’t stopped it from taking off down under.
Low carb: no
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 4.0%
Calories: 107
Price: $56/case
16. TUN Gold Mid
If you’re a beer drinker on a budget, we have just the middy for you. Currently available through Dan Murphy’s at $33 a case, TUN Gold Mid hails from Belgium but delivers plenty of local flavour. We can talk about the malt-forward character and slightly bitter finish, or you can snag this deal while it’s still hot and find out for yourself.
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.3%
Calories: 99
Price: $33/case
17. Pacific Beverages Radler
Mixing Australian lager with a splash of natural lemon juice, Pacific Beverages Radler is just as refreshing as it sounds. An ABV of 2.0% makes it more like low-strength beer than mid-strength beer, but that might be just what you’re looking for. Take it to the beach and sip until the sun goes down.
Low carb: no
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 2.0%
Calories: 96
Price: $43/case
18. Cricketers Arms Session Ale
Let’s close out our list of the top mid-strength beers with a true powerhouse, relatively speaking. Punching above its weight class, Cricketers Arms Session Ale delivers more flavour than its 3.5% ABV would imply. Thanks to three different types of hops, this one fires on all cylinders.
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $59/case
19. 4 Pines Pacific Ale
Best consumed during warm weather, 4 Pines Pacific Ale is as smooth as it is refreshing. On the nose are bursts of tropical fruit, which give way to a dry and similarly fruity body. If you like clean and classic mid-strength beer that’s devoid of bitterness, this might be the one for you.
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $58/case
20. James Squire Mid River Pale Ale
As one of Australia’s first and most important brewers, James Squire remains something of a local legend. This top mid-strength beer duly lives up to his name, delivering flavour and drinkability in equal measure. Bolstered by the use of various hops, it imparts a rich, herbaceous, and malty profile.
Low carb: no
Craft beer: no
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $50/case
21. Young Henrys Stayer Mid
Hailing from Sydney, Young Henrys does our beloved city proud. That extends to Stayer Mid, a light craft beer of considerable quality. Expect golden colour, a soft but fruity nose, hop-forward taste, and a slightly bitter finish. For one of the best mid-strength beers in Australia and beyond, look no further. Young Henrys might make the best beer in Australia.
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 114
Price: $63/case
22. Balter Captain Sensible
Co-founded by competitive surfers Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson, Balter Brewing Company knows a thing or two about refreshing beer. For its mid-strength offering, the brand keeps things sensible in name and taste alike. Well-rounded and supremely easy to drink, this beer was crafted with your next beach day in mind.
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 105
Price: $52/case
23. Stone & Wood Garden Ale
Winner of Champion Large Australian Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards 2017, Stone & Wood continues to take the continent by storm. That’s largely due to the brand’s wildly popular Pacific Ale, though the mid-strength Garden Ale is certainly no slouch. A blend of pale and crystal malts paves the way for citrus aromas and a resoundingly clean taste.
Craft beer: yes
Alcoholic percentage: 3.5%
Calories: 114
Price: $46/case
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General FAQ
True to its name, mid-strength beer lands somewhere between zero alcohol and regular strength beer on the ABV spectrum.
Mid-strength beer can sometimes go as low as 2.0% ABV and as high as 4.2% ABV. Typically, it falls in the 3.5% range.
Some of the best mid-strength beers in Australia are Great Northern Super Crisp Lager, Bridge Road Brewers Little Bling IPA, and Little Creatures Rogers’ Amber Ale, to name just a few.
