XXXX (beer)
XXXX (pronounced four-X) is a brand of beers brewed in Milton, Brisbane by Queensland brewers, Castlemaine Perkins. It enjoys wide popularity in the state of Queensland and is commonly found on-tap in most Queensland pubs and bars.
History
The XXXX brand was launched in 1924 by then Castlemaine Brewers, later merged to form Castlemaine Perkins. XXXX has been brewed in the Castlemaine Perkins Milton Brewery since its introduction and from the start has featured an artist's sketch (later very stylised) of this brewery on the label. In the 1950s the prominent 'XXXX' illuminated sign was erected on the brewery.
Brand names
The XXXX's brand was first introduced in 1924 and is a throwback to the long standing tradition of using Xs to indicate the strength of an ale. The brand name also built upon XXX Sparkling Ale introduced in 1878. The brand is used on the XXXX Bitter, XXXX Gold, XXXX Draught/Original Draught, XXXX Light Bitter (Lager), XXXX DL (Diet Lager) and Sovereign (Lager).
Previously sold beers, currently not available, include Thirsty Dog (Wheat Beer) and XXX Sparkling Ale which is only sold at the XXXX alehouse next to the brewery.
XXXX Bitter
XXXX Bitter is a pale lager marketed under the brand XXXX.[1]
XXXX Gold
XXXX Gold is a mid strength lager - 3.5% ABV. X
Distribution and brand loyalty
XXXX is the most widely available beer throughout most of Queensland, although many other beers, such as Victoria Bitter and Tooheys are popular. XXXX is substantially less popular in parts of Australia other than Queensland. (A common joke is "Why do Queenslanders call it 'XXXX'? Because they can't spell 'beer'.") In North Queensland, XXXX Bitter, on tap, is becoming less common (2007). The parent company, Lion Nathan, has largely replaced the brand with Toohey's New, but XXXX Gold is still available.
The most widely known outside of Australia is XXXX Export Lager. It contains 4.8% alcohol by volume (ABV) which amounts to 1.4 standard drinks.
XXXX is brewed under licence in the UK by Inbev Ltd, and is commonly available in cans in British off licences. It can also sometimes be found on tap in British pubs, although it is much less widely available than Foster's (which is found in many UK pubs). At 4% alcohol, the British brewed XXXX is somewhat weaker than most of the Australian variants.
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 and is to be re-introduced into advertising in the near future for the first time since 1967. Mr Fourex is thought to be modeled after a gentleman by the name of Paddy Fitzgerald. However, Mr Fourex may have been around long before Paddy became a force at the brewery. 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 1920's. The true identity for the inspiration behind the cartoon remains a mystery.[2]
The second major campaign was launched in the early 1980's in the North Queensland area after the general manager of 'XXXX' Pat Holmboe at the time heard of the locally famous Clinton Howe, a council road worker, being able to consume a very 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 withing the first few day s of T.V. advertising following government pressure.
A popular advertisement campaign from the early 1990s featured the tagline "Australians wouldn't give a XXXX for anything else."
Most beers under the XXXX label are sold in Australia as 375 ml cans (tinnies), 375 ml bottles (stubbies), 750 ml bottles (tallies or long necks) and 250 ml bottles (throwdown), 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 unique amongst Australian beers in that it 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 nevertheless unpasteurised and delivered by gravity and is described as having a fresher and smoother taste than the regular 'keg' variety.
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. Prior labels had steam engines and diesels when those locomotives were more regularly seen in Brisbane.
XXXX is the major sponsor of many sporting events and clubs, including the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin. XXXX Gold is also a sponsor of the QLD Bulls and the QLD, SA, ACT & NT Cricket Associations.[3]
On September 27 2006, XXXX launched the sponsorship of the XXXX Gold Beach Cricket Tri-Nations 2007 series. The series ran from January - February 2007. The series involved cricketing legends from Australia such as Allan Border, England including Graham Gooch and West Indies including Courtney Walsh and Sir Viv Richards.[4]
References
- ^ welcome
- ^ Tabloid_2.indd
- ^ XXXX Gold info - Lion Nathan website, 9 October 2007
- ^ Test stars' spin on beach cricket - The Australian, 27 Sept 2006