XXXX Gold beer

XXXX Gold is a quintessential Australian mid-strength lager, first introduced in 1991 by the Castlemaine Perkins brewery. The brand's history dates back to 1878 when brothers Nicholas and Edward Fitzgerald founded the Castlemaine Brewery in Milton, Brisbane, naming it after their original brewery in Castlemaine, Victoria. The 'XXXX' moniker follows a traditional grading system for beer strength, and the brand is famously represented by the 'Mr Fourex' icon.

While deeply rooted in Queensland's heritage, the brand has undergone several ownership changes over the decades. In 1980, Castlemaine Perkins merged with the New South Wales-based Tooheys to form Castlemaine Tooheys. By 1992, the company was acquired by Lion Nathan, which was subsequently taken over by the Japanese beverage giant Kirin Holdings in 2009. As of 2026, the brand remains under the ultimate ownership of Kirin through its subsidiary, Lion ANZ.

Manufacturing primarily takes place at the historic Milton Brewery in Brisbane, though production has expanded to other facilities within the Lion network to meet national demand. These include the Boag's Brewery in Tasmania and the Tooheys brewery in New South Wales. XXXX Gold continues to be a dominant player in the Australian beer market, frequently recognized as one of the country's best-selling beers.