Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese says he doesn't expect to be prime minister "in the short term".
There is speculation Mr Albanese could recontest the Labor leadership should Bill Shorten lose the July 2 election and the top job is spilled.
The experienced NSW MP, who hails from the party's Left faction, took on Right faction powerbroker Mr Shorten in Labor's first national leadership ballot in 2013.
While he convincingly won the majority of grassroots members' votes, he failed to win over enough federal caucus members to back him.
The leadership will be automatically thrown open if Mr Shorten does not win the federal election.
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Asked about his ambition to be prime minister, Mr Albanese told craft beer magazine Froth: "I don't think that's about to happen in the short term."
"I think in politics one of the things I do, whatever position I hold, is just to try and stay true to my roots and remember where you come from," he said.
"That's really important that politicians are authentic to who they are and to what their beliefs are - I've tried to do that."
Last year, craft brewer Willie the Boatman released an Albo Corn Ale, in honour of the popular MP for Grayndler.
Asked whether the Australian government should have a minister for beer, Mr Albanese said: "I think that's probably unlikely, but I'm sure there'd be no shortage of takers."
