Coopers Brewery, Australia’s largest independent brewery, has unveiled new hop profiles for its annual Vintage Ale as a nod to its craft beer heritage.
Coopers changes its hop selection every year to create a “unique, premium-quality” craft-style beer, responding to the anticipation from beer lovers around the country.
The 2026 Vintage Ale leads with the US hop Krush, which imparts aromas of navel orange, peach, berries, ripe mango, guava and lychee. It also features an experimental hop, HBC-1134, delivering floral, citrus and herbal characters.
The combination results in flavours of mango, passionfruit and stone fruit, complementing the woody notes and malty backbone for which Vintage Ale is renowned, according to the company.
Coopers MD Michael Shearer said the 2026 selection taps into the brewery’s tradition of pairing a full-bodied, strong and dark seasonal ale with hearty winter meals.
“Vintage Ale has developed a legion of fans over the decades, and we expect this year’s release to be well received by loyal Coopers drinkers,” he said.
“While it’s ready to enjoy right away, Vintage Ale can also be cellared to allow its malty characters to develop and patience is certainly rewarded for those who are willing to wait.”
This year’s limited release, which Shearer and the team expected to be “highly sought-after”, marks the 26th in Coopers Brewery’s Vintage Ale series since its inception in 1998. The brewery celebrated the 25th anniversary of the range’s release with last year’s edition.
The 2026 Vintage Ale will be available in 50L kegs and 50ml bottles from August, with an ABV of 7.5 per cent. A series of launch events will also be held across the country in August and September.
