Record-breaking temperatures have seen an Adelaide pub become the most praised in Australia, making good on its promise to give away free beer if the temperature hit 45C.

The Red Lion Hotel in Elizabeth North started its “beer-o-meter” last March, but the heat of the past few weeks has really tested the concept.

Above 40C, the price at the Red Lion drops to $3. Above 42C and the beer is $1. Over 45C and it’s free.

Today, the city’s broke heat records reaching 46.2C, the hottest since records began.

And the thirsty locals were ready.



There’s a line around the corner at the Red Lion Hotel in Elizabeth North. Free beers are flowing until the heat drops below 45. @7NewsAdelaide pic.twitter.com/TCTRAv8AmX — Callum MacPherson (@C_MacPherson7) January 24, 2019

People have lined around the block, waiting for the price of beer to drop to zero as the temperature climbed. The taps will remain flowing for free until the heat drops back below 45C.

Yesterday, publican Stephen Firth said weather was not the only thing that is running hot.

“The phones have been going mad with people ringing to verify it’s true,” Mr Firth said.

”They can’t believe we are doing it.”

On Wednesday afternoon they had run out of glasses and were serving schooners. It’s the customer’s choice of beer on tap, too — only Stella is off the menu.

“If it gets over 42C, it’s $1 a pint. That’s still a good deal. I don’t know of any other pubs that are doing $1 pints,” Mr Firth said.

Temperature is measured by the Bureau of Meteorology reading at Edinburgh — the closest gauge to the pub.

“If it goes over 45C for 10 minutes, then it’s free beer for 10 minutes,” Mr Firth said.



ADELAIDE RECORD. West Terrace has just cracked 46.2C at 1:42pm, after 130 years of records, beating its previous record of 46.1 on 12 January 1939 #heatwave pic.twitter.com/dDgBLkKCma — Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) January 24, 2019

Adelaide’s mercury reached a record high of 46.2C, toppling a heat record from 1939.

The Bureau of Meteorology reports that West Terrace recorded the highest temperature in 80 years at 1.42pm.

Adelaide-based Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Hilary Wilson told news.com.au several regions will see their records obliterated.

“We have very hot temperatures forecast that could see quite a number of records broken,” Ms Wilson said.

The “long list of potential record-breakers” includes Clare, north of Adelaide, that previously recorded a maximum all-time temperature of 43.7C. Clare is expected to reach 45C today.

Cummins, on the Eyre Peninsula, is expected to reach 47C, breaking a previous record of 46.2C, and Roseworthy, north of the capital, could break its previous record high of 46.7C. Temperatures there will top out at 47C during midafternoon.