Need answers now? Click here to be taken to our beer size cheat sheet down the page.
If you've travelled Australia, you might have experienced the perplexity of different beer sizes, shapes, and names across state lines.
Just like the never-ending ‘parma or parmy’ debate, the naming conventions of our beers can confuse even the most seasoned beer drinker when visiting interstate.
Let’s dive into how each state in Australia names their beer sizes.
New South Wales’ beer sizes
We’ll start with our birthplace, the great state of New South Wales. We’re a little biased, but these sizes make the most sense to us.
The most standard size to order is the humble schooner, clocking in at 425mL. This is largely the same across all of Australia (looking at you, South Australia) and is a popular choice across the country. Not too big, not too small, just right.
Slightly larger in size is the pint, which holds 570mL. For quenching a more serious thirst, a pint is another very popular choice.
Larger still is the jug, with the standard size of 1,140mL in New South Wales. The jug is perfect for pouring yourself and a friend a pint each, or just under three schooners. The jug’s size is standard across the country.
Our middy is the smallest standard size that you can expect to order, making it ideal for those who have just come down for one. This comes in at 285mL.
We’ve also got our uniquely named schmiddy, a 350mL glass that sits in between the schooner and middy. Buy a pair of schmiddy glasses from our online store today.
Pictured: A middy of Green Coast lager is poured at our Byron brewery.
Queensland’s beer sizes
Queensland’s different beer sizes are named largely the same as in New South Wales.
Queensland shares the same schooner size as NSW, coming in at 425mL and a pint is also 570mL, the same as most other states, and their jug is 1,140mL.
Where Queensland might differ from your home is with their smaller size, with the 285mL largely referred to as a pot instead of a middy.
Victoria’s beer sizes
Exploring further south, Victoria is again fairly similar to Queensland and New South Wales.
A schooner is the same at 425mL, and a pint is also 570mL. Asking for a pot of beer will get you a 285mL sized serving. Jugs remain the same, coming in at 1,140mL.
Asking for a glass of beer in some places in Melbourne will get you a 200mL size, even smaller than the more standard pot.
Hot tip: Victorians will tell you that if you don’t specify a size, it’s likely you’ll be poured a pot. Most other states default to a 425mL schooner.
South Australia’s beer sizes
Here’s where things get a little confusing. South Australia is by far the most unique of all states, with names that are widely accepted elsewhere in the country as one size referring to a smaller size in this region.
In Adelaide and surrounds, the standard and most common size is the pint, coming in at 425mL. This is not to be confused with the imperial pint, which comes in at the size of 570mL. Their most widely accepted small size is called a schooner and comes in at 285mL.
While these all differ from other states, the ever-reliable jug remains the same at 1,140mL.
The Northern Territory’s beer sizes
The Northern Territory’s more tropical weather makes larger sizes slightly less popular to the average drinker, as they go warm quick if not enjoyed fast enough.
Ask for a handle of beer if you’re after a 285mL, smaller beer to enjoy (although middy or pot are generally accepted too). These may come with a handle, so you don’t warm the beer too quickly holding it in your hand.
Schooners are the same as most other regions of Australia, coming in at 425mL. Pints and jugs are also the same at 570mL and 1,140mL.
Tasmania’s beer sizes
The Tassie pint remains unchanged to most other states, coming in at 570mL.
Tasmania’s name for their 285mL beer size is either pot or ten depending on who you speak to, with the name ten coming from the fact that 285mL is ten ounces of liquid. In keeping with this theme, a 425mL beer is referred to as either a schooner or a fifteen.
Western Australia’s beer sizes
Just like New South Wales, a middy is the most common name for a 285mL beer in Perth and surrounds. You might also hear this being referred to as a half-pint.
After this, the schooner (425mL), the pint (570mL) and the jug (1,140mL) remain the same as the rest of the country.
Australian Capital Territory’s beer sizes
Similarly to Western Australia, the capital also refers to 285mL beers as a middy or a half-pint. Double this in size for a standard pint at 570mL, with the schooner coming in at the mostly standard 425mL.
Our Australian beer size cheat sheet
To recap, there’s a lot of variation. It’s not an exact science, with differences by region and even each venue.
By and large, jugs, pints and schooners are a pretty universally understood size (except in SA), with most of the smaller options often having a name unique to the region.
| NSW | QLD | VIC | SA | NT | TAS | WA | ACT | |
| 200mL | - | - | glass | - | - | - | - | - |
| 285mL | middy | pot | pot | schooner | handle (or middy/pot) | pot (or ten) | middy | middy (or half-pint) |
| 350mL | schmiddy | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 425mL | schooner | schooner | schooner | pint | schooner | schooner (or fifteen) | schooner | schooner |
| 570mL | pint | pint | pint | imperial pint | pint | pint | pint | pint |
| 1,140mL | jug | jug | jug | jug | jug | jug | jug | jug |
As Aussies, we’re a diverse bunch. Our unique ways of enjoying beer are a perfect metaphor for our unique geography and people, and at Stone & Wood we think that’s more than worth celebrating.
So, whatever size glass you choose to drink from, raise it with us in celebrating the different ways in which Aussies enjoy their beer.
Find our range of beer available for purchase online, including the Stone & Wood core range and our limited releases. We also have a range of merchandise (including beer glasses)!
