Opened: 1877

Contributors: Greg Floyd, Jacob Sjúrður Hansen, Richard R Tinurelli, Tia Harriman

Jacob Sjúrður Hansen provides this history of Castlemaine Perkins:

In 1859 the Fitzgerald brothers, immigrants from Ireland established the Castlemaine Brewery in Castlemaine, Victoria. In 1866 the Perkins brothers established the Perkins Brewery in Toowomba, Queensland. In 1872 Perkins bought the Brisbane City Brewery (estbl in the 1860s) in Brisbane. In 1877 the Fitzgerald brothers bought a failing distillery in Milton, Queensland, and they established another Castlemaine Brewery there. In 1928 Castlemaine bought Perkins and forms Castlemaine Perkins. In 1979 Toohey's Brewing bought Castlemaine Perkins and forms Castlemaine Tooheys. In 1990 Lion Nathan bought Castlemaine Tooheys. And then Kirin came in 1998 buying those 46% of Lion Nathan.

Michael Jackson's The New World Guide to Beer reports that Castlemaine XXXX is brewed by Bond Brewing in Brisbane, but the label on my bottle says Unibev Ltd. (Golden CO), which is a front for Coors. Apparently that's a can from ancient history, however; here's a report from Lion Nathan's Anna Kasper:

Hello. Castlemaine Perkins is still the company which brews XXXX - not Bond Brewing - that company went under about 5 years ago. It's only ever been the one brewery at Milton, brewing the same brews. We were exporting XXXX to the States - it must be an old can if it's got a Coors label. Please don't drink it, it will be old and papery.

Furthermore, according to Australian correspondent John Stallwood, Kirin took control of Lion Nathan in 1998. They still go under the name of Lion Nathan but Kirin has control with 46%.

Updated: February 20, 2013

• Castlemaine Sovereign

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• XXXX Bitter

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• XXXX DL Lager

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• XXXX Draught

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• XXXX Export Lager
  American-Style Lager
  • Date: October 31, 1995 (#1230)
    Package: bottled
    Place: Moloka`i Wines and Spirits Unlimited, Kaunakakai HI
    Score: 11½ points
    Overall Impression (2½)
    Golden, low-moderate carbonation, OK head. Grassy-spicy aroma, with some malt. Malty, some astringency. Sweet. Hop character is minimal at best. The label says: "The Classic Aussie Lager. Brewed with Genuine Australian Hops. Brewed to the original recipe which gives XXXX its classic Aussie character. Licensed by Castlemaine Perkins Limited, Queensland Australia."