XXXX (pronounced fourex) is a popular brand of Australian beer brewed in Brisbane by Castlemaine. It’s very popular in the state of Queensland, where it is commonly found on-tap in pubs and bars. The XXXX brand was first introduced in 1924 and is a throwback to the long-standing tradition of using Xs to indicate the strength of an ale. The brand name built upon XXX Sparkling Ale introduced way back in 1878.

There seems to be a widely held misconception by non-Australians, that Fosters is Australia’s most popular beer. The reality is that if you walked into a bar in Australia and ordered a Foster’s, you might well receive some curious looks – it’s a long way down the popularity list, and almost unheard of in some parts of the country.