XXXX (pronounced four-ex) is a German style lagerbeer brewed in Milton, Australia by Queensland brewers, Castlemaine-Perkins, a brewery originally located in Castlemaine, a goldrush town in Australia. Its name, first introduced in 1924, is a throwback to the long standing tradition of using X's to indicate the strength of an ale.
It contains 4.8% alcohol by volume (ABV). Described as bland but palatable (with a distinct bitter aftertaste), its frequent imbibing leads to fierce loyalty toward the subject matter. Within Australia, it is generally only available in Queensland where it competes with Victoria Bitter and Toohey's New. In other parts of the world, such as the UK, it competes with Fosters.
There is a joke that it's called "XXXX" because the Australians (or particularly, Queenslanders) do not know how to spell beer. (This is the politest variant on this joke.)
XXXX's name, first introduced in 1924, is a throwback to the long standing tradition of using Xs to indicate the strength of an ale.
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 and is to be re-introduced into advertising in the near future for the first time since 1967.
XXXX's labels generally feature a depiction of the Milton Brewery alongside the Ipswich railway line, presently with a CityTrain EMU in the foreground with the existing extensive railway fencing omitted.
The brew was met with strong approval by the local newspaper, the Brisbane Courier, as it was called then, which described the beer as “a delicious ale, of the brightest amber, pleasant to taste, with a peculiarity of flavour not easily described, and an aroma of an appetising nature by itself”.
Although a “Castlemaine (XXXX) Sparkling Prize Ale” had been produced at Milton from the early 1880’s (it won a “Special Prize ” at the First International Exhibition in Sydney in 1883), it was not until the financial crash of the early 1890’s that the first trade mark showing four X’s was applied for.
Castlemaine Perkins continued to grow, as did the sales of XXXX Bitter Ale, until 1970 when the range was expanded with the introduction of XXXX Draught.
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