Victoria Bitter VX (Extra)
Carlton & United Breweries, Ltd.

Amazing beer. This is my favourite beer of all time and I have tried a lot of beers. This taste nothing like the original VB at all, which i find still drinkable but with a shocking aftertaste. This VX BEER goes down like water, has no aftertaste at all and doesn’t retain that classical VB taste or smell. I could drink this all day as if it were water but fortunately I’m not an alcoholic. This satisfies every part of me from the alcohol content to its taste. I am a simple man but I have been given the gift of the nectar of the angels today.

Poured from a couple of 250ml bottles into schooner.
A - Nice golden body with one finger head.
S - Biscuity, malt and grain. Standard CUB type smell.
T - Heavy upfront into heavy grainy alcohol taste. Can't really taste any regular VB in it. The 6% ABV is felt on the palate. Finishes malty and reminds me of Vegemite.
F - Low carbonation that goes down more like a higher ABV would.
O - The small bottles are the perfect size because you can gauge wheather you want another or not. I love VB but this has something more to it. I have to say it is my favourite macro beer so far.

VB Extra. The classic Aussie lager that's either loved or hated, this time in a 250ml throw down stubbie. Best before: 24 Feb 2024.

Appearance: Like the traditional VB, and most Aussie adjunct it's a classical dark straw amber golden colour. Thin bubbly head that has disappated to a minimal ring of foam all too quickly. Completely filtered.

Aroma: Sweet Pale malt, slightly grassy and grainy. Classic Pride of Ringwood hop aroma, with that wet vegetable matter.

Taste: Smooth, malty and slightly creamy. Smoother IMO than a normal VB. Very sweet, and the Pride of ringwood hops work nicely giving a bitter edge to the malty sweetness. Doesn't have that metallic ring flavour I have become accustomed too with VB and CUB beers.

Feel: Light, highly carbonated and easily drinkable. At 6%, and 250mls, could be dangerous on a hot day.

Overall: Am I broken? or has the VB recipe been changed a little for this? As Australian lagers go, it's actually got good character, and flavour.

#️⃣1️⃣3️⃣4️⃣

 

From the Grovedale IGA in March 2023. Drunk in July that year.

L: As crystal clear as expected from a macro lager, with a classic, beer-coloured dark yellow body. A brilliant white head quickly subsides to a thin skim.

S: Sweet malt with the slightest creamy hint.

T: taste is sweet, smooth and mildly bitter but with the alcohol clearly present as would be expected from such a traditionally light-bodied, low-carbonated beer with an elevated ABV. The selling point for this beer is that it's a stronger version and so I suspect they've deliberately made the alcohol noticeable, but it's perhaps a tad harsh for mine as it doesn't have the thicker body to complement it, and the sweetness of the beer is brought to the fore by the alcohol. I recall Carlsberg's Elephant Lager having the same issue.

F: Mouthfeel is mild, body is light, carbonation is medium to low, and there's minimal carbonic prickle on the way down. The alcohol is again noticeable, with a warming sensation in mouth, throat and stomach much more than expected for a 6% ABV beer, which I think again goes back to the light body.

O: I suspected at launch that this would be a gimmick beer that was gone out of circulation pretty quickly after launch, and so grabbed a pack pretty quickly upon release. It's still available, although rare, and I suspect that will likely remain the case. For mine the stronger alcohol in this beer unbalances it. The sweetness and lack of body just don't mix well with the higher ABV and the harshness that results ultimately detracts from enjoyment on this one.

Cheers!
#282