XXXX (beer)

 90ms

Summary

 XXXX, a true icon of Australian brewing, is more than just a beer; it's a Queensland legend. Brewed in Milton, Brisbane, by the esteemed Castlemaine Perkins, now a proud division of Japan's Kirin, XXXX reigns supreme in the Sunshine State. You'll find it on tap in virtually every pub and bar, a testament to its enduring popularity. The XXXX brand itself has a rich history, first gracing us in 1924. Its name is a nod to the age-old tradition of using 'X's to signify the strength of an ale, building on the legacy of the 1878 XXX Sparkling Ale. Today, XXXX offers a range of brews to suit every taste. There's the classic **XXXX Bitter**, often called 'Heavy' by Queenslanders, a 4.4% ABV Australian lager. For a lighter touch, **XXXX Gold** is a mid-strength 3.5% ABV lager, also boasting lower carbs. Then there's the refreshing **XXXX Summer Bright Lager**, a full-strength 4.0% ABV low-carb option, available with a twist of lime or mango. For those seeking zero carbs, **XXXX Ultra** delivers at 3.8% ABV. And for a bit of spice, **XXXX Ginger** is an alcoholic ginger beer at 3.5% ABV. While these are the stars of the show, the XXXX Alehouse and Restaurant occasionally brings back beloved brews from the past, like the 90s favorite **Thirsty Dog** wheat beer, the 70s **XXXX Draught** designed to mimic barrel-aged taste, the long-running **Carbine Stout**, and the historic **Castlemaine Best IPA**. Even the original **XXXX Sparkling Ale** made a special limited return in 2019. The XXXX story began in 1924, named after the founding town of Castlemaine, Victoria. The iconic yellow and red label still proudly displays the town's name. Since its inception, XXXX has been brewed at the Castlemaine Perkins Milton Brewery, with a sketch of the brewery gracing its labels. The prominent illuminated 'XXXX' sign, erected in the 1950s, has become a landmark. The 'XXXX' itself is a nod to a traditional grading system for strong beers. Over the years, the brewery has seen ownership changes, with Lion Nathan acquiring Castlemaine Perkins in 1992, and Japanese giant Kirin taking over in 2009. In 2016, XXXX Bitter saw a slight adjustment in its alcohol content, moving from 4.6% to 4.4% ABV. XXXX even ventured across the seas, brewed under license in the UK by InBev Ltd until 2009, though it was a touch weaker than its Australian counterparts. Instantly recognizable is XXXX's mascot, the jovial **Mr Fourex**. This cartoon character, sporting a suit and boater hat, adorns the brewery's City side. Conceived in 1924, his inspiration is shrouded in mystery, with theories pointing to a former company director or even a well-known dwarf newspaper seller. For the military, both Australian and Allied, XXXX was affectionately nicknamed "Barbed Wire" due to its resemblance to outback fencing. In the 1980s, a bold advertising campaign in North Queensland, inspired by a local's impressive beer-drinking feat, had to be quickly withdrawn due to government pressure. But the decade also gave us the unforgettable tagline: "Australians wouldn't give a XXXX for anything else." You'll find XXXX in the familiar 375ml cans (tinnies), 375ml bottles (stubbies), and 750ml bottles (tallies or long necks), and of course, on tap. Twist-top lids on bottles reveal trivia questions, adding an extra layer of fun. And for a truly authentic experience, the Breakfast Creek Hotel in Newstead still serves XXXX from wooden barrels, unpasteurised and delivered by gravity. Such is its cultural impact, the fictional continent of XXXX, pronounced "fourecks," even appears in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. The labels themselves often feature the Milton Brewery, a constant reminder of its roots. XXXX is a major player in sports sponsorship, proudly backing the Queensland Maroons in rugby league's State of Origin. XXXX Gold extends its support to Queensland cricket and various other sporting endeavors, including V8 Supercars and Professional Bull Riders. They've even created their own island paradise, XXXX Island, for promotional events. XXXX is more than just a beer; it's a part of the Australian identity, a taste of Queensland sunshine, and a legend poured into every glass.
XXXX_(beer)

