West End Draught
South Australian lager in iconic red tins.
West End Draught is a South Australian lager, often called red tins, with a 4.5% alcohol content. It is brewed by Lion, which is owned by the Japanese company Kirin.
The beer’s history goes back to the 19th century, when three British brothers named Lanfear started the West End breweries in Australia, with British shareholders. One brother, Albert Lanfear, left the company in 1893 to start Lion Brewery. For many years, West End Draught was made by the South Australian Brewing Company at its plant on Port Road in Thebarton. Lion took over that company in 1993, and it continued to operate as SA Brewing until May 1, 2019. Lion still uses the name West End Brewery for its current facility and website—a name that originally belonged to a brewery on Hindley Street that SA Brewing absorbed in 1888.
In 2015, Lion finished a $70-million upgrade of the West End Brewery, boosting its capacity to 120 million liters per year and adding a restored 1930s copper kettle. The brewery also began producing other Lion beers such as Hahn, Tooheys, Guinness, and Kilkenny, and a cidery was integrated into the site. However, in October 2020, Lion announced the Thebarton plant would close in June 2021, moving West End Draught production to breweries in Victoria. The closure upset locals who had valued the brewery’s presence and economic role since the 1890s.
Other beers once sold under the West End brand—West End Export, West End Gold, and West End Light—are no longer made.
West End is the original sponsor of the AFL’s “Showdown” match and the “Slowdown” charity game. The company is also deeply involved with the South Australian National Football League; since 1954, the brewery chimney has been painted each year with the colors of the SANFL grand finalists. West End sponsors the West End State Team and the West End Country State Team, as well as cricket through the South Australian Cricket Association, the West End Redbacks, the Adelaide Strikers, and Bowls South Australia.
In popular culture, West End Bitter appeared prominently in the 1971 Australian film *Wake in Fright*, and West End red tins can be seen in the 2023 film *Emotion Is Dead*, directed by Pete Williams.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Lion / (Kirin)
- Style
- Australian lager
- Abv
- 4.5%
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
West End Draught was formerly brewed by the South Australian Brewing Company on Port Road, Thebarton, which was taken over by Lion in 1993. The company continued to trade as SA Brewing until 1 May 2019. Lion continues to use the name West End Brewery for its current brewery and website, which was the name of a former brewery on Hindley Street, taken over by SA Brewing in 1888. The Lanfear brothers, three British siblings, developed the West End breweries in Australia during the 19th century; at that time, the company's shareholders were British too. Albert Lanfear left West End in 1893 to develop Lion Brewery.
In 2015, Lion announced the completed $70-million upgrade of the West End Brewery with an augmented production capacity of 120 million liters per year and a 1930s restored copper kettle. At this point, the brewery produced other beers of Lion's portfolio (Hahn, Tooheys, Guinness, Kilkenny). A cidery was also integrated into the brewery. In October 2020, Lion announced the closure of the Thebarton plant in June 2021, with production of West End Draught being transferred to breweries in Victoria. The closing caused some distress to locals who enjoyed the brewery's presence and economy since the 1890s.
Reader's Guide
West End Draught holds a significant place in South Australian culture as the original sponsor of the AFL 'Showdown' and the 'Slowdown' charity game in the Australian Football League. The company is actively involved with the South Australian National Football League; in 1954, the annual tradition of painting the colors of the SANFL grand finalist teams on the brewery chimney began. The company also sponsors the West End State Team and the West End Country State Team, as well as cricket including the South Australian Cricket Association, the West End Redbacks, Adelaide Strikers, and Bowls South Australia. In popular culture, West End Bitter was extensively shown and consumed in the 1971 Australian feature film *Wake in Fright*, and West End red tins feature in the 2023 film *Emotion Is Dead*, written and directed by Pete Williams. Other beers formerly brewed under the West End brand—West End Export, West End Gold, and West End Light—are no longer manufactured. The closure of the Thebarton plant in 2021 marked the end of a brewing era that had been part of the local economy since the 1890s.
Did You Know?
- West End Draught is commonly referred to as red tins.
- The Lanfear brothers were three British siblings who developed the West End breweries in Australia during the 19th century.
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