Resch's
A historic Sydney beer brand now brewed by Carlton & United Breweries.
Resch's is a beer brand now owned by Carlton & United Breweries and sold mainly in New South Wales, Australia. The name originally belonged to a Sydney brewing company founded by Edmund Resch, which operated in Redfern until it was bought out by Tooth & Co in 1929 after the company collapsed.
Edmund Resch founded Resch's Limited, a brewery based in Sydney. The business failed in 1929, and Tooth & Co took it over. The Resch's name continued on the beers they produced. The Waverley Brewery shut down in 1983, and in the 1990s, Dealruby redeveloped the site into the Moore Park Gardens Apartment Development. By the 2000s, Resch's DB (Double Bitter) and DA (Dinner Ale) were no longer made.
Today, Carlton & United Breweries makes Resch's Draught for the New South Wales hotel market, and it is also sold at a few venues in South East Queensland. Resch's Pilsener comes in 750ml bottles (called "longnecks") and 375ml cans throughout New South Wales, and can be bought nationally through online retailers. Resch's Real Bitter was discontinued in mid-2018, joining other retired varieties such as Dinner Ale (DA), Smooth Black Ale, Extra Stout, Premium Lager, Premier Lager, Sydney Bitter, and Double Bitter (DB). Dinner Ale made a limited comeback in 2022, sold only in 375ml cans like the Pilsener, and available exclusively at Liquorland and First Choice Liquor.
In January 2012, Carlton & United Breweries released a limited edition of Resch's Draught in 24-can cartons, featuring the old green and white labelling and a "Resch's Lion" on top of each can.
The Resch's Appreciation Society was formed on 27 February 2009. Membership grew steadily over ten years, reaching about 9,000 members by November 2020. The group meets regularly for social events and raises money for men's health through the Movember Foundation.
Despite little advertising or investment from its current owner, Resch's has become more popular in recent years. On 16 September 2019, it was voted Australia's favourite beer in a news.com.au poll. The reasons for this are debated, but the loyalty of Resch's drinkers, even as the brand carries an uncool "old man's beer" image, stands out, especially given the rise of craft beer marketing.
- Founded
- 1929 (company collapsed and taken over)
- Owner
- Carlton & United Breweries
- Location
- New South Wales, Australia
- Notable varieties
- Resch's Draught, Resch's Pilsener, Resch's Real Bitter (discontinued mid-2018), Dinner Ale (limited return 2022)
- Discontinued varieties
- Dinner Ale (DA), Smooth Black Ale, Extra Stout, Premium Lager, Premier Lager, Sydney Bitter, Double Bitter (DB)
- Appreciation society membership
- Approximately 9,000 as of November 2020
- Award
- Voted Australia's favourite beer in a news.com.au poll on 16 September 2019
Lore & Background
Resch's Limited was a Sydney-based brewery founded by Edmund Resch. The company collapsed in 1929, at which time it was taken over by Tooth & Co. The name lived on in the brands of beer that continued to be produced. Waverley Brewery closed in 1983, and was redeveloped into the Moore Park Gardens Apartment Development by Dealruby in the 1990s. By the 2000s Resch's DB (Double Bitter) and DA (Dinner Ale) had been phased out of production.
Carlton & United Breweries currently produces Resch's Draught for the New South Wales hotel market. It is also available in a small number of venues in South East Queensland. Resch's Pilsener is available in 750ml bottles (known as "longnecks") and 375ml cans throughout New South Wales and available nationally via online retailers. Resch's Real Bitter was discontinued in mid-2018 joining other retired varieties including Dinner Ale (DA), Smooth Black Ale, Extra Stout, Premium Lager, Premier Lager, Sydney Bitter and Double Bitter (DB). Dinner Ale made a limited return in 2022, also in 375mL cans like the Pilsener, and is available only through Liquorland and First Choice Liquor.
In January 2012, Carlton & United Breweries released a limited edition of Resch's Draught in 24 can cartons, using the old green and white labelling as well as the "Resch's Lion" adorning the top of each can.
Reader's Guide
Resch's holds a notable place in Australian beer culture as a brand that has persisted through corporate takeovers and changing tastes. Despite a lack of advertising or investment from its current owner, Resch's has been growing in popularity in recent years. On 16 September 2019, Resch's was voted Australia's favourite beer in a news.com.au poll. While speculation has continued regarding the main reason for this, the loyalty of Resch's drinkers in the face of the brand's uncool image as 'old man's beer' is remarkable, having retained a core of consumers despite the explosion in marketing of craft beers. The Resch's Appreciation Society, formed on 27 February 2009, has grown steadily in membership over 10 years and contained approximately 9,000 members as of November 2020. The group regularly meets to socialise and raise money for men's health through the Movember Foundation. The brand's legacy includes a range of discontinued varieties, with Dinner Ale making a limited return in 2022, demonstrating that even retired products retain a following. Resch's remains a distinctive presence in the New South Wales beer market, available in both draught and packaged forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Resch's and who owns it today?
Resch's is a long-standing beer brand from Sydney, Australia, currently produced under the Carlton & United Breweries umbrella. The name traces back to a brewery Edmund Resch established in the Redfern area, and the brand is still sold primarily across New South Wales.
What happened to the original Resch's brewery?
Edmund Resch's company went under in 1929, and Tooth & Co stepped in to acquire the operation. Rather than scrapping the name, Tooth kept it on the label, and that branding has persisted ever since.
Which Resch's beers are still available today?
The core lineup includes Resch's Draught and Resch's Pilsener. Resch's Real Bitter was dropped in mid-2018, while the Dinner Ale made a brief limited return in 2022 after being discontinued for a stretch.
What happened to the Waverley Brewery site?
The Waverley Brewery ceased operations in 1983. By the 1990s, the developer Dealruby had redeveloped the former brewing site into the Moore Park Gardens Apartments.
How large is the Resch's appreciation society?
As of November 2020, the fan membership stood at roughly 9,000 people, reflecting the brand's loyal following in Sydney and beyond.
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