Emu (beer)

Lore & Background

Emu beer originated from the Stanley Brewery (previously the Albion Brewery) established by James Stokes, a 27-year-old settler from Bristol, England, built in 1848 at the foot of Mount Eliza. The brewery's name was later changed to Emu Brewery to better identify with its popular Emu bottled beer. In 1927 Swan Brewery acquired control of what was then its major competitor, the Emu Brewery. Because of the popularity of the Emu bottled beer, Swan decided to expand and modernise the Emu Brewery and to run it as a separate concern rather than amalgamate it with Swan's other lines. As a result, the Emu brand had a namesake brewery even in relatively modern times. The last 'Emu Brewery' stood at the corner of Spring Street and Mounts Bay Road at the western end of the Perth CBD. The Art Deco building, designed by architects Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown in 1937, featured large stone motives of brewing activities created by Western Australian sculptor Edward F. Kohler. Swan were proud enough of the building to feature a picture of it on the label of their bottles and cans of Emu Export Lager. Once this last Emu Brewery was closed, proposed redevelopment of the site became controversial as it was overlooked by the Government of Western Australia. The site remained empty and abandoned for many years, was targeted for vandalism and graffiti, and despite a heritage listing became run down; the brewery building was demolished from late 1991 to early 1992. Varieties include Emu Bitter (introduced in 1923 as one of Swan Brewing Company's flagships, a mild bitter Australian lager with strong hops taste, currently 4.0% ABV), Emu Draft (introduced 1992, a mid-strength amber lager, currently 3.0% ABV), and Emu Export (launched 1954, a clean light yellow lager, originally 4.9% ABV, now 4.2% ABV). The man pictured on the Emu Bitter label is former Swan Brewer Ken Arrowsmith, who oversaw the introduction of Emu Draft and was head brewer during the brand's popularity boom in the late 1980s and into the 1990s.

Reader's Guide

Emu's significance lies in its long history as a Western Australian beer brand that survived multiple ownership changes and brewery relocations while maintaining a distinct identity. Originally brewed by the Emu Brewery from 1908, the brand was acquired by Swan Brewery in 1927 but continued to be produced from a separate autonomous brewery in Perth until 1978, reflecting the strength of its market presence. The brand's resilience is further demonstrated by its production moves to Canning Vale, then to Adelaide's West End Brewery in 2014, and after that brewery's closure in October 2020, to either Brisbane or Sydney. The Emu Brewery building itself became a notable piece of Perth's architectural heritage, an Art Deco structure designed in 1937 that appeared on the label of Emu Export Lager. Its demolition in 1991–1992 after years of neglect marked the end of a physical link to the brand's origins. The brand's varieties—Emu Bitter, Emu Draft, and Emu Export—each have their own colloquial names and loyal followings, with Emu Bitter's label featuring Ken Arrowsmith, a figure associated with the brand's popularity boom. The brand's legacy includes a range of informal nicknames for its beers, such as 'bush chook', 'EB', 'Kenny', 'the red lead', 'the red death', and 'chook's piss', indicating a strong place in Australian drinking culture.

Did You Know?

• The last Emu Brewery building was an Art Deco structure designed in 1937 and demolished from late 1991 to early 1992.
• Emu Export was first launched in 1954 with an alcohol content of 4.9%, later reduced to 4.2%.

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