What Is XXXX Beer? Australia's Pride And Joy Explained
Ahh ... a nice, crisp beer at the end of the day. There's nothing like it. You're probably used to your favorite brands: Maybe some Sam Adams, Yuengling, or Guinness. But unless you live in Australia, you might not be quite so familiar with XXXX beer. The beer brand, dubbed the Pride of Queensland, is a company that makes one of the most popular beers in Australia. It all started in 1878 when brothers Nicholas and Edward Fitzgerald had a dream to make "the finest ales known to man." They bought a distillery in Brisbane, Australia, created a brewery in its place, and the rest is history.
Why the XXXX name? According to the company, beer quality used to be measured with an X: The more Xs, the better the beer. For example, preserved 19th-century beer advertisements out of London show similar measures, listing mild ales as X and a "best quality" beers as XXXX. XXXX's first beer was dubbed XXX Sparkling Ale, but the three Xs weren't enough for the Fitzgerald brothers. By 1893, they earned a fourth X, and thus the XXXX name was born.
The history of XXXX beer
It didn't take long for the beer to become popular in Queensland. However, the brand struggled to get its beer to more dry and hot areas of Australia. Enter Alhois 'Bill' Leitner, XXXX's new master brewer. Bill, who brought with him a working history in Germany and Austria, found a new way to clean the brew vessels. This solved the transport problem that plagued XXXX so that it could reach the rest of the country. Leitner also introduced XXXX Bitter, a brew so popular that the recipe hasn't changed since it was first sold in 1924. 1924 was also the year the brand's mascot, Mr. Fourex, was born. With a wink of an eye and a glass raised in the air, he's a welcome sight to Queenslanders.
XXXX has a history of using its famed beer to raise spirits and do good in the world. After noticing that returning soldiers were pining for a glass of XXXX after WWI, the company sent the beer overseas to troops during WWII and the Vietnam War. They also bought out pubs facing foreclosure during the Great Depression and delivered beer during the Queensland Floods of 1974, 2011, and 2013. This is part of the reason it's such a beloved brand in Australia.
What does XXXX beer taste like?
If you're looking to pick up a case of XXXX Beer at your local supermarket in the States, you'll be out of luck. The company exclusively sells its beer in Australia. Despite its popularity, reviews of the beer are less than stellar. One reviewer on Beer Advocate calls XXXX Gold "forgettable neutral" while another calls it "nice to try, once." It has an average rating of 2.48 out of 5. RateBeer.com gives it an overall rating of 1.88 out of 5. One reviewer calls it "bready with some spice" and another says "refreshing, but nothing special."
The company currently makes seven beer varieties: XXXX Gold with an alcohol content of 3.5%, XXXX Bitter with an alcohol content of 4.4%, XXXX Dry with an alcohol content of 4.2%, Summer Bright Lager with an alcohol content of 4%, Summer Bright Lime with an alcohol content of 4%, Summer Bright Mango with an alcohol content of 4%, and XXXX Zero, a non-alcoholic beer.
The brand describes one of its core beers, XXXX Gold, as having "a balanced, smooth flavour and body, complemented by mild bitterness and a trace of sweetness." The Summer Bright Lager, according to the company, has a refreshing taste and a smooth hop character. The non-alcoholic beer has a crisp finish and slight aroma. Next time you take a trip Down Under, XXXX Beer is worth a try.