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XXXX Bitter
Castlemaine Perkins


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- 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:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 24, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 08, 2002
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 6
SCORE
64
Poor
64
Poor


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
Alcohol by Volume: 4.4% ABV
Colour: 9.5EBC
Bitterness: 18 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
2.05/5 rDev -19.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
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, 2022Cheap 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
Reviewed by RichardLeahy from Australia
2.99/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
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, 2018Rated by joharitaylor79 from Australia
1.09/5 rDev -57.3%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1
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, 2017Reviewed by make-beer-not-war from Texas
5/5 rDev +96.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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, 2016Rated 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
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, 2015Reviewed by JackieKu from Taiwan
1.5/5 rDev -41.2%
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, 2014Reviewed by atigerlife from Hawaii
1.63/5 rDev -36.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
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, 2014Pours 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.
Reviewed by Sphincta from Australia
4.45/5 rDev +74.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
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(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.
XXXX Bitter from Castlemaine Perkins
Beer rating:
64 out of
100 with
74 ratings
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