Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. shortness of breath, a badly wheezing cough.

1926		Dly News (Perth) 25 June 6/6: We 'have all heard of ‘a whisky cough’: but how’s this one? He went to a doctor [...] to complain of a terrible cough. He exercised his cough [...] ‘That’s not a cough,’ the, physician said; ‘that’s brewer’s asthma’.
1935		Age (Melbourne) 25 Oct. 13/5: When a deck chair was put up a wheezy man, with brewers’ asthma, crooned, ‘Summer time is ’ere again’.
1951		Cairns Post (Qld) 12 Sept. 4/1: Most men who drink and smoke too much not only develop big tummies, but have a nasty hacking cough in the morning, which is known as Brewer’s Asthma.
1953		Baker Aus. Speaks.

2. (also brewer’s croup) a very bad hangover.

1930		Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide) 28 Oct. 1/2: STRAWBERRY NOSE. — ‘Will you ever get the chance to defend yourself from malicious insinuations?’ If someone has accused you [...] of having brewers’ asthma they are probably jealous of your nose, so cheer up and don’t mind.
1967		‘Whisper All Aussie Dict.’ in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxii 7/1: brewers’ asthma: A very severe hangover. Also brewers’ croup. Dog’s disease.
1968		G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 164: He’s a moral to get potted — / Shock treatment for the old brewer’s asthma – / Spewed me heart out.
1983		R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 19: Brewers Asthma Hangover.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.

(orig. Aus.) temporary impotence due to the effects of alcohol on the erectile tissue.

1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 77: Don’t tell me you’ve copped the brewer’s droop.
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 175: Brewer’s droop A large belly brought on by beer, and by extension a reference to alleged impotence in a male. Can be a most insulting phrase to use to a man in this latter meaning as it impugns his virility. Not to be used in jest.
1982		P. Bailey An Eng. Madam 134: We had a few bloody wonderful nights together, but more often than not they were spoilt because he had a brewer’s droop.
1985		B. Robinson Aussie Bull 23: ‘Brewery Droop’, where the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, and one’s love life suffers accordingly.
1992		K. Lette Llama Parlour 12: Aussie blokes, those without Brewer’s Droop and verandas over their toyshops may be bronzed and blond [...] but they are also emotional bonsai.
2005		Roger’s Profanisaurus in Viz Apr. 48: pot noodle horn n. Brewer’s droop. A cock like a wet noodle.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 386: Always boasting about how many pints they could shift. Funny they never mention the brewer’s droop.

beer, ale.

1714

N. Ward Republican Procession in DSUE (1984).

(Aus./N.Z.) a beer belly.

1934		Truth (Sydney) 11 Feb. 2/1: He had a tummy on him that reminded us of a man suffering from brewers’ goitre.
1934		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 5 May 7/1: [of a horse] Though the chestnut had a decent ‘brewers goitre,’ George stuck the big note on him.
1944		Warwick Dly News (Qld) 1 Feb. 2/6: Upwards of nearly 150 bowlers engage in their favourite pastime [...] once the game was partaken of by men who had brewer’s goitre, that is, a prominent protuberance in the middle.
1950		Aus. Worker (Sydney) 26 July 8/1: The gift — or affliction— however, of a notorious ‘brewers’ goitre’ has become a sore embonpoint in New York, where an organisation has been formed by the name of ‘Fatties Anonymous’ to help overweight members.
1972		G.W. Turner Eng. Lang. in Aus. and N.Z. 98: Brewer’s goitre paunch.
1983		R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 19: Brewer [sic] Goitre Beer gut.
1999		G. Seal Lingo 133: brewer’s goitre means a beer belly, or beer gut.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.