XXXX Bitter
Castlemaine Perkins

XXXX BitterXXXX Bitter
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From:
Castlemaine Perkins
 
Australia
Style:
American Adjunct Lager
Ranked #237
ABV:
4.4%
Score:
64
Ranked #30,084
Avg:
2.55 | pDev: 30.98%
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
74
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 24, 2022
Added:
Apr 08, 2002
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  6
SCORE
64
Poor
XXXX BitterXXXX Bitter
Notes: XXXX BITTER is a big-hearted lager which is full of pride. That pride runs deep in the ingredients; pure local water, Australian malted barley, Queensland cane sugar, unique Golden Cluster hops and yeast grown at the XXXX Brewery combine for a beer with a signature clean, crisp taste and satisfying after-bitterness.

Alcohol by Volume: 4.4% ABV
Colour: 9.5EBC
Bitterness: 18 IBU
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

2.05/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
750ml brown glass bottle with pull-tab can from Bottle Mart, Port Douglas, Australia.

Cheap malt is the main flavour here, 6-row pale malt would be my guess. Sort of generic with vague caramel/malted milk ball notes and little else. Rather underwhelming...notches below Carlton Mid and similar competitors in terms of the Australian market.

Low D / NOT RECOMMENDED
Dec 24, 2022
 
Rated: 2.66 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.52 by Daneve76 from Australia

May 26, 2021
Photo of RichardLeahy
Reviewed by RichardLeahy from Australia

2.99/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
A solid macro lager. L. Light gold with frothy, white head that fades quickly to lacing. Not much retention. S. Slight grain, but not much. T. Similar, light grain with a dry finish, a touch of astringency from the high carbonation. Can have a metallic tang, so I have always avoided drinking from cans. F. Light, a touch fizzy and the carbonation can have an astringent effect. O. I grew up on this stuff, it so dominated the Queensland beer market in the 1970s and 80s. So I have a soft spot for this beer and served cold it is an acceptable thirst quencher in the Queensland heat.
Dec 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.34 by domschramm from Pennsylvania

Dec 31, 2017
Photo of joharitaylor79
Rated by joharitaylor79 from Australia

1.09/5  rDev -57.3%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1
Horrible, horrible beer - skip and go to XXXX Gold or their Summer Bright Lager if you must drink XXXX.
Dec 16, 2017
Photo of make-beer-not-war
Reviewed by make-beer-not-war from Texas

5/5  rDev +96.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The epitome of brewing. This fine Qld lager is the best to come out of Australia. Fond memories of the grain and hop scents rolling through the grassy hills of Milton and Auchenflower. I'm salivating while I reminisce.
Oct 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by OsoRojo from Colorado

Jun 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.26 by Mnmich7662 from Minnesota

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 2.39 by AaronNQ from Australia

May 05, 2016
Photo of Seattle_Suds
Rated by Seattle_Suds from Washington

2.77/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
This beer is light and clean and OK for the type.
Apr 01, 2015
 
Rated: 2.66 by UniversitateaDeBere from Romania

Feb 04, 2015
 
Rated: 2.26 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Jan 30, 2015
 
Rated: 1.25 by Long813 from Canada (ON)

Dec 05, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by nitrofenix from Australia

Nov 19, 2014
Photo of JackieKu
Reviewed by JackieKu from Taiwan

1.5/5  rDev -41.2%
I supposed the Bitter means English pale ale but it is not. We have this kind of adjuncts everywhere, and this one isn't any better than others nor cheaper.
Nov 10, 2014
 
Rated: 2.25 by spycow from Illinois

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by NorCalAussie from California

Oct 15, 2014
 
Rated: 2.2 by Stuckey_Stuckey from Australia

Sep 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by patre_tim from Thailand

Sep 19, 2014
 
Rated: 2.6 by Rickus from Taiwan

Sep 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by probert from New York

Sep 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.16 by Mick82

Sep 03, 2014
 
Rated: 1.5 by Sambosa from Australia

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by endless1408 from England

Jun 05, 2014
Photo of atigerlife
Reviewed by atigerlife from Hawaii

1.63/5  rDev -36.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
Had at the recommendation of a waiter in Brisbane. He should be fed to a crocodile.

Pours golden with a slim white head. Retention is fine. Decent amount of carbonation rising.

Aroma is unassuming.

Taste is of adjuncts. Quite offensive.

Mouthfeel is a bubbly mess. Light bodied.

Overall, don't bother with this one. It is popular, so I'm assuming that is why it was recommended...but not all things that are popular are good.
Apr 20, 2014
Photo of Sphincta
Reviewed by Sphincta from Australia

4.45/5  rDev +74.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
This is my beer of choice for a good session. It has a bad rep that is not deserved.
(For some reason it is not cool to drink XXXX in Australia)

If I was at a bar to have 1 beer I would pick a beer with more flavours in the palate.
When I want to drink 12+ beers I choose to drink XXXX.

The beer has a lot of carbonation and must be consumed cold.

It is the most refreshing beer I know. More exotic beers will cause bloat/tiredness after a couple but XXXX can be consumed in large quantities without taste or thirst fatigue.

The hangover is light compared to other drinks. No headache or nausea. Only laziness and a mild resentment towards other people and the world in general.
Feb 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Qdiver from Texas

Feb 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by amberBob from California

Nov 18, 2013
 
Rated: 2.25 by Agentveba from North Carolina

Sep 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by GraduatedCashew from California

Aug 29, 2013
 
Rated: 1.5 by remitrom from Illinois

Aug 07, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by beerbtl from California

Jun 24, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by magpieken from Australia

Apr 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by tonton from Hong Kong

Apr 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Tonyole from New York

Mar 06, 2013
 
Rated: 1.5 by BILF from Israel

Mar 01, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by bsopko from New Jersey

Feb 16, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by mungus from Australia

Jan 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Rickstar from Texas

Dec 16, 2012
XXXX Bitter from Castlemaine Perkins
Beer rating: 64 out of 100 with 74 ratings