NOW EXPERIENCING:Only ever drink lager? Not for long
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Only ever drink lager? Not for long


Read time 3 Mins

Posted 28 Aug 2025

By
Amelia Ball


Six top ales lined up against a bright red and pink background

These cracking beers are for anyone who’s ready to branch out (a little).

We’d never disrespect a lager here at Dan’s Daily. We’re big fans, especially now that so many different breweries have turned their attention to this most easy-going of beers. But sometimes, a change is as good as a holiday – or so they say. We’re not suggesting that swapping your go-to lager for another beer will feel like you’re poolside in the tropics (spoiler: it won’t), but every now and again, it’s worth branching out. And if you’re ready for a beer that’s a touch more hoppy, has a little more depth or maybe just simply tastes different to your usual pick, we have just the thing. 

It’s a big wide world of beer out there, and just like if you only ever order the same three things at your favourite local takeaway, it’s time to shake things up. That doesn’t mean going straight for a smoked beer or double IPA, unless you’re feeling game, of course – you want to try the red curry over the green, or the mushroom pizza instead of the capricciosa. Baby steps, in other words. There’s a time and a place for your everyday lager, but we think the following friendly ales (and one lager with a twist) will expand your horizons in the most delicious ways.

The Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

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1. Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

There’s a reason this beer is central to one of the biggest success stories in recent Aussie brewing history: it’s delicious. This Byron Bay beer blew up as soon as it launched – almost 20 years ago – and it’s still going strong. This guy is fruitier than your average lager, so prepare for bright aromatics and fresh flavours, but it still manages to be dry and easy drinking. It might even get you curious about the rest of their core range.
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$64.90 per case of 16Non-Member: $66.99 case (16)

2. Young Henrys Newtowner Pale Ale

This pale ale was brewed for the 150th celebration of this Sydney brewery’s home of Newtown, and it was embraced so much that it’s since become part of the Young Henrys permanent range. Made with a blend of Australian malts and three varieties of local hops, this is a fruity pale ale that has a touch of bitterness, which adds a little something to the mix. An excellent stepping stone for lager fans.
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$67 per case of 24Non-Member: $69.95 case (24)
The Young Henrys Newtowner Pale Ale

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The Philter XPA from Sydney's Marrickville

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3. Philter XPA

Another brewing success story from Sydney’s inner west, Philter has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2017, and the XPA is something of a hero in the range. This Extra Pale Ale – sitting somewhere between an American Pale Ale and an IPA – was designed for easy drinking, so even though it’s full of tropical fruit aromas with a distinctive hop flavour, it’s balanced and finishes nice and dry. A converter to ales if ever there was one.
$18.49 pack (4)

4. Balter Easy Hazy

Everyone seems to be into the Balter XPA, and rightly so – it’s a top contender for this list. But here we’ve gone for the Eazy Hazy because it’s an excellent intro to hazy pale ales. It brings all the aromas and flavours of a traditional cloudy hazy, but it’s a little more restrained than some. There are fresh fruit notes like lime, passionfruit and even hints of coconut, but it has a zesty bitter finish that evens out everything going on in here.
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$53 per case of 16Non-Member: $57.99 case (16)
The Balter Eazy Hazy is a great intro to hazy pale ales

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The Kaiju Krush! Tropical Pale Ale

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5. Kaiju Krush! Tropical Pale Ale

If you’re starting to love all those fresh and bright tropical fruit flavours that are part of the pale-ale deal then this is another great beer to add to your list – “tropical” is in the name, after all. Despite this Melbourne-made brew delivering a load of refreshing citrus, pineapple and mango flavours, along with a hint of papaya, it has a crisp and lean malt profile that keeps it all in check.
$27.99 pack (6)

6. Monsuta Okinawa Dark Premium Lager

We know we’ve gently eased into some new flavours and other styles here, so we know this might look like a sharp turn, but stay with us – this brew is a lot more approachable than it may seem. While bringing a balanced malty richness, this dark beer is indeed still a lager, so it also has soft hoppy flavours and even a touch of sweetness that should be familiar to lager fans. It isn’t a punch-you-in-the-face kinda dark beer; it’s surprisingly refreshing and crisp. A brilliant pick for something different.
Member Offer
$19 per pack of 6Non-Member: $26.99 pack (6)
The Monsuta Okinawa Dark is a dark lager

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