Full Wikipedia Article

 XXXX (pronounced four-ex) is a brand of Australian beer brewed in Milton, Brisbane, by Queensland brewers Castlemaine Perkins, now a division of the Japanese company Kirin. It enjoys wide popularity in the Australian state of Queensland, where it is commonly found on-tap in pubs and bars. The XXXX brand was introduced by Castlemaine in 1924, and is a throwback to the long-standing tradition of using Xs to indicate the strength of an ale. The brand name is also built upon XXX Sparkling Ale introduced in 1878. == Beers == Currently sold brands include: XXXX Bitter, a 4.4% ABV Australian lager marketed under the brand XXXX. When ordering in Queensland, it is often referred to as XXXX Heavy. XXXX Gold, a mid strength lager – 3.5% ABV. XXXX Gold is also a lower carb beer. XXXX Summer Bright Lager, a full strength 4.0% ABV low carb beer. Summer Bright is also available with lime or mango. XXXX Ultra, a zero carb lager at 3.8% ABV. XXXX Ginger, an alcoholic ginger beer at 3.5% ABV. As well as these, previous beers that are no longer in mass production are occasionally available in small, limited releases at the XXXX Alehouse and Restaurant, located on the same site as the brewery. In the past, these have included: Thirsty Dog, a wheat beer popular in the 1990s. XXXX Draught, a less carbonated version of XXXX Bitter released in the 1970s, intended to replicate the unique taste of a beer from a wooden barrel. Carbine Stout, a stout brewed from 1915 to 2008, named after the racehorse Carbine from the 1890s. Castlemaine Best IPA, an India pale ale first brewed in 1918. In December 2019, the original XXX Sparkling Ale had a limited release in several bars across Brisbane's CBD, including at the Alehouse. Other beers that are no longer available include: XXXX Light, a lower alcohol beer at 2.3% ABV. XXXX DL Lager, a lower carbohydrate beer which was available at 4.4% ABV. XXXX Gold Australian Pale Ale at 3.5% ABV. XXXX Dry at 4.2% ABV. XXXX Zero, an alcohol free lager at 0.0% ABV. == History == The XXXX brand was launched in 1924 by Castlemaine Brewers, named after the town of Castlemaine, Victoria where the company was founded in 1857. The yellow-and-red label still bears the town's name. XXXX has been brewed in the Castlemaine Perkins Milton Brewery since its introduction, and has featured an artist's sketch (later very stylised) of its brewery on the label of beer bottles and cans. In the 1950s the prominent 'XXXX' illuminated sign was erected on the brewery. "XXXX" itself refers to a traditional grading system for strong beer. In 1992, Castlemaine Perkins was acquired by Australian beverage and food company Lion Nathan, who in turn were taken over by Japanese beverage conglomerate Kirin in 2009. In March 2016, XXXX Bitter was reduced from 4.6% to 4.4% alcohol by volume (ABV). == Distribution == XXXX was brewed under licence in the UK by InBev Ltd until 2009. It was commonly available in cans in British off licences and sometimes on tap in British pubs. At 3.7% ABV, the British brewed XXXX was somewhat weaker than most of the Australian variants. Castlemaine XXXX was withdrawn from the UK at the end of June 2009 when InBev's licensing agreement expired. == Iconography, advertising and brand recognition == XXXX's mascot is Mr Fourex - a jovial cartoon man in a suit with a boater hat, who features on the City side of the Fourex Brewery at Milton. Conceived in 1924, he is said to be modelled after Paddy Fitzgerald, a former director of the company who started circa 1933. A second theory is that the cartoon is modelled on a well-known dwarf who sold newspapers in the inner city suburb of Fortitude Valley in the late 1920s. The true identity for the inspiration behind the cartoon remains a mystery. A common nickname used by the military (Australian, passed along to their Allied guests) was "Barbed Wire," as the XXXX has the appearance of the fence product used in the outback. The second major campaign was launched in the early 1980s in the North Queensland area after the then general manager of 'XXXX' Pat Holmboe heard of Clinton Howe, a locally well-known council road worker, being able to consume a high quantity of the beer in a short time (approx. 3L in 1 minute or 3/4 gal.). The company was forced to close the campaign within the first few days of T.V. advertising following government pressure. An advertisement campaign from the 1980s and 1990s featured the tagline "Australians wouldn't give a XXXX for anything else." Most beers under the XXXX label are sold in Australia as 375ml cans (tinnies), 375ml bottles (stubbies) and 750ml bottles (tallies or long necks), on tap (in most Queensland pubs but also to a lesser extent throughout the rest of Australia) and all bottles have twist top lids. Underneath the twist top lids there are trivia questions. XXXX is still being served from wooden barrels at the Breakfast Creek Hotel in Newstead, Queensland. Whilst not cask-conditioned, as in the case of British real ale, the beer is unpasteurised and delivered by gravity. In Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of fantasy novels, an Australian-like continent is named XXXX, pronounced "fourecks". XXXX's labels generally feature a depiction of the Milton Brewery alongside the Ipswich railway line, presently with a Queensland Rail EMU in the foreground with the existing extensive railway fencing omitted. Prior labels had steam engines and diesels when those locomotives were more regularly seen in Brisbane. === Sports sponsorship campaigns === XXXX is the major sponsor of the Queensland Maroons in the rugby league State of Origin series. XXXX Gold sponsors the Queensland Bulls and the QLD, SA, ACT and NT cricket associations. XXXX Gold also sponsors the Australian V8 Supercars Championship Series as well as the Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Australian branch. XXXX sponsored the XXXX Gold Beach Cricket Tri-Nations 2007 series. It involved cricketers from Australia such as Allan Border, England including Graham Gooch and West Indies including Courtney Walsh and Sir Viv Richards. From 2012 to 2015, XXXX GOLD had a three-year lease on the 15-acre Pumpkin Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, which they turned into XXXX Island to use in advertising and promotional events. == See also == Australian pub Beer in Australia List of breweries in Australia == References == == External links == Official website Home Languages