Schooner size: What does schooner mean in Australia and how big is a schooner of beer?

In most of Australia, a schooner of beer means a 425ml glass. But due to South Australia’s ridiculously idiosyncratic beer measurements, a schooner size in an Adelaide bar is a 285ml drink.

For many British visitors to Australia, the first encounter with a schooner of beer in Sydney can be a shock. “What the hell is that?” is the polite version of the initial reaction. The beer has arrived in a schooner glass, and it is much smaller than the British pint or European half litre.

A schooner elsewhere is a type of yacht. A schooner in Australia, however, is a standard beer measurement. Well, it is in New South Wales, anyway – Australian beer sizes get ridiculously complicated in other states.

If you want to skip the explanation and just buy some schooner glasses, head this way. Otherwise, read on…

schooners of beer in an Australian bar — What does schooner mean in Australia? Well it depends if you’re in a Sydney bar or Adelaide pub…

But what, in practical terms, does a schooner mean in Australia? How big is a schooner of beer? Well, in most states, a schooner of beer is a 425ml glass. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a standard beer measurement, however. Victoria likes to serve 285ml pots and 570ml pints. The same is true in Western Australia, but they like to call the 285ml glasses middies, just like New South Wales does.

Schooner size: Schmiddies vs schooners in Australia

You also have to watch out for the accursed schmiddies. These are glasses that are somewhere between a middy and a schooner, and served in bars that like to cheat people who think they’ve ordered a schooner.

Generally, though, very few people will ask for a schooner by name. They’ll just ask for a beer, or the specific beer by name. No-one is going to rock up to a Sydney bar or Brisbane pub asking for “a schooner of beer, please”.

How big is a schooner? South Australian beer measurements

Then there’s South Australia, which is, frankly, a disgrace on the beer size and volume front. Here, as part of an arcane colonial throwback no-one really understands, a schooner is a 285ml glass. South Australians call their 425ml beer glass a pint. And if you want an actual 570ml beer in an Adelaide bar, you need to order an Imperial Pint. Not confusing at all, hey? Just don’t drink too many before driving